This qualitative study aimed at finding out the perceptions of health professionals about the assistance to women living in a violent situation. The scenery was a teaching hospital of southern Brazil. The participants were 12 health professionals from the obstetric and emergency units. The data were collected by semi structured interviews started by a short story in April to May of 2008. The information was organized and categorized and subject to thematic analysis. The results showed two categories: the dialogue as a facilitator instrument to identify the violence and their referrals and the complexity of the phenomena and their implications to the assistance. We pointed out the necessity of to create spaces of the responsibility of agencies devoted to training human resources in health and health services. It is in order to form multiprofessional team that discuss and implements the policy care to women living in a violent situation.