The aim of this study was to shed some insight on the relationships between victims of domestic partner violence and the professional social workers they meet for help and support. Focus was placed on how the professional relationship is crafted, how the meetings and conversations are held and what they contain and how the social workers perceive the clients and their situation. This was accomplished by interviewing professionals working with people that have been exposed to domestic violence and analyzing the results with both communication and gender theory in mind. The conclusions reached show that compassion, patience and empathy are important tools when building a relationship of trust and support, especially since shame and denial are big hindrances for those seeking help. Furthermore, the study found that the social workers often regard the violent relationships in a normative and sometimes stereotypical manner in terms of gender roles and heterosexuality, but recognized them as complex and individual nonetheless.