Files
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of Latina survivors of domestic violence (DV) and their service providers to examine the effects of culturally competent and interdisciplinary treatment, or the lack thereof, on Latinas' healing journey. This qualitative study uses Mujerista and LatCrit frameworks to explore how oppressive systems perpetuate the impact of DV in Latinas with marginalized intersecting identities (Bryant-Davis & Comas-Díaz, 2016; Perez Huber, 2009). The researcher intentionally uses a Mujerista lens to highlight wisdom, resilience, and survival strategies inherent in Latinas and to allow these women to voice their experiences in a way that acknowledges their whole selves rather than just the part that suffered DV. The researcher conducted separate focus groups with survivors and providers to inquire about their testimonios of receiving or providing collaborative care, complementing Latinxs' authentic engagement in storytelling (Arredondo et al., 2014). The author centers her positionality as a Mexicana, first-generation U.S.-born doctoral student and clinician to name her privilege and power within the research space and her lived experiences with gendered violence. Using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2022), the researcher identified various overlapping themes of oppression and resistance. The researcher sheds light on four overarching themes from the providers' data: provider experiences, interdisciplinary work, cultural competence, and oppression and discrimination. There are six themes from the survivors' data highlighting Latina identity, domestic violence, systems and intergenerational trauma, resilience, service experiences, and the healing journey. The healing journey is complex and intricate, with many barriers. Despite these challenges, Latina survivors and providers embrace resilience and determination to navigate through difficult circumstances. This study highlights the strength and courage of survivors and underscores the importance of support systems and services in facilitating healing. The researcher provides recommendations for providers from various disciplines serving Latina survivors of DV. This study is a call to action for mental health providers seeking to support survivors and dismantle the cycle of abuse.