Battered women's process of leaving: Implications for career counseling

Using consensual qualitative research, we considered how battered women's intimate partner abuse and subsequent experiences and expectations of shelter services and assistance of the criminal justice system have affected their work and employment opportunities. Results indicated that participants expected shelters to assist them with finding housing and employment and regard law enforcement and the legal system to be quite ineffective in their response to domestic violence issues. Results also revealed that women expected to be abused following their partner's alcohol or drug use and further noted that their partner's patterns of abuse had either prevented or disrupted their employment. Participants expressed strong interest in finding work or pursuing a career and expected to complete educational and/or licensing requirements that were commensurate with their stated work/career goals. Finally, determined to not be abused by their partner again, participants aspire for a future of freedom and peace of mind, without their abuser, while focusing on reestablishing and building healthy relationships with their children. Implications for career counseling and research are discussed.