According to statistics shared by the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, about one in four women and about one in seven men have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate
Carbonelli-Cloutier, a certified trauma-informed care trainer, president for the Center for Cultural Humility, and member of the Faculty American Chiropractic Association (FACA), will educate doctors of chiropractic about safe ways to provide assistance to victims of violence during her Engage 2027 education session, “Do No Harm: Safe Inquiry and Response to Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Clinical Settings.”
Keep reading to learn more about Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier and her upcoming presentation, and make plans to attend Engage 2027.
How is the topic you are presenting at Engage 2027 relevant to today’s chiropractor?
KC: Intimate partner violence is common enough that chiropractors need to be prepared to respond. According to CDC, more than one in three women and more than one in six men in the United States have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
Awareness also helps us understand how a well-intended response could unintentionally increase a patient’s risk. A 2025 pilot study of 13 physicians identified gaps in knowledge of reporting requirements, communication about confidentiality, and assessment of danger following disclosure. A 2020 research review found that women valued support that respected their choices, while some described feeling blamed for not leaving an abusive relationship.
My presentation focuses on helping chiropractors navigate these situations thoughtfully: protecting privacy, recognizing potential danger, and supporting patient choice. Resources such as the Danger Assessment help illustrate why understanding risk matters and knowing what to avoid can be as important as knowing what to say.
What makes you an expert in this area?
KC: I am a doctor of chiropractic, an educator, and a certified trainer in trauma-informed care through the Center for Cultural Humility. I bring my training, experience caring for patients, and years of teaching to this topic.
This is also personal to me. Throughout my life, far too many women around me have experienced sexual assault or intimate partner violence. I saw it among patients in my own practice, too. It has come up repeatedly, in different settings and at different stages of my life. That is why I care about getting our response right. Wanting to help is not enough. We need to understand how our words and actions could put someone at greater risk, even when that is the last thing we intended.
What first interested you in this topic?
KC: My interest started with how often sexual assault and intimate partner violence affected women around me, both in my personal life and in practice. What pushed me to become more engaged was seeing discussions in online professional forums where people recommended separating a patient from their partner when abuse was suspected, without considering how that separation was handled or what might happen afterward.
Creating an opportunity to speak privately matters, but I kept thinking about the patient going home with that partner. Would the partner question what was said or blame the patient? I realized that people who wanted to help might not recognize how their approach could unintentionally increase danger. That gap between good intentions and the possible consequences made me want to learn more.
Can you provide one or two takeaways from your presentation that Engage 2027 attendees will not want to miss…and why.
KC: Good intentions do not automatically protect a patient. How we ask questions, create privacy, and respond to suspected abuse matters, especially when the patient may go home with the person we are concerned about. Attendees will learn to consider what happens after the appointment so their efforts to help do not unintentionally increase risk.
You do not have to solve the situation to offer meaningful help. Listening without judgment, respecting patient choices, and knowing how to connect someone with appropriate resources can make a difference. Attendees will leave with practical ways to respond without taking control away from the patient.
How many times have you attended or presented at ACA Engage in the past and what is your favorite memory?
KC: I have presented in person at Engage once before and have provided several additional CE sessions for ACA. I have attended Engage regularly since 2019. One of my favorite parts is taking students to Capitol Hill to advocate for the profession and seeing them realize they have a voice in its future. I also enjoy connecting with colleagues, hearing what others are doing in practice, and bringing new ideas back to my students.
What do you enjoy about being a chiropractor?
What I enjoy most about being a chiropractor is helping people. When I was in practice, that meant caring for my patients. As an educator, I love helping my students become thoughtful, capable chiropractors who can serve others well. It is rewarding to know that what I teach can make a difference in how they care for their future patients.
Register for Engage 2027
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Intimate Partner Violence.
https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/
Chau CA, Singh V, Lutnick A, Lesser MNR. Physician Responses to Patients Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence. PRiMER. 2025;9:14.
https://journals.stfm.org/primer/2025/chau-2023-0121/
Tarzia L, et al. Women’s experiences and expectations after disclosure of intimate partner abuse to a healthcare provider: A qualitative meta-synthesis. BMJ Open. 2020;10.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e041339
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Danger Assessment Training and Technical Assistance Center.
https://nursing.jhu.edu/faculty-research/research/areas-of-expertise/community-global-health/da-ta-center/
