Dr. Kelly educated professionals in evaluating, understanding, and making decisions about domestic violence situations. She presented new research on differentiation among types of domestic violence, including situational couple violence, coercive controlling violence (battering,) female resistance, and separation-instigated violence, each with different characteristics and outcomes. Gender issues, the impact of partner violence on children, and effectiveness of batterer intervention programs were considered as well as implications for practice and divorce interventions such as mediation.

Dr. Kelly provided both families and professionals with tools and approaches to use in listening to and talking with children, including research and practice and parental perspectives. She addressed in what types of situations such discussions should occur, including actual case examples of children expressing their viewpoints. Dr. Kelly addressed the possible risks to children as well as the important developmental issues.