The therapist's office was designed to be calming----soft colors, comfortable furniture, the gentle sound of a water feature in the corner. But Liam sat rigid on the couch, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere over the therapist's shoulder.

Dr. Alan Reeves had been working with the family for several weeks now, seeing each of them individually as well as in group sessions. He was a specialist in trauma, particularly the kind that resulted from domestic violence, and he ...