Abstract

This report interrogates definitions of Child-Parent Violence (CPV) and seeks to discern how this is understood not only by those families who are living with CPV but by those professionals involved with families. How professionals understand CPV will inform their actions when families request support, an area that is met with poor provision according to those families who have been involved in research both previously and as part of this exploratory exercise. Furthermore consideration will be given to any potential limitations in current understanding that leads to CPV becoming both misunderstood and poorly defined. In this way this report recognises when trying to define or understand CPV, those involved are ‘grappling with an enigma’ that is difficult to understand, define or address.