Using photovoice to empower survivors of intimate partner violence

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is a predominant issue that negatively affects women worldwide. Survivors of intimate partner violence often face specific barriers that prevent them from leaving an abusive relationship, suffer negative physical and psychological implications, and often encounter challenges in receiving social supports (i.e., shelter, financial support, therapeutic support). Intimate partner violence is disempowering for women, as control over their personal agency is taken by the abuser. Empowering women’s experiences with intimate partner violence by focusing on the strengths that gave them the ability to leave an abusive environment calls for more research in the area of intimate partner violence. Photovoice allows women to take control of their experiences with interpersonal violence, make meaning of their story, regain personal agency in their lives, and offer them an opportunity to see their experiences in a different light. Recent research has identified the effectiveness of photovoice as a research methodology when working with women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Therefore, this study examined photovoice as a therapeutic intervention in a private practice setting may help survivors of intimate partner violence receive support through the group structure. This study examines how engaging in the creative process can help women to capture their experiences in an empowering way by focusing on the strengths they drew upon to leave the abusive relationship. This research project employed a photovoice methodology and thematic analysis of qualitative data that captured the strengths of participants in a group session. The findings may also help researchers gain a better understanding of the strength’s women employed that assisted them in leaving a violent relationship, and how using photovoice as a therapeutic intervention within a private practice setting can be beneficial to this population.