Domestic Violence in Florida: Recognition, Screening, Risk Assessment, and Clinical Response

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Course Description

This 3-hour continuing education course provides mental health professionals with a comprehensive, clinically focused examination of domestic violence and its implications for practice in Florida. Participants review Florida statutory definitions and relevant legal requirements; recognize multiple forms and patterns of domestic violence, including physical, psychological, sexual, financial, stalking, technology-facilitated, and coercive behaviors; and examine the complex factors that may influence a survivor’s ability or readiness to leave an abusive relationship.

The course addresses domestic violence screening in clinical settings, including appropriate screening practices, circumstances that may affect disclosure, considerations when an abusive partner or other family members are present, and the distinction between routine screening and more comprehensive risk assessment. Participants examine indicators associated with increased danger and are introduced to commonly used domestic violence risk-assessment approaches, their purposes, and their limitations.

Clinical response is addressed throughout the course, including safety planning, responding to disclosures, legal and community resources, Florida reporting requirements, considerations involving children, documentation practices, cultural and individual factors that may affect survivors’ experiences and help-seeking, and appropriate professional boundaries and scope of practice. The course also considers the impact of domestic violence work on clinicians and strategies for maintaining professional effectiveness and self-care.

Through narrated instruction, applied examples, external educational media, and learning activities, participants develop practical knowledge for recognizing domestic violence, assessing safety concerns, responding appropriately, documenting clinical work, and connecting clients with relevant resources while maintaining a survivor-centered approach.

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Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Domestic Violence in Florida
Introduces the legal and clinical foundations of domestic violence in Florida, including statutory definitions, family and household member criteria, qualifying domestic violence offenses, prevalence data, and foundational concepts for recognizing domestic violence in clinical practice.

Module 2: Recognizing Domestic Violence — Part I
Examines common forms and patterns of domestic violence that mental health professionals may encounter in clinical practice, including emotional and psychological abuse, intimidation, threats and coercion, isolation, financial abuse, and physical violence. The module emphasizes recognizing behaviors that may occur individually or as part of a broader pattern of abuse and control.

Module 3: Recognizing Domestic Violence — Part II
Examines additional forms and patterns of domestic violence, including using children or others as a means of control, stalking and monitoring behaviors, sexual violence, technology-facilitated abuse, and coercive control. The module emphasizes recognizing how these behaviors may overlap and function as part of a broader pattern of abuse and control.

Module 4: Screening for Domestic Violence
Examines domestic violence screening in clinical settings, including how and when to screen, factors that may affect disclosure, considerations when an abusive partner or other family members are present, and issues involving children and reporting. The module also distinguishes routine screening from more comprehensive risk assessment and addresses appropriate clinical responses to screening findings.

Module 5: Why Survivors Stay — Barriers to Leaving
Examines the complex factors that may affect a survivor’s ability or readiness to leave an abusive relationship, including safety concerns, economic and child-related barriers, immigration concerns, religious and cultural pressures, LGBTQIA+ concerns, shame, promises of change, suicide threats, and trauma bonding. The module emphasizes understanding these barriers without blaming survivors and addresses safety planning, post-disclosure considerations, and the clinician’s appropriate role and boundaries.

Module 6: Risk Assessment and Clinical Intervention
Examines domestic violence risk assessment and clinical intervention, including lethality and high-risk indicators, danger assessment, safety planning, intervention, referrals, and follow-up.

Module 7: Professional Practice, Legal Responsibilities, and Resources
Examines professional responsibilities when working with domestic violence, including documentation, confidentiality and mandatory reporting, legal considerations, consultation, culturally responsive practice, and appropriate Florida and national resources.

References & Final Exam
Includes the course reference materials and the comprehensive final examination required for course completion.

Certificate of Completion

Receive a downloadable certificate documenting successful completion and continuing education participation.

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