Nursing Interview with Patients of Domestic Violence

MS Nur 6650
Student Name
Institution Affiliation
Part One: Client Description
The two clients I observed and counseled during the week’s family session were victims of domestic violence. The first member is the mother and wife in the family called Sophia. She was a 27-year-old Hispanic lady who had moved into the US a few years back when she got married. She lacked any skills to acquire a job and, as such, served only as a housewife. The report she provided was that her husband was both physically and emotionally abusing her primarily because he knows she is entirely dependent on him. She shared that he was highly possessive and prevented her from making friends even with the next-door neighbors. The abuse started early on into their marriage but has since escalated to the point she considers her life to be in danger. She has visible scars from the physical confrontations with her husband. While neighbors have since intervened and she has been rescued from the house, she is scared because her lack of relevant skills exposed her to continued manipulation from her husband. Sophia also divulged that she wasn’t on any medications prescribed for the abuses she endured. The other member in the counseling session was Sophia’s five-year-old daughter called Lucia. She was quite timid and evidently fearful, particularly from my presence. She also showcased visible scars obtained from physical abuse from her father. She had also not been put on any prescription drugs.
Part Two: Explanation of Diagnosis using DSM-5 Manual
According to the facts and information contained in the DSM-5 manual, it is prudent to conclude and diagnose Sophia as suffering from domestic violence caused by their intimate partner. The diagnosis is ascertained from the fact that she shared being subjected to continued physical and emotional violence from her husband (Berghuis et al., 2020). These acts of violence have characterized her entire marriage and have been the norm since she moved into the US. Sophia evidently meets half of the conditions required for the diagnosis. The diagnosis is further supported by the fact that she has been a victim of psychological aggression or as otherwise known as emotional abuse.
Concerning the second member Lucia, the DSM-5 manual diagnosis is that of child physical abuse. The diagnosis stems from the evident scars of physical torment all over her body (Ingram & South, 2020). Additionally, as per the DSM-5 manual, Lucia also suffers from psychological abuse. This is because she was vividly fearful of my manly stature throughout the session (Ingram & South, 2020). She was not only non-communicative but also failed to look me in the eye during the whole session that lasted over an hour.