DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSER TREATMENT: WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Kimm Campbell, MSW

Objectives

• Establish common understanding of domestic violence

• Establish common understanding of abuser treatment

• Discuss state mandated components

• Discuss best practices

• Review what you can do

Defining Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is….

The threat OR use of violence or intimidation by an intimate partner in order to gain and maintain power and

control over another person.

What is Domestic Violence?

• Occurs within an intimate relationship• Is a pattern of violence by one partner

toward another• Can involve emotional/verbal, social,

financial, sexual and/or physical abuse• Intent is to gain/maintain power/control• Violence or threat of violence creates fear• Is about power and control

Cycle of Abuse

Tension

Honeymoon

Explosion

Cycle of

Violence

Tension becomes unbearable; victim may “provoke” incident to get it over with.

Victim may try to cover up injury or may look for help.

Abuser:

Loving behavior such as gifts, flowers, or doing special things for victim.

Victim:

Trusting, hoping for change, wants to believe partner’s promises.

Abuser: Edgy, has “minor” explosions, may become verbally abusive, some hitting, slapping/ other incidents begin.

Victim: Feels tense / afraid, “walking on eggshells”, feels helpless, becomes compliant, accepts blame.

Serious Batterin

g Incident

Why doesn’t she just leave?

• Stay? • Leave

Barriers to Leaving…

• CONTROL (Isolation/Limited Access to Resources)• Embarrassment, Shame, Guilt• Fear (Chances of being killed increase 75% upon leaving)

• Love• Children• Economics• Religion/Commitment to Marriage• Denial• Low Self-Esteem• Hope (that things will change/get better)

So, why does she stay????

Because leaving (safely) is a process NOT an event!

The question we should really be asking is…

WHY DOESN’T HE STOP ABUSING HER?

Abuser Treatment is…A therapeutic, psycho-educational

service designed to facilitate the change process of DV offenders who make the choice to make a change

from being violent & abusive to being non-violent and non-abusive within the context of their intimate relationships.

Defining Abuser Treatment

Common Philosophy

• The use of violent & abusive behavior is a choice

• The most common motivating factor is the desire for power & control

• The perpetrator is solely responsible for the violent & abusive behavior

• Substance abuse/addiction & mental health issues do not cause domestic violence

• All humans have innate worth & a capacity for change

Goals of Abuser Treatment

• VICTIM SAFETY

• Abuser Accountability

• Full Responsibility

• Stop the Intergenerational Cycle

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Intake & Assessment – Family, relationship, social, & medical– Past criminal behavior– Violent, abusive, and controlling behavior– Substance abuse, cognitive or social skills– Factors that might interfere with

participation in a group program – Lethality assessment

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• LETHALITY ASSESSMENT1. Increase in violence

2. Ownership regarding victim

3. Violation of court orders or probation

4. Relationship changes

5. Access to weapons

6. Life stressors

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Lethality Assessment Cont.7. Frequent or severe intoxication8. Threatened or attempted homicide or

suicide 9. Stalking behavior 10. History of holding victim captive 11. Pet abuse 12. Victim making plans to leave 13. Isolation of Victim

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Lethality Assessment Cont.

14. Increased risk-taking by abuser

15. History of sexual assault

16. Acute mental health problems

17. Past use of weapons

18. Strangulation behaviors

19. Violence in family of origin

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Victim Safety– Contact w/ victims at intake, midpoint,

termination– Victim information kept confidential– Victim & abuser groups do not occur

simultaneously – Current MOU with local Victim Service

Agency

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Program Structure– 39 hours of group treatment provided over a

minimum of 26 weeks– Each group session must last at least 1.5 hours– Up to 16 participants per group– Two facilitators for groups of more than eight

participants– Separate groups for female participants– Must establish locally determined fees

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Program Curriculum– Forms of DV– Impact of DV on children, victims, abusers– Emphasis on abuser responsibility– Core beliefs– Alternatives to violence– Healthy relationships– Accountability, self-examination, negotiation, &

fairness– Substance abuse, Mental illness & DV– Behavioral, emotional, & physical cues

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Prohibited Activities– Couples therapy or counseling– Individual therapy in place of group sessions– Therapy that places responsibility for adult behavior

on children or victims– Theoretical approaches that treat DV as a mutual

process– Counseling models that identify DV as an addiction

& children or victims as enabling and co-dependent

NC Mandated Components

• Participant Termination– Inform judge, district attorney, and/or probation within

seven days– Make specific recommendations to judge or probation– Inform victim within two days– Complete risk assessment with victim– Inform victim service agency within seven days

NC MANDATED COMPONENTS

• Program Assessment– Number & source of referrals– Number accepted into program– Analysis of completion rates & reasons for

termination– Analysis of contacts with victims– Assessment of program impact

BEST PRACTICES

• Treatment planning based on psychosocial assessment

• Victim Services

• Case Coordination

• Intervention Services

• Follow-up

• Evaluation

What can you do?

• Do hold abusers accountable for choices & behaviors

• Do encourage appropriate choices & behaviors

• Know red flags • Don’t rescue the abuser• Don’t collude with the abuser• Don’t engage in victim blaming

Thank You!

If you would like additional information please send an

e-mail request to kcampbell@tfsnc.com