Domestic violence: solution‐focused practice with men and women who are violent

Abstract

This article reviews the progress of sixty-eight adults (fifty-two men and sixteen women) on a solution-focused programme aimed at reducing domestic violence. The practice principles are described, using examples of participants' experiences. The outcomes over a three-and-a-half-year period are presented and difficulties in assessing effectiveness of outcomes are discussed. The programmeThe Domestic Violence Programme was originally established in 2001 as a pilot scheme, in conjunction with Kirklees Domestic Violence Forum [now mainstreamed into Kirklees Metropolitan Council Adults and Communities Service and known as the Domestic Violence Team (DVT)]. DVT has well-developed services for women experiencing violence at the hands of male partners but had identified gaps in service provision. There was no specialized refuge provision or therapeutic intervention for gay and lesbian people experiencing violence, no therapeutic provision for women who were violent to their male partners, and no provision for men who had not been through the court process. In addition, a significant number of the women receiving support from DVT expressed dissatisfaction with existing group work programmes for their male partners, most particularly their exclusion from the therapeutic programme and, because of the focus in these groups of men taking full responsibility for their violence, what they perceived as the minimization and denial of their attempts to accept that their behaviour played some part in the violence. The pilot scheme aimed to provide a more flexible

Contemporary MFT Theories and Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of Systemic Treatments

“…According to SFBT's assumptions, a therapist could work with an individual member of a violent couple, and that could change the violent dynamic of the couple (Milner & Singleton, 2008;Lee, Sebold, & Uken, 2007). By working with one partner to change his/her individual behavior, whether or not he/she is violent, it will change the pattern of interaction in his/her relationship.…”

Correctional Officers’ Perceptions of a Solution-Focused Training Program

“…Third, SFA uses scaling techniques to direct juveniles and their families to evaluate what they are doing with regard to actions that will lead to the change they desire (Corcoran, 1997;Franklin, Corcoran, Nowicki, & Streeter, 1997). Fourth, the technique of asking "exception questions" enables offenders to think of times in their lives when they have not encountered the problems identified currently (Corey, 2008;Frederick, 2008;Lee et al, 2004;Milner & Singleton, 2008), which overcomes some clients' belief that their lives cannot be changed or, worse, that they are moving farther away from the desired course of their lives. Finally, the use of SFA effectively engages individuals in direct behavior changes rather than delving into feelings and cognitions that for the offender population is less effective because of their social and psychological characteristics (Chou, 2005;Corcoran, 1997;Corey, 2008).…”

“…Although a competency-based counseling training program based on correctional needs has been developed by Pan et al (2007), the results lack empirical data to support the achievement of goals. Therefore, based on previous studies, the solution-focused training program (SFTP; Corcoran, 1997;Corey, 2008;Guterman & Leite, 2006;Lee et al, 2004;Milner & Singleton, 2008;Sklare, 2005) was developed as a framework for correctional officers' training courses. Although working with inmates and offenders will always be a continuing challenge in jail environments, it might help if correctional officers can approach such challenges with positive thinking of SFA.…”

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Criminal Offending: A Family Conference Tool for Work in Restorative Justice

“…Beginning with the work of Clark (1996aClark ( , 1996bClark ( , 1997 and Corcoran (1997), SFBT was introduced to treating juvenile offenders as a model that offered a perspective towards non-offending based on a respectful relationship with offenders, looking at strengths, and an eye towards building a hopeful future. More recently, the work of Clark et al (2001) has evolved to a second level of involvement with juveniles that includes the importance of empowerment and personal growth of adolescents having an emphasis on the importance of relationship and common factors (e.g., hope, therapeutic relationship, client factors, and use of a model) in addition to motivational interviewing (Milner & Jessop, 2003;Milner & Singleton, 2008).…”