The first part of the following report deals with understanding the multilevels of family violence as a first step towards prevention. Then there will be systemic hypothesis based on decoding relational rules that could have been constructed around the symptom. The developement of the critical approach is explored by using details from case examples. Finally effectiv systemic interventions and limits of therapeutic interventions will be elaborated.

Violence in families is connected with enormous emotions, complexity and contradictions particularly in case of innerfamiliar sexual abuse. Therapeutic interventions and interventions of other professionals such as teachers, social workers, police ecc.) often are characterized by powerlessness and/or resignation. Sometimes extreme reactions as a result of powerlessness are the consequence. And again violence takes place – eg violence by taking out children from families against their will. The children experience the social system as another kind of violence and suffer again feelings of powerlessness.

In case of domestic violence in order to intervene in helpful therapeutic ways it is necessary to understand the multiple levels of the problem. Gregory Bateson said a behaviour can only be understood linked to the context it appears in. Based on systemic thinking and own experience every human interaction is taking place to a certain content in a relation game. Violent behaviour makes very clear the dysfunction of the system. Systemic interventions try to decode the relational rules. Although contradictory requirements to the socialization of each men and women have to be considered in order to develope effective solutions. Responsibilities have to be explored. The objective is finding new ways with the persons involved without repeating inefficient attempts of solutions of the past but finding ways to get free from troublesome ankles.

The author of this abstract has professional experience for many years in the field of child-protection and violence in families. She is working in an institution and as well in a private study as a systemic family therapeut and mediator in Vienna.