More than three million children witness domestic violence each year. School counselors need to understand the dynamics of domestic violence, learn the most effective assessments of violence in the lives of their students, and be familiar with the interventions that can be implemented. External stresses on the family do not appear to influence the mental health of children as much as the internal stresses caused by a dysfunctional, violent family. Counselors may be part of the problem by colluding with the perpetrators of family violence in that they focus on perpetrators' behavior patterns as being caused by social issues. It is time to identify violence at its source, hold perpetrators accountable, and find ways to reach children. Counselors need to enlist the help of others in discovering the extent to which violence has permeated student's lives. Parents need to be held accountable, but also need to learn the tools to help them become more effective in their roles. (Contains 10 references.) (JDM)