The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Approaches in Social Work with Domestic Violence Survivors in Enugu State

Cognitive behavioural approaches offer an evidence-based therapeutic framework that social workers can apply in working with domestic violence survivors to address trauma symptoms, maladaptive cognitions, and safety planning. This study evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural approaches applied by social workers with domestic violence survivors in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, focusing on welfare centres in Enugu Urban and Igbo-Eze North. A quasi-experimental design is employed, with 80 domestic violence survivors allocated to an intervention condition receiving CBT-informed social work support and a comparison group receiving standard care. Pre-test and post-test assessments using validated trauma symptom and self-efficacy scales are conducted. Paired t-tests and between-group comparisons are applied in analysis. The study finds that survivors in the CBT-informed intervention group demonstrate significantly greater reductions in post-traumatic stress symptoms and improvements in self-efficacy at eight-week follow-up compared to the control group. Social workers facilitating the intervention report confidence in the approach but identify the need for structured supervision to maintain fidelity. Recommendations include integrating cognitive behavioural skill development into social work training programmes, establishing CBT-informed social work protocols for domestic violence services, and providing ongoing training and supervision to sustain evidence-based practice. Keywords: cognitive behavioural approaches, domestic violence survivors, social work, Enugu State, trauma intervention