The Difference Between a Psychological Evaluation and a DVIT Assessment
When dealing with domestic violence issues, it is important to understand why a psychological evaluation is not helpful to determine (a) whether domestic violence occurred, (b) whether it is likely to continue, or (c) what treatment would be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.
Even though this concept has been memorialized in both the Domestic Violence Manual for Judges and the Guardian Ad Litem Handbook, Domestic Violence Intervention Treatment (DVIT) Assessments have rarely been recommended or ordered, and psychological evaluations favored instead. Why is this harmful?
Domestic Violence is a conduct problem, not a personality problem. Psychological evaluations do not systematically gather the information regarding a person’s behaviors or conduct, which is standard procedure for a Domestic Violence Evaluation (i.e. a DVIT Assessment). A DVIT Assessment is a specialized evaluation of domestic violence specific issues and conducted using DV-specific evaluation protocols. This is the only type of assessment that will help determine whether domestic violence has been or is present, what are the risks of future danger, and what treatment can be recommended to address that conduct.
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To learn more about The Difference Between a Psychological Evaluation and a DVIT Assessment, please contact Beresford Booth at info@beresfordlaw.com or by phone at (425) 776-4