Positions Constructed for a Female Therapist in Male Batterers' Treatment Group

Conversations about violence, risk and responsibility with divorced and support‐seeking fathers in Sweden

“…She seems not to be recognized by the respondent as an expert in charge of the situation, performing professionally. Indeed, the study confirms previous research, which demonstrates unique challenges facing women social workers and counsellors when working with men as perpetrators (Päivinen & Holma, 2012, 2017; Tyagi, 2006). Nevertheless, it should be noted that the fact that the social workers in the analysed interviews are not more confrontational in terms of perspectives on violence and negotiations on responsibility does not need to be interpreted as their acceptance of the fathers' explanations or descriptions of problems.…”

“…The mothers are described as weak, not willing to cooperate, selfish, anxious and as exaggerating problems. As pointed out by Päivinen and Holma (2012), constructing women as different and impossible to understand may serve to justify IPV. For the interviewers, it is challenging to draw focus back on the status and actions of the respondents.…”

“…Further, it can be challenging to meet vastly different views of what has happened in the relationship. Previous research has established the importance of a good relationship and cooperation between men and women therapists when working with violent men (Päivinen & Holma, 2012). Having two interviewers, preferably one of them being man, may also counteract the negative effects of gender power in the context of risk‐detection with fathers.…”

Towards gender awareness in couple therapy and in treatment of intimate partner violence

“…Treatment groups for IPV perpetrators are usually conducted by a co-therapist dyad, and it has been considered important that one therapist is female and one male. It has been argued that a female therapist can bring a woman's perspective and experience to bear in an otherwise all-male context (Päivinen & Holma, 2012;Tyagi, 2006;Wilson, 1996). A male therapist, in turn, can model a more flexible and modern masculinity to the male client (Deering & Gannon 2005).…”

“…Positioning has been shown to be useful approach in exploring identity work in therapy (Avdi & Georgaca, 2009;Drewery, 2005;Guilfoyle 2001Guilfoyle , 2002. Päivinen and Holma (2012) demonstrated how gendered positioning can be used as an intervention tool by therapists working wi th IPV to change a dominant cul tural discourse that can be used to j ustify violence. The findings demonstrated how a female therapist was invited to take up gendered positions in the group conversations.…”