Working with perpetrators of domestic violence is a very
specialist area and requires the following of specific guidelines. When I was working
for NSW Health our policies stated that were not to work with perpetrators on
perpetrator issues (e.g. anger management and relationship issues) as our focus
needed to be on intervention with victims.
So, although I do not have specific skills to work with
perpetrators, I have attended seminars and am aware of appropriate guidelines
and resources for working with perpetrators, and these I would like to share.
General approaches
One of the most helpful seminars I attended was a presentation
by Greg Yee (a Relationship Therapist in private practice) entitled Do Perpetrator
Programs work? This was part of a Domestic
Violence Forum in Dubbo in 2010, and Greg has worked with perpetrators over a
number of years.
He said that group perpetrator programs done well and right have a place
to play, but if they are not done well they cause more harm than good. If the
program is not working then it needs to be disbanded immediately. Programs are
not to men but for them. It is not helping them to allow them to
get away with their behaviour – the criminal justice response is an important
component of the program.
He uses a group program based on a Duluth model by Pense and Palmer that
aims to stop violence and control via key attitudinal shifts, and for
participants to change and become someone they like rather than to get their family
back together. Participants need to jump through hoops to demonstrate that they
really want to change, rather than avoid consequences of the criminal justice
system. Only 10 – 15 % of those who do his program change.
He outlined the following as being elements that create the best
opportunity for effective intervention:
- The safety of women and children is not dependent on the perpetrator changing.
- Perpetrators need to experience consequences for violent behaviour (AVOs, legal consequences, leaving the family home and not being given a time frame).
- It is essential to engage with the female partner and have her active participation.
- Needs to address patriarchy and belief systems of entitlement and male privilege (anger management, improving communication and stress relief are not appropriate).
- Experienced and skilled workers who understand the complexities of domestic violence.
More information can be found about Greg on this website:
http://www.karunacentre.com.au/greg-yee.html
Documents outlining standards for men’s behaviour change programs
NSW Health Information Bulletin IB2014_003 Domestic violence – men’s behaviour change
programs (this includes Minimum standards
for men’s behaviour change programs NSW Attorney General & Justice):
http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ib/2014/pdf/IB2014_003.pdf
http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ib/2014/pdf/IB2014_003.pdf
A great resource
The Victorian government has produced this excellent and comprehensive resource under its No to Violence strategy: Mens Behaviour Change Group Work: Resources for Quality Practice, and it can be found on this link:
Some on-line resources for men
Self-help booklets and guides for men who want to change are
available from the Freedom from Fear Campaign (Western Australia):
The NSW Mens Referral Service (MRS) is for men whose behaviour
is causing problems for their relationships or family and provides information and
referrals:
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