PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: LEGAL AND SUPPORT PERSPECTIVES FOR LAWYERS. | Lydia Ehisuoria Ohonsi, Esq.

INTRODUCTION

The psychological impact of violence against women is profound and complex, affecting survivors' mental health and every aspect of their interaction with the legal system. For lawyers, understanding this impact is not merely beneficial—it is the foundation of a trauma-informed legal practice that serves clients more effectively and protects the well-being of the practitioner.

The Psychological Impact of Violence on Women

Violence against women is a significant public health issue with serious social and psychological consequences for both the individual and society. The trauma from such events is not just a memory but an imprint that has ongoing consequences for how a person manages to survive in the present, fundamentally reorganising the way the mind and brain manage perceptions.

Common psychological effects documented include:

1. Mental Health Disorders: There is a high risk of developing mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One meta-analysis found that intimate partner violence is a significant risk factor for these conditions.

2. Cognitive and Behavioural Changes: Trauma can lead to difficulty recalling details, organising thoughts, and concentrating. Survivors may exhibit avoidance behaviours, such as delaying returning calls or providing documents, and may experience emotional outbursts or withdrawal.

3. Profound Shifts in Worldview: The experience can undermine a person's sense of safety and ability to connect with others, leading to a view of the world as unpredictable and threatening. This can be accompanied by feelings of fear, helplessness, and a violation of one's sense of self and security.

The Legal Imperative for a Trauma-Informed Approach

A trauma-informed approach in legal practice is a compassionate and strategic shift from a traditional, often transactional, model to one that is client-centred and effective. It recognises that to provide competent representation, a lawyer must understand how trauma affects their client's behaviour, memory, and engagement with the case.

The core principles of this approach are designed to create safety, build trust, and empower the client:

1. Safety: Prioritising both physical and emotional safety by ensuring private meeting spaces and explaining confidentiality upfront.

2. Trustworthiness & Transparency: Building trust through consistency, honesty about the legal process, and avoiding overpromising results.

3. Empowerment, Voice & Choice: Actively restoring the client's sense of control, which trauma often strips away. This involves offering choices wherever possible and treating the client as a partner in their legal strategy.

4. Collaboration & Mutuality: Flattening the traditional power dynamic by using affirming language and acknowledging the client's lived experience.

5. Cultural, Historical & Gender Sensitivity: Recognising that trauma is often shaped by identity and systemic oppression, and avoiding assumptions about how a survivor "should" behave.

Practical Strategies for Trauma-Informed Lawyering

Integrating these principles into daily practice involves concrete actions that can significantly improve the attorney-client relationship and case outcomes.

1. Create a Predictable Environment: Be punctual, organised, and clear about what the client can expect. This helps build a sense of safety and reliability for someone whose world may feel chaotic.

2. Communicate with Clarity and Patience: Use plain language instead of legal jargon. Break complex procedures into small steps and be prepared to repeat key information, as trauma can impair memory and processing.

3. Practice Active Listening and Empower Client Autonomy: Ask open-ended questions and let the client guide how much detail they share. Use invitational language like, "What are you comfortable sharing today?" to give them control.

4. Be Flexible with Memory and Documentation: Understand that a client may struggle with timelines, forget details, or delay completing tasks. Offer tools like checklists and allow extra time, responding with patience rather than frustration.

5. Build a Multi-Disciplinary Network: You are not expected to be a therapist. Maintain a list of psychologists, social workers, and case managers for referrals. A holistic support system contributes to both the client's well-being and the strength of the legal case.

Addressing Vicarious Trauma and Supporting Legal Professionals

Lawyers are not immune to the effects of their work. Repeated exposure to clients' traumatic stories can lead to vicarious trauma (a cognitive shift in world view), secondary traumatic stress (symptoms mirroring PTSD), and burnout. This risk is particularly high for those in fields like domestic violence, criminal, and family law.

Protecting your well-being is an ethical and practical necessity:

1. Acknowledge the Risk: Recognise that exposure to trauma is an inherent part of legal practice in certain fields and that being affected is a normal reaction, not a professional failing.

2. Engage in Regular Self-Care and Peer Support: Implement personal self-care routines and engage in peer debriefing. Talking with a colleague soon after a difficult client interaction can be very effective.

3. Seek Professional Help When Needed: Do not hesitate to seek therapy or counselling. Some legal assistance programmes even offer referrals and free sessions. Healing from trauma, whether personal or professional, is possible with the right support.

A Path Toward a More Compassionate Legal System

The legal system itself is increasingly recognising the importance of a trauma-informed approach. This includes implementing trauma-informed training for all legal professionals, from lawyers to judges, and creating safer, more supportive courtroom environments through physical space design and respectful interactions.

By adopting these principles and strategies, lawyers can do more than just win a case—they can help restore a client's sense of agency and contribute to their long-term healing, ensuring that the pursuit of justice is not a re-traumatising experience.

CONCLUSION

The psychological impact of violence against women is profound and complex, affecting survivors' mental health and every aspect of their interaction with the legal system. For lawyers, understanding this impact is not merely beneficial—it is the foundation of a trauma-informed legal practice that serves clients more effectively and protects the well-being of the practitioner.

Text Cited

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