How can psychotherapists most effectively help women experiencing domestic violence? Should therapy focus primarily on exploring individual psychic factors, addressing practical constraints, or providing education on how societal gender bias contributes to abuse? Which methods will most likely lead to good outcomes for patients—and what constitutes a good outcome, anyway? Abby Stein investigates these questions in her book Cupid's Knife: Women's Anger and Agency in Violent Relationships, ultimately concluding that therapists need to incorporate multiple strategies to combat the multifaceted problem of domestic violence.

Stein became aware of the need for a comprehensive approach to domestic violence while working with a psychoanalytic patient who repeatedly found herself in emotionally abusive relationships. To further investigate the psychodynamics of domestic violence and the mechanisms