Batterers' Treatment: Observations From the Trenches (From Domestic Violence Offenders: Current Interventions, Research, and Implications for Policies and Standards, P 45-56, 2001, Robert A. Geffner and Alan Rosenbaum, eds. -- See NCJ-197536)

• NCJ Number: 197540
• Author(s): Alyce LaViolette
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Maltreatment and Trauma Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reviews the history of batterers' intervention programs and describes the Alternatives to Violence program, as well as the founder's experiences, perceptions, and opinions.

Abstract

In 1979, Alternatives to Violence (ATV) was developed as a program of WomenShelter in Long Beach, California. At that time, WomenShelter's staff was aware of only three programs that focused on treatment for male batterers. The programs that existed at that time had structured 6-16-week formats. There was a strong emphasis on patriarchy as the single cause of violence toward women by their intimate partners. In the formative period of the ATV program, women from the refuge and shelter staff were consulted in the ongoing development of content. Shelter philosophy was permeated with the theme of "male power and privilege." The women at the shelter also talked about their partners as being emotionally powerless, unable to express feelings, "needing help," and as victims of violent childhoods. Introduced as a 12-week program, ATV rapidly expanded to a 6-month program within months. During the next few years, the recommended time in group increased to 1 year. Currently, 18 months is viewed as a minimal time. In 6-10 months, most of the men in group had just begun to break through their denial. The significant changes occurred when they changed their beliefs. They began to believe that their aggressive and controlling behaviors created fear and that they had to stop. Increased time in the program allowed for this transformation in thinking to occur. ATV was a unique program in 1979 and remains so today. It was one of the first programs to use a female-male co-therapy team. Some of the criteria used to assess outcome at ATV are cessation of physical aggression, recognition of nonphysical forms of abuse, changes in attitudes or beliefs, acceptance of responsibility, the development of empathy for the victims, and recognition of controlling behaviors. Three case examples of change under the ATV program are presented. 5 references