assessment typology and intervention with the survivors of stalking

Pergamon

Aggression and Violent Behavior, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 359-368, 1996 Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in the USA. All fights reserved

1359-1789/96 $15.00 + .00

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ASSESSMENT TYPOLOGY AND INTERVENTION WITH THE SURVIVORS

OF STALKING

Albert R. Roberts

School of Social Work, Rutgers University

Sophia F. Dziegielewski

School of Social Work, University of Alabama

ABSTRACT. This review article proposes use of a case example to explore a therapeutic framework that utilizes short-term crisis intervention to assist the survivor of the stalking experience. Legal sanctions and laws to protect these victims have been criticized as lacking, and many times in the past mental health professionals have been accused of aUowing survivors of stalking to slip through the cracks. This article was written to provide the reader with the basic information needed to begin to understand, diagnose, and treat the survivor exposed to this type of phenomenon. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd

JILL EAGERLY ARRIVED for her appointment early. Upon entering the social worker's office she slumped down in the chair as she began to describe her desperation over the events that had recently transpired. According to Jill, she had met John, the cousin of a coworker, at a Christmas party. Although Jill (age 36) was considered to be successful in her career in management, she admitted that she felt uncomfortable with the dating process. John (age 39) seemed interesting to Jill, and she was pleased when he invited her out the following evening.

From the moment they met they seemed get along beautifully. Jill could hardly believe the interests that they had in common; and, John seemed so cognizant of Jill's every word. Unfortunately, according to Jill, this was the beginning of a 2-week nightmare. Jill had left town for several days, and when she returned home she found numerous messages on her answering machine from John. He sounded very upset and angry, stating something about being kicked out of his apartment. Before Jill could respond to the messages John was knocking at her door.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Albert R. Roberts, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.

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360 A. R. Roberts and S. E Dziegielewski

When she greeted him, he looked disheveled and it was evident he was upset. John informed Jill that he had been mistakenly evicted from his apartment and just needed a place to stay for the night. Jill stated that she felt "sorry for him" and agreed to let him spend the night on her couch. Later that night John joined Jill and they engaged in "protected" intercourse. After having had relations John seemed angry. When Jill asked what was wrong, John said that he was disturbed by Jill's actions. He expressed concern that Jill's requirement to use a condom put an artificial barrier between them, which decreased his pleasure and made him feel that Jill did not trust him. Jill stated that John's "uncanny way of tuming things around" left her feeling con- fused and guilty.

In the morning when Jill left for work, John agreed that he would call her that evening to let her know where he was staying. When Jill came home that night John was still there; actually, he had cooked dinner for her. His explanation for being there was that he could no longer stay with his friend as planned and was in the process of making alternate arrangements.

John spent the night; however, Jill locked her bedroom door and "nothing happened." The next morning Jill's car would not start and John volunteered to repair it. After her car was repaired Jill insisted that John leave. John became very excited and angry, raising his voice and mentioned possibly hurting himself (i.e., she quoted him as saying "I could blow my brains out over this") based on her rejection. The caretaker of the building stated that he was going to call the police if John did not leave. John left immediately. While in con- versation with the caretaker, Jill was informed that John was seen working on Jill's car before she returned from her trip. Jill also remembered statements on her answering machine from John describing situations in which she had been seen with a male coworker having lunch.

The next day Jill heard from John's cousin, that John boasted of how pleased he was to finally meet Jill, and that he knew from the first time he saw her how special she would turn out to be. When Jill arrived home that day John had again left numerous messages on her machine. Some were begging her to reconsider while others cursed her behavior. Jill took the tape to a friend of hers who was a police officer. The officer told Jill that there was not enough evidence to do anything with the tape. When Jill mentioned that she believed John had tampered with her car, again she was told that nothing could be done - - especially since she had given him permission to work on it.

After returning home that night John again came to her door. When she would not open it John hollered and banged on the door so loudly that the police were called. John told them that he was staying there, and Jill had just thrown him out. The police instructed John to leave peacefully, and if he did no charges would be filed. John left as instructed.

The next day at work Jill was horrified to see John approaching her office. She stated that "all I could think of was to get him off to the side because I did not know what he would do or say." John walked straight up to Jill and asked her very quietly "can we please talk about all this." Jill feared agitating him and agreed to go outside of the office building. As they walked to leave the office area John took Jill's hand. Jill feared pulling it away because of what John might do. When they went outside John told Jill that he just wanted to see her again and give their new relationship a second chance. Wishing to avoid a confrontation at her job, Jill told him to call later and they would discuss it.

It was here that Jill decided that she needed help before the situation continued. After describing the above situation to the social worker, Jill placed her head into her hands. Jill was at a loss and feared if she did nothing, or became complacent in the relationship, it would only get worse.

The remainder of this article will deal with the role the clinician should assume, and the knowledge she/he must have to help Jill deal with this situation; as well as, providing assistance in mediating the related environmental factors.

Stalking 361

STALKING

Professional literature and news articles are frequently limited to reviews of celebrities being stalked, antistalking laws, pending legislation, and case studies (Lane, 1992; Tharp, 1992). This type of information is useful for social policymakers, social workers, psychologists, police officers, and researchers in order to obtain background information on the nature and extent of stalking, as well as the legal remedies. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of published articles on the methods of crisis intervention designed to aid stalking victims (Dziegielewski & Roberts, 1995). Our focus in this article is to describe the role of the clinician in the general application of cognitive time-limited crisis intervention with stalking victims, such as illus- trated in the case example.

IDENTIFICATION OF STALKING BEHAVIOR

Acknowledgement of stalking behaviors is not a recent phenomenon, however, it has now become a prevalent problem of concern that needs to addressed (Flynn, 1993). Experts have estimated that there are as many as 200,000 individuals who reportedly stalk their victims and/or exhibit stalking behaviors (Flynn, 1993; Tharp, 1992). Further estimates provided by professionals in the field have indicated that one in every 40 individuals may face the prob- ability of being stalked (Flynn, 1993). This may, however, be an underestimate given that Tharp (1992) suggested percentages may even be higher.

In general, the definition of stalking is a simple one and almost always involves pursuit of the victim, rather than an actual attack (Sohn, 1994). In stalking, an individual repeatedly engages in harassing or threatening behaviors to another individual. These behaviors can and often do take the form of threatening phone calls, messages, vandalism, or unwanted appear- ances at a person's home or workplace. Many times it has been noted that the individual doing the stalking has a history of psychological problems, and he or she may thrive on play- ing psychological games with their victims (Flynn, 1993).

In the case scenario above, many of the characteristics that John seems to exhibit appear consistent with the profile of the stalker. It is important to note here, however, that these traits are being described by Jill; therefore, a conclusive diagnosis of the stalker cannot be made by this social worker or any other mental health professional. Identification of these possible traits, however, can be used in the therapeutic environment to help the client and social worker understand the actions of the stalker and plan a course of action.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994) for mental health professionals, erotomania is described as a type of Delusional Disorder. Generally, in this type of disorder the individual exhibits nonbizarre delusions that involve situations that could occur in real life (e.g., loved at a distance by someone). Specifically in erotomania, there is the delusion that another person, usually considered of a higher status, is in love with the individual. Here, the stalker believes that the victim does indeed love him/her but for some reason is denying this emotion (Leong, 1994). The job for the stalker now becomes to get the victim to acknowledge this love. Such unac- cepted love can become particularly problematic, as in the case of John, when it is denied. Unfortunately, there have been numerous cases where this has ended in harm or death to the stalking victim.

The stalker may also exhibit histrionic traits. Here the DSM-IV (APA, 1994) describes the histrionic personality disorder as an individual who exhibits a pervasive pattern of excessive emotional reactions and attention seeking behavior. Based on what Jill has told us, John appears to self-dramatize and theatrically exaggerate his expression of emotion. Obsessive compulsive behaviors have also been noted in stalkers (Anderson, 1993). These individuals can be driven by reoccurring relentless thoughts and actions related to the stalking behavior


(Anderson, 1993). In this case example, John appeared driven to get Jill to acknowledge a more intensive relationship than there actually was. An intense need for relationship contin- uance and solidification may have driven him to desperate measures such as the phone calls and harassing her at work and home.

Another diagnosis sometimes attributed to those who stalk is that found under the rubric of borderline personality disorder. According to the DSM-IV, such individuals often have a pervasive pattern of instability in personal relationships with marked impulsivity. These individuals have also been known to hurt themselves by utilizing self-mutilative or self-destruc- tive behaviors. This may possibly be the case when John reportedly threatened Jill as to what he might do to himself without her.

Learning about possible personality styles and specific behavior patterns that stalkers may exhibit can help the clinician to interpret and assess the immediacy and dangerousness of the situation, as well as, planning a concrete course of action to deal with the situation. However, as stated earlier, because we do not have access to interviewing the stalker, we can only iden- tify the traits that Jill is describing and utilize this to better understand what might be happen- ing. Remember, the client is not the stalker; therefore, it would be inappropriate to actually place a diagnostic label.

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FOR THE SURVIVOR

In an attempt to better understand, define, and therefore treat the victims of stalking, Dziegielewski and Roberts (1995) suggested the following typology. They believed that, based on most of the current statutes, those who participated in stalking behavior generally fell into three major areas. These three major areas included: (a) the domestic violence stalker, (b) the erotomania and/or delusional stalker; and, (c) the nuisance stalker. They further make the point that these categories can overlap and that stalkers may exhibit traits from either or all of the three classifications. Generally, however, the classification that has the majority of the characteristics is where the individual would be classified.

The first type of stalking Dziegielewski and Roberts (1995) described was domestic violence stalking. Here, the stalker was generally motivated by the need to continue or reestab- lish the domestic relationship, where he/she can have or maintain control of the victim. Thought patterns and statements that reflect an "If I can't have him/her, no one else can either" were noted. Many times the stalker was consumed with intense conflictual emotions of hate and love. There may also be intense feelings of anger and fear toward the uncontrol- lable desire felt toward the victim.

This type of stalking was considered to be the most common with 75-80% of the cases meeting this description ("New Laws," 1993). Although Jill and John did not have an "estab- lished" relationship, John perceived that they could and possibly did. If Jill has further contact with John it is possible that John will become more possessive and continue to seek the intense type of control evidenced in domestic violence stalking.

The second type of identified stalking behavior was referred to as erotomania or delusional stalking. Here the motivation for the relationship was based on the stalker's fixation (e.g., doctor, local FBI agent, anchorman and/or anchorwoman, or simply someone who rep- resents the unobtainable ideal). Generally, the target person was someone who was considered to be of higher status than the stalker. In this case example, John probably has most of the characteristics represented here. However, we do not have enough significant detailed information to state this conclusively. In this type of stalking, it is important to note, that even though the victim is the center of attention - - other persons close to the victim may also be in danger. Particularly if the loved one is viewed by the stalker as coming between the erotomania or delusional stalker and her/his target. Therefore, potential unanticipated victims

Stalking 363

for John might be a close friend or relative or possibly his ex-spouses if these individuals are seen as receiving love, affection, and the attention of the survivor.

The third type of stalker identified by Dziegielewski and Roberts (1995) was the nuisance stalker. In this type of stalking the victim is targeted and continually harassed by the stalker. Interaction attempts are often made through use of the telephone. Here the stalker might hang-up, use obscene language, or simply verbally torment and harass the victim. In an attempt to be in proximity of the targeted victim, repeated physical appearance at the target's residence, place of employment, or other public place(s) might also occur. There have also been numerous reported cases of contact through the mail with unsigned letters, cards, etc.

As exhibited in this case example, John, may realize that what he is doing is harassment. However, many times with this type of stalking behavior, the activity itself becomes addict- ing. Stalkers have reported that this activity provided excitement and in a bizarre sort of way challenging entertainment for the stalker (Anderson, 1993).

In summary, it is important for the helping professional to understand and comprehend the schema to which the stalker subscribes. This understanding becomes essential in predicting future behavior. Individuals can and do distort reality based on how it is perceived; and, these cognitive distortions can result in negative feelings, maladaptive behaviors, and if carried to the extreme, psychopathology (Liese, 1994). In the case of Jill and John, as in others, John probably believes that his interpretation of what has happened between them is valid. And many times, based on the schema subscribed too, the need for revenge toward the survivor can be legitimatized because the target is now repelling the stalker's attentions.

UNDERSTANDING CRISIS INTERVENTION

Roberts and Roberts (1990) note that the clinician who works with the crisis victim should understand crisis techniques and the subsequent methods of crisis intervention in order to effectively address client needs. This remains the case for the stalking survivor, who generally has been forced to encounter sustained abuse that may end with a serious and severe personal attack (resulting in the survivor entering into a full crisis state). Once the crisis state has been entered the "precipitating or hazardous event" will be followed by a time of tension and distress.

The three most common precipitating events that will bring the victim of stalking in for treatment are: (a) escalation in the incidence or severity of the episodes; (b) injury being inflicted whether purposeful or accidental; and (c) relationship and/or employment distur- bance (Dziegielewski & Roberts, 1995). In this case example, Jill realized that the episodes with John were not only increasing; they were escalating. She feared that violence between them was soon to erupt.

According to Roberts and Roberts (1990) the precipitating event(s) is generally viewed as the last straw. Once the precipitating event has occurred, the client generally tries his/her usual coping methods and, when they fail, the resultant active crisis state follows (Roberts & Roberts, 1990).

In crisis intervention, establishment of rapport and respect for the survivor is considered essential. Active listening and empathic responses from the therapist helps to strengthen rapport. In Hill's (1991) study of 205 adults, subjects rated empathy as the second most important criteria in choosing a physician after expertise. Female subjects, more than males, seemed to appreciate an empathic attitude on the part of the physician (Hill, 1991). Thus, the goal of crisis work is to enable the client to regain the "capacity to deal effectively with the crisis" and "to increase his/her mastery over his/her own behavior and gain greater self awareness" (Getz, Wiesen, Sue, & Ayers, 1974, p. 43). While some interventions based on crisis intervention seek to restore the client to a level of functioning that existed prior to the


crisis, Roberts and Roberts (1990) see the end result for the victim as a "person returning to their pre-crisis state or growing from the crisis intervention so that she/he learns new coping skills to utilize in the future" (p. 27).

IMPLEMENTATION OF TREATMENT

When beginning to assist Jill in treatment, the crisis state that has been created by being sub- jected to stalking behavior must be taken into account. To facilitate implementation of treatment, a time-limited crisis intervention model is suggested. In highlighting the focus of the this type of treatment three topic areas are addressed. It is crucial to note, however, that before any form of treatment is to take place the immediate safety needs of the survivor and the therapist (who may be viewed negatively by the stalker) must be addressed. Once safety issues have been addressed, measures to assist in measuring practice effectiveness need to be explored. When conducting a comprehensive interview assessment, it is important for the clinician to select the most appropriate scales (short forms, if available) for determining dangerousness of the alleged stalker, as well as symptoms and level of functioning of the victim. Numerous scales are available (for examples, see those listed in Ammerman & Hersen, 1992; Fischer & Corcoran, 1994a, 1994b) that can be considered to establish an initial level of functioning for Jill. Individual scales designed to measure such problems as anxiety, depression, vulnerability, and posttraumatic stress disorder need to be considered to enhance objective measurement of reported symptomology.

Once initial measurements of distress have been recorded, the first objective of treatment is for the survivor of stalking behavior to agree to the importance of letting the stalker know that the survivor is not interested. In most cases the stalker really believes that the survivor wants the relationship and, therefore, will not be easily daunted. Such notification needs to be made as soon as possible, and the sooner and more explicitly this point is made the better. Very early in treatment it is important to address the fear the survivor may have in complet- ing this task. Many times victims have been harassed to the point that they really do fear retaliation, and confrontation can be viewed as overwhelming. Steps need to be taken to help the client relax and view this as the first step necessary to address and end the entire situation.

In the case example Jill openly admits that appearing angry helps her to say what she wants. However, when confronting the stalker, exhibiting such anger may be perceived by the stalker as a positive display of emotion. Based on this emotional display the stalker may misinterpret her message as one of love. Relaxation training, which needs to include relaxation exercises and the technique of deep diaphragmatic breathing, would be an excellent technique to utilize with Jill. This can help her to relax enough to make the decision to carry out this task and, once made, it can help her relax during the presentation.

Secondly, the survivor is encouraged to be as direct, concrete, and to the point as possible when the stalker is confronted. The therapist needs to anticipate that many times the survivor, who is in a crisis state, cannot think succinctly and may be unclear how to proceed with this task. The helping professional needs to be ready to assist the survivor to address this issue. Behavioral rehearsal of what and how the confrontation will take place is essential. This technique makes an excellent starting point for therapeutic intervention. Often, writing down on a piece of paper and rehearsing what is to be said may provide the individual with security and confidence.

In planning to address the stalker, he/she should be told in as few words and with as little emotion as possible. Brevity and shallowness of affect allows for the least amount of misin- terpretation by the stalker. It is important for the survivor to avoid giving reasons for his/her decision, because reasons can give hope and leave room for negotiation and argument. In the case example, Jill admittedly becomes nervous just thinking about John. She fears that she

Stalking 365

will say the wrong thing, which will make her explode or possibly be reduced to tears, It is important to note that most stalkers who suffer from erotomania traits similar to John do not act on their delusions (Anderson, 1993). However, the possibility does exist, and every chance to ensure Jill's safety should be considered.

It is suggested that the therapist help survivors, such as Jill, to write down exactly what they want to say and practice reading it as written. This helps the client to feel reassurance and control over what will she will say at a very emotion-laden point in time.

When confronting the stalker, it is important to advise the survivor not to meet the stalker in a private place. No matter how careful the survivor is in trying to control confrontation she/he should always choose a safe place in case the stalker decides in anger to retaliate. This means selecting a place where help (if needed) is immediately available. One suggested way to communicate this message is over the telephone, where the victim can say what is planned and hang up. Here the victim will not have to look at the stalker, and will only have to deal with the sound of his/her voice.

It is important to remember, however, that no matter how well the situation is handled, the stalker may try to retaliate; and, it remains important to plan that once this communication is delivered a safe place be secured. Even if the victim is currently in a "safe" place, such as a shelter, or home of a relative, etc., the treatment provided for the survivor must carefully consider the risk of retaliation, and the joint development of a safety plan. This is a crucial step to take in the first session, given the possibility that the stalker may retaliate.

The clinician can evaluate risk to the victim by asking him/her whether the stalker might be suicidal or homicidal, or if she/he has a weapon and what it is (Schecter, 1987). Questions should also focus on how obsessive the stalker is as to the survivor, her/his access to the survivor, and to the best of the survivor's knowledge what is the presence of rage, depression, drug and alcohol dependence, or abuse in the stalker.

In the case of Jill, if she telephones from her apartment, the stalker will probably go there to verify what has transpired. Jill would be better to stay at the house of a friend or relative for a few days, If she can disrupt her normal routine as much as possible for the next few weeks, including her work schedule it will confuse and disrupt the patterned behavior of the stalker. Such disruption may make the routine of the stalker so uncomfortable that a new pattern that excludes the survivor may be considered.

The third topic that must be addressed is to establish agreement with the survivor of stalking behavior to cease all contact with the stalker. The stalker may misinterpret any communication with the survivor and this communication whether positive or negative may be viewed as rewarding. This makes trying to change the survivor's usual routine (as much as possible) essential. The stalker is eventually forced to develop new patterns for reaching the survivor and in doing so may reevaluate the productivity of this endeavor.

Once agreement has been made to confront the stalker with the survivor's disinterest, the confrontation plan has been outlined, and communication channels have ceased, focus of treatment must now return to the mental health status of the survivor. It is possible that the survivor may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; or, depending on the type, intensity and frequency of the stalking, the survivor may also have developed some type of dissociative reaction in response to pain (Walker, 1984; Geffner & Pagelow, 1990). Actually, some clinicians have compared the behavioral and emotional reactions of the stalking survivor to that of hostages. Those exhibiting symptoms of the "Stockholm Syndrome" react with "frozen fright" and "psychological infantilism." Victims suppress their rage for survival purposes and suffer a "traumatic depression" after escape. The victim may, therefore, take on the perspective of the victimizer (Graham, Rawlings, & Rimini, 1988). Therefore, as with all victims of violence, the stalking survivor's behavior may be influenced by low self-esteem, denial of the seriousness of the stalking behavior, and/or an inability to trust (Bolton &


Bolton, 1987). There may also be an unhealthy sense of dependency on the stalker. Particularly, if this has transpired for any length of time where familiar patterns of behavior between the victim and the stalker have developed.

Fortunately, in this case example, the time of the stalking harassment was very short and Jill immediately sought help. Jill did state, however, that she had never felt so "trapped" before. She also stated that she felt at a loss for what was the right thing to do and everything she tried to do seemed to be "coming out wrong." The role of the clinician is essential here in normalizing Jill's experience. It is important to explain that many times in the beginning of the stalking relationship, stalkers prey on the element of surprise and do the unexpected. Jill also blamed herself for allowing sexual relations to occur with John. Assistance is needed to help Jill focus on the positives of this experience. First, making her aware that she could not have known where it would lead, and she had relations thinking that they might have a continued relationship. Secondly, she was using good judgment in practicing safe sex even at the expense of upsetting her partner. Third, once she felt that it was a mistake she did not allow it to happen again as evidenced by her locking her bedroom door. The mental health worker is cautioned as to the productivity of telling Jill that she should not have allowed him to spend the night the second time. Her knowledge of this information will not help to establish the positive atmosphere desired.

Further, based on all the things that have happened to Jill and other stalking survivors, it is always important to assess for the potential of suicide. It is unclear how much damage has been caused by the stalker to the survivor's relationships, employment, etc. Many times the survivor of a violent episode may view suicide as a permanent solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem (Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1996). After evaluating the suicide risk for the client, consideration of the potential for the stalker to do the same should be considered. Often the stalker who suffers from borderline traits may try to harm himself or herself. John might try to harm himself once he realizes that his efforts will now be unreinforced. The survivor needs to be made aware of this possibility; however, it needs to be made clear that the survivor holds no responsibility for the stalker's reactions. Further, if the survivor tries to help the stalker it might be misperceived.

In summary, consistent with the principles of Crisis Intervention, treatment for the stalking survivor remains similar to working with any type of survivor and should: (a) help the client to define and address the problem situation; (b) involve action-oriented treatment; (c) set limited goals; (d) provide support to the victim; (e) assist with focused problem solving; (f) begin to assess and help the victim increase self-image; and (g) work with the victim to foster as much independence and responsibility for his/her own actions as possible (Dziegielewski & Resnick, 1996).

In the beginning of treatment, the clinican and the survivor should establish mutually decided goals and objectives. The objectives used to reach the goals must be stated in mea- surable terms, and ways to evaluate progress must be designed. Specific objectives should outline the development and enactment of an action plan for the survivor. It is vital that the clinician express the danger that could develop and continued stress must be placed on main- taining a safety plan. The stalking victim may need assistance in getting help from various organizations, institutions, including the legal system and the benefits and pitfalls of going to court.

In the final sessions (or the ending phase of treatment), overall progress should be sum- marized at the end of each session, with an emphasis on empowerment of the stalking survivor. The practical concerns of the client in terms of accessing resources are discussed, while an atmosphere is maintained that engenders hope and fosters independence. In assess- ing effectiveness of the treatment method, the clinician should consider if the client has been returned to a pre-crisis level of functioning. If treatment has been effective, Jill should be able

Stalking 367

to give to the clinician a basic explanation of the dynamics of the stalking experience and should leave armed with information, including referrals. Jill's experience, as with all survivors, needs to be validated. Clearly establishing that what has happened was not the survivor 's fault. Treatment has also been effective, if the stalking victim is able to highlight his/her own core strengths and ways to handle this type of situation in the future. At the end of treatment, a return to standardized measurement is recommended. A look at concrete changes in emotion (depressive symptomatology, anxious behaviors, and degree of perceived vulnerability) based on objective instruments will not only support practice effectiveness but can also bolster survivor confidence.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The case study and treatment experience described above are designed to provide a therapeutic framework for assisting mental health professionals to assist the survivor of the stalking experience. Legal sanctions and laws to protect such victims have been criticized as lacking (Anderson, 1993; Tharp, 1992); and, many times in the past, mental health professionals have been accused of allowing survivors of stalking to "slip through the cracks" (Tharp, 1992). This article was written to provide the reader with the basic information needed to begin to understand, diagnose, and treat the survivor exposed to this type of phenomena.

It is important to remember that identification and treatment of stalking is a relatively new phenomenon, with societal identification and recognition focusing primarily within the last 5 years. Victims of stalkers, similar to those of rape and domestic violence, are often trau- matized and left to wonder "what could I have done differently." When what they did - - or did not do - - does not really matter. Many times the cognitions of the stalker may be sys- tematically distorted, and innocuous things that the victim does may have been misrepre- sented or misunderstood by the stalker. By learning to understand stalking behaviors, we can begin to anticipate the dysfunctional thought patterns that may surround this type of system- atic thinking. Crisis intervention provides one form of mental health treatment that can be used to treat the survivor. This planned short-term treatment modality may further assist the clinician to address the situation, therefore, avoiding the potential for the premeditated violence that can result from the stalking encounter. The task for the professional provider is now to apply this type of treatment, gathering empirical evidence to support its efficacy and effectiveness for the survivor's of stalking behavior.

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