NCJ Number
108542
Journal
Psychotherapy Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1986) Pages: 613-621
Date Published
1986
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article describes Walker's (1979) conjoint counseling model for battering couples and presents results of a treatment study of 40 couples.
Abstract
The model assumes that the male partner is the major perpetrator of violence. Goals of therapy are to stop violence from occurring and get both parties to accept responsibility for behaviors associated with the violence. The batterer is helped to realize that physical violence is under his control and not caused by the partner, while the victim is helped to stop feeling responsible for and accepting of the batterer's actions. Additional goals include offering a safe setting for expressing feelings and improving communication, conflict resolution, and problemsolving skills. Initial individual therapy sessions are followed by conjoint sessions with male and female cotherapists. Partners are encourage to analyze the underlying irrational cognitions and beliefs and the reinforcers of the battering relationship and how each partner's beliefs affect the actions of the other. An examination of variables related to successful outcome of therapy in 30 couples followed up for 2 months to 3 years showed that increased age of batterer, higher income, later onset of violence in the relationship, and more sessions attended contributed to positive outcomes. Other, less quantifable factors included male client-male therapist bond, female victim's refusal to accept responsibility for the battering, female's belief that the batterer can change, and positive transference between female therapist and female client. 3 tables and 28 references.