Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Domestic Violence Counselor

🎯 Role Definition

The Domestic Violence Counselor provides direct clinical services, crisis intervention, advocacy, and case management to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their families. This role is rooted in trauma‑informed, survivor‑centered practice and requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams (law enforcement, legal advocates, healthcare providers), community partners, and internal program staff to enhance safety, stability, and long‑term recovery for clients. The ideal candidate demonstrates excellent clinical skills, strong documentation practices, cultural humility, and experience with shelter and community‑based services.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Case Manager or Victim Advocate with direct service experience.
Licensed or unlicensed Counselor with internship experience in domestic violence shelters.
Social Work or Psychology graduate with practicum in IPV or family violence programs.

Advancement To:

Senior/Lead Domestic Violence Counselor or Clinical Supervisor.
Program Manager / Director of Survivors Services.
Clinical Director or Licensed Clinical Social Worker overseeing multi‑site programs.

Lateral Moves:

Legal/ Court Advocate
Community Outreach Coordinator
Housing and Benefits Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive intake assessments for survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence, including safety, lethality and risk assessments, mental health screening, and documentation of immediate needs and goals.
Develop individualized safety plans and crisis intervention strategies with clients, prioritizing immediate protection, housing options, restraining orders, and emergency resources tailored to each survivor’s situation and cultural context.
Provide trauma‑informed individual counseling using evidence‑based modalities (e.g., CBT, trauma‑focused interventions, strengths‑based approaches) to address PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use associated with IPV.
Facilitate weekly and ongoing support groups for survivors (women, men, LGBTQ+), integrating psychoeducation, coping skills, empowerment strategies, and peer support to promote healing and community re‑integration.
Provide 24/7 or rotating crisis hotline coverage and on‑call crisis response, including triage, safety planning, referral, and coordination with emergency services when needed.
Offer court accompaniment and legal advocacy by preparing clients for hearings, explaining legal options (TROs, protection orders), coordinating with legal aid, and testifying when appropriate as part of an integrated advocacy model.
Manage complex cases through comprehensive case management: referral to housing, employment, benefits (TANF/SNAP/SSI), medical care, child welfare, childcare, substance‑use treatment, and mental health services.
Coordinate shelter intake, placement, and discharge planning for survivors and children, overseeing bed management, confidentiality protocols, and transitional housing referrals to ensure continuity of care.
Complete timely and high‑quality clinical documentation, progress notes, safety plans, incident reports, and outcome measures in electronic health records (EHR) or agency case management systems in compliance with funder and regulatory requirements.
Maintain strict client confidentiality and mandated reporting compliance, including timely reporting of child abuse, elder abuse, or imminent risk while balancing client safety and autonomy.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (medical, psychiatric, child welfare, law enforcement, legal partners) to coordinate safety planning, forensic exams, housing stabilization, and comprehensive care plans for survivors and their children.
Create and implement relapse prevention and long‑term safety plans, including financial planning, employment supports, education, and community integration to reduce re‑victimization risk.
Provide culturally responsive services and language‑accessible supports (using bilingual skills or interpreters), ensuring services are trauma‑informed and affirming across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, and disability.
Participate in multidisciplinary lethality review teams and case conferences to assess high‑risk clients and develop coordinated community responses to prevent escalation and homicide.
Deliver trainings and workshops to community partners, schools, healthcare providers, and law enforcement on recognizing IPV, trauma‑informed response, mandatory reporting, and available survivor resources.
Supervise, train, and mentor interns, volunteers, and junior advocates to maintain high‑quality service delivery, ethical practice standards, and trauma‑informed care principles.
Monitor client outcomes and collect program data for grant reports, program evaluations, and continuous quality improvement initiatives to measure service effectiveness and inform program development.
Assist in safety planning for children exposed to domestic violence, coordinate with child protection services, and provide parenting support and referrals to specialized child trauma resources as needed.
Advocate for clients to secure emergency financial assistance, housing vouchers, restraining orders, transportation, childcare, and access to medical or mental health services through direct referrals and application assistance.
Conduct outreach and community engagement to increase awareness of domestic violence services, promote prevention campaigns, and build referral networks with community‑based organizations and faith groups.
Respond to program crises and incidents (e.g., shelter conflicts, safety breaches, client psychiatric emergencies) with de‑escalation, incident reporting, and follow‑up support for staff and clients.
Participate in policy development, program planning, and implementing evidence‑based protocols (e.g., trauma‑informed care, confidentiality policies, safety protocols) to enhance service delivery and compliance.
Provide culturally competent sexual and reproductive health referrals and coordination for survivors who have experienced sexual violence or coercion, ensuring trauma‑informed forensic and medical care referrals.
Support survivors in navigating immigration relief options (e.g., U visas, VAWA) in partnership with immigration legal service providers and assist in compiling affidavits and documentation when appropriate.

Secondary Functions

Assist with grant writing, funder reporting, and data collection efforts to support program sustainability and demonstrate outcomes to stakeholders.
Design and update educational materials, flyers, and digital content to promote domestic violence resources and prevention messaging for diverse audiences.
Participate in community coalitions, advisory boards, and prevention task forces to strengthen coordinated community responses to domestic violence.
Coordinate volunteer programs and community service placements that support shelter operations, mentoring programs, and administrative tasks.
Support program evaluation projects by collecting client satisfaction data, outcome metrics, and contributing to qualitative reports that inform service improvements.
Maintain and update resource directories and referral lists for housing, legal, health, substance use, and employment services to expedite client access to supports.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Trauma‑informed counseling techniques and direct clinical intervention for survivors of intimate partner violence.
Crisis intervention and de‑escalation skills, including emergency safety planning and lethality assessment tools (e.g., Danger Assessment).
Case management and care coordination across systems: housing, legal, healthcare, child welfare, and employment services.
Proficiency with electronic records and case management systems (EHRs, HMIS, Apricot, Efforts to Outcomes, or similar platforms) and strong documentation practices for audits and funders.
Knowledge of federal and state confidentiality laws, mandated reporting, HIPAA, VAWA, and survivor privacy best practices.
Court and legal advocacy skills, including preparing affidavits, accompanying clients to hearings, and coordinating with legal aid and law enforcement.
Group facilitation skills to design and run support groups, psychoeducational workshops, and community trainings.
Risk assessment and safety planning tools for adult and child survivors; familiarity with lethality risk indicators and protective factors.
Multilingual ability (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic) or access to qualified interpreters; cultural competency in serving marginalized communities.
Data collection, outcomes tracking, and basic reporting skills for grants, program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
Knowledge of housing options, shelter operations, transitional housing, and community resources for rapid rehousing and homeless prevention.

Soft Skills

Exceptional empathy, emotional resilience, and ability to maintain professional boundaries while working with high‑stress, trauma‑exposed clients.
Strong communication skills (verbal and written) for clear safety planning, documentation, training delivery, and interagency collaboration.
Cultural humility and anti‑oppression mindset with the ability to work effectively across diverse identities and family structures.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage complex caseloads, prioritize crises, and meet documentation deadlines.
Collaborative team player who contributes to a supportive workplace culture, supervisory feedback, and staff wellness initiatives.
Problem solving and creative resourcefulness to navigate systemic barriers and secure wraparound services for clients.
Ethical decision‑making, confidentiality, and adherence to professional codes of conduct and agency policies.
Ability to maintain composure during on‑call or crisis situations and to provide compassionate stabilization for clients in immediate danger.
Advocacy and negotiation skills to coordinate services with housing providers, employers, schools, and legal systems on behalf of clients.
Leadership and mentoring skills for supervising volunteers, interns, and junior staff while modeling trauma‑informed care practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW), Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or a related field; combined education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree (MSW, MA in Counseling, M.Ed. in Clinical Counseling) or advanced clinical license (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) with relevant clinical supervision hours.
Certifications: Certified Domestic Violence Advocate, Certified Victim Advocate, Crisis Intervention Training, or trauma‑focused modalities (TF‑CBT, EMDR training desirable).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Social Work
Counseling Psychology
Human Services
Public Health
Criminal Justice (with victim services emphasis)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of direct service experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or family violence in shelter, community, or clinical settings.

Preferred:

3–7+ years of experience providing trauma‑informed counseling, crisis hotline response, legal advocacy, and case management for IPV survivors; prior shelter management or supervisory experience preferred.
Experience in multi‑disciplinary collaboration with law enforcement, courts, child welfare, and healthcare systems; experience with grant‑funded program reporting and outcome measurement is a plus.