Background: Contemporary shifts in the field of clinical science have emphasized the value of transdiagnostic frameworks that focus on treatment components to target core causal factors of psychopathology, in addition to treatments focusing on the specific symptom clusters of diagnostic systems. Key points: This special issue frames the importance of intervening upon violence by focusing on the generalized effects of intervention, the processes whereby intervention exerts behavioral change, and examines the particular challenges of conducting rigorous research in violence-exposed populations. Implications: The studies presented here suggest the importance of etiological and transdiagnostic framing for intervention with violence-exposed populations. They further underscore the value of multimethod research and multisystemic engagement at all stages of treatment development, evaluation, and implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)