Domestic Violence in Clinical Practice: Screening, Risk Assessment, and Trauma-Informed Response for Counselor Interns

Did you know? With an active FMHCA membership, this and other webinars in the LMHC Prep and Connect Summer Workshop Series are free—activate before checkout! 

Note: This offer applies only to the Registered Intern membership category.

Description: This presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of domestic violence and its far-reaching impact on mental health, equipping clinicians with the tools necessary to assess and support both survivors and perpetrators through a trauma-informed, culturally competent lens. Grounded in evidence-based practices and real-world application, participants will gain practical strategies to identify signs and symptoms of abuse, implement appropriate screening tools, and respond with compassion while upholding ethical and legal responsibilities. Through the lens of lived experience and professional expertise, this session will also highlight state and national prevalence data, Florida laws related to DV, and community-based resources to support safety, healing, and accountability. Designed for registered mental health counselor interns working across diverse settings, this workshop empowers attendees to confidently navigate the complexities of DV in clinical practice—because what happens behind closed doors deserves informed, empathetic intervention.

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

• Define domestic violence and identify common signs/symptoms that survivors may present with.
• Describe the impact of DV on mental health and its implications for healthcare systems.
• State the general prevalence of DV at the state and national levels and relevant DV-related laws.
• Describe how to assess for DV in both survivors and perpetrators using common tools.
  

About the Presenter: 

Jessica Straughn, MA, LMHC, CCTP-II is the Founder and Owner of Supportive Counseling, LLC, a private practice specializing in trauma, anxiety, and relationship challenges. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and Colorado and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II. Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Central Florida and has over a decade of experience in trauma-informed care. Her professional background includes work as a contracted clinician for Harbor House, Orange County’s domestic violence shelter, where she provides therapy to survivors of intimate partner violence. Jessica has also served as a victim advocate, violence prevention educator, and crisis responder, supporting survivors and consulting with professionals across healthcare, education, and criminal justice systems.

The 2026 LMHC Prep & Connect is proudly presented by CounselingExam.com.

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Thanks to the support of CounselingExam.com, all live attendees will be entered into a $75 spa gift card raffle!

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