The Athena Project, led by psychologist J. Gayle Beck, Ph.D., is designed to assist women who are victimized by their intimate partners. A professor of psychology, Beck designed the Project to provide a thorough psychological assessment for women who have experienced intimate partner relationship violence and to present treatment and counseling to victims.
About 85 percent of violent offences by intimate partners, approximately 900,000 incidences, were against women in 1998, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Intimate partner relationships are defined by the DOJ as current spouses, former spouses, current boy/girlfriends, and former boy/girlfriends.
"In the past, more attention has been paid to other trauma survivors of domestic violence, such as children...There has not been a lot of work with the women victims' mental health," Beck said. "This was the seed that started the Athena Project."
The project was initiated last summer and about 25 people have been assessed to date. According to Beck, there are more in the pipeline.
"I have seen people from all walks of life: high school dropouts to those with professional careers," Beck said. "These victims range from the very well-educated to the very low educated."
The typical mental health issues that abused women face are generalized by anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Beck was previously involved in a similar project dealing with victims of car accidents and PTSD.
Besides mental health issues, victimized women often deal with conditions of severe shame and embarrassment.
"The role of shame plays a significant role in these types of situations. I have encountered victims whose closest friends and family members have no idea that the abusive intimate relationship even exists," Beck said.
Typically, the need to cover up abusive behavior between the woman and her intimate partner is evident.
"For one woman, the reality of the situation was still in effect three years after her abusive spouse passed away. In many cases with similar circumstances, the toll of the abuse doesn't just end when the relationship is over," Beck said.
According to the DOJ, only about half of the intimate partner violence against women from 1993 to 1998 was reported to officials. About four in 10 of these victims sought professional medical assistance.
Beck wants to show the victims that they are not alone and that a way out of the situation is available. The researchers hoped that the name Athena, instead of the term "domestic violence," would encourage victims to step forward and get the assistance that they need.
"Athena, in Greek mythology, is the goddess of crafts, domestic arts, and war. Her attribute is the owl which symbolizes wisdom," Beck said. "Athena is victorious and we really wanted to stress that strength."
The Athena Project currently works in conjunction with a community partner, The Family Justice Center (FJC), located in Erie County. The FJC is comprised of 13 on-site partners and 19 off-site partners. According to the FJC Web site, the services range from police officers, prosecutors, forensic medical professionals, probation officers, legal advocates, shelter service professionals, chaplains, support service professionals and a supervised waiting area for children.
UB research assistants are involved in the Athena Project as well. The assistants are comprised of three graduates and four undergraduates.
"There is still a lot to be learned," Beck said. "As we begin to build a better knowledge base, we will be able to produce more refined treatment which will then be translated to better help for the victims."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
