I am interested on finding new techniques to work with domestic violence victims or perpetrators. Any suggestions?
Rebecca

Hi - I too am interested in working with those in this situation - I would suggest a Breakthrough Session which combines skills from the worlds of NLP, Time Line Therapy tm and Hypnosis - let me know if I can share any information?


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Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, Certified Master Time Line Therapy tm Practitioner, Certified Master Hypnotherapist, Certfied Coach, Certified Archetypal Coach and also trained in the areas of Numerology and Astrology

www.tranceformations-pbe.com

If you think any of your information might be helpful for others, feel free to share with us. Thank you.

Sure - well from experience - people will stay in domestic relationships due to certain beleifs they have and habits they have formed - so for example the person being abused - could beleive that they dont deserve love, its better to be with someone and be badly treated than be alone, that they desrve this and so on - I can generalise - but there will be beleifs running within the Unconcoous Mind to have them stay - also the person doing the abusing may not have any other way to cope, they will have inapproapriate anger, mnaybe they saw this beahviour from a parent and so on

The tools and techniques I mentioned assist people in removing beleifs that are causing the situation, remove negative emotions and so focus on what they want instead!


_________________
Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, Certified Master Time Line Therapy tm Practitioner, Certified Master Hypnotherapist, Certfied Coach, Certified Archetypal Coach and also trained in the areas of Numerology and Astrology

www.tranceformations-pbe.com

I have worked with women and children of Domestic Violence (DV) situations for 2 years now. I have learned A LOT through the clinicians that have worked in DV shetlers and outreach services. I am currently working at a local shelter as the children's therapist and I can honestly say this population has been a challenge for me to work with for the past couple of years. I love a challenge, so it has served me well.

I would suggest calling a local shelter and asking for a tour and some information on working with Domestic violence families. I know Rose Brooks just had a Bridge training at St. Joseph hospital. The Bridge program is a shelter/outreach program where someone will go to a hospital and make contact with patients that have been hospitalized because of a DV incident. I know more shelters offer trainings like that through out the year as well.

I agree that there are false beliefs that keep a person in an abusive relationships, but from my experience it may take a long time for the women/man to change those beliefs. In lieu of that, one thing to consider is how well a therapist can handle seeing that and dealing with the client going back numerous times to the abuser. It reminds me of working with substance abuse clients.

If I can be of any assistance in working with these clients please let me know!! Elena Gil has helped me tremendously in working with children and the book "Codependent No More" has really helped me to understand victims and survivors of DV as well.

Cinnamon -- you give very good advice. I tried to google Elena Gil and couldn't find anything relevent. Can you share a little more about her work and where I might find it.

I worked at a Domestic Violence Shelter for one year. The best advice I can give is be a good listener. Some of these ladies/men/and children are just looking for someone to listen to their problems, give them support, and make them feel like someone cares. I think as a therapist you can not always look at changing one of your clients. It will not matter what technique you are using it is not going to work unless the client wants to change. As Cinnamon stated you may see a particular client for a long time before they make the decision to change their life. The batters do an excellent job of beating down the victim, they can make them truly believe that they are worthless, incapable of love, and not able to provide for themselves and the kids. I think it is important to hae the right resources for the clients also as far as jobs, housing, babysitting, clothing, and food. Not everyone of your clients will choose to go to the shelter. Being a victim of domestic abuse myself, it takes time to have the "aha moment" were everything is clear.

The subject was brought about beliefs keeping you in a bad environment. As a counselor you must be sensitive to the clients beliefs and culture. There culture has alot to do with their behavior. Also the environment they came from if there was physical and verbal abuse. One thing that I worked with clients on was parenting skills to break the cycle. Being a single parent, working, paying the bills is stressfull and the stress can be taken out on the children. So I feel parenting skill are needed not only for the parent but to put consistency back into the childs life.

Hope this helps.

Sorry guys! I was typing too fast and got her name wrong, it is Eliana Gil and the book that I've used is The Healing Power of Play: Working with Abused Children (Paperback) . I also was able to watch a great video from Eliana Gil at Kcplay therapy during a training where she worked with a family. She had the mother and son do a genogram using miniatures. It was a great tool and I hope to use it soon with the families I work with at RBC.

Does anyone have any suggestions for parenting classes and if so, where to get the materials or speakers?
Thanks!!

These are great resources. I was wondering if you have any suggestions about working with families and crisis intervention.
Rebeca

Cinnamon, Ther is a class called Love and Logic, and one of my old clients teaches it. Lori has worked with her the past you might ask her. Also I would think the main library should have tapes and books. There is another one called Magic 1, 2, 3. Carolyn Martin has that tape you might ask Craig about it. Hope this helps.

I actually am working with 1 2 3 Magic right now. I think for families in DV situations it is by far the best tool to use. It is simple and doesn't require much work on the parents end, well it is work, but not much to remember. They just count unwanted behavior, although it does require follow thru.

Rebecca, what information are you looking for regarding crisis intervention? are you working with families with suspected DV or families that you have identified that have DV and are looking to get out of that situation?