Partnership Envelope: a Therapeutic Dimension Relevant in Situations of Abuse

OBJECTIVES : Our societies still struggle to recognize that the family is often the place where a child is most at risk of psychological, physical, or sexual violence. Child maltreatment fundamentally challenges the foundations of connection, relationships, and personal boundaries. These are complex phenomena with multiple facets, including physical and psychological abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, exposure to spousal violence, highly conflictual parental separation, and institutional abuse. These forms of violence typically occur within a specific relational context, usually the family. The para- or intra-family framework, which should provide a safe environment for the child’s development, is instead compromised. This presents a fundamental paradox: the very setting meant to protect and nurture the child becomes a source of trauma. METHODS : We revisit some considerations on the concept of psychic trauma, including the impact of certain events that cause “injuries” to the psyche. A “traumatic” event is one that brutally confronts an individual with death, the threat of death, serious injury, or violent circumstances. Rather than proposing a specific framework for addressing trauma related to child abuse, we are developing a therapeutic approach that could serve as a meaningful avenue of support and care for the affected child and their surrounding environment. RESULTS : While not exhaustive, we propose three interrelated guiding principles aimed at supporting practitioners in navigating the challenges that arise in these complex situations. The first principle emphasizes the need for a well-defined framework for intervention. The therapeutic framework, a fundamental element of any practice in the humanities, is particularly strained in cases of domestic abuse. Families with abusive dynamics often challenge and disrupt the very structure that, in theory, should provide a safe and trust-based environment for intervention. The second principle focuses on the establishment of an intermediate space and a partnership framework. These concepts form the foundation of an approach that helps mitigate risks of dysfunction. Every therapeutic encounter, regardless of its format, serves as an intermediate space where knowledge, representations, and emotions can be processed and worked through. The third principle highlights the importance of network-based practice. In the humanities, the concept of a network is closely linked to that of a system, incorporating the dimensions of relationships. From this perspective, every individual must be understood not only in terms of their intrapsychic experiences but also as part of a broader, more or less structured and expansive social system. CONCLUSIONS : Multi-stakeholder collaboration thus forms the foundation of the “partnership envelope.” Professionals involved create a dynamic group, shaped by emotions and personal reactions. This necessitates dedicated time to analyze the interplay between relational dynamics within the multi-professional team and those present in the family system. Through multidisciplinary team meetings, this collective process is established, put into practice , and refined. Such a multi-stakeholder approach emphasizes consultation and aims to prevent fragmentation in the care of families, particularly those experiencing abusive dynamics.