Confronting Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a nightmarish catch-22 women find themselves in when they live with (or date) a man who is abusive. Domestic violence is a complex issue that needs to be confronted head on. This volume offers articles that share stories and insights on domestic violence. Break the cycle of abuse. -- introduction

The latest statistics show that one in four women in the UK experience domestic violence. This book looks at the causes and effects of domestic violence, why some people abuse others and the reasons why people stay in abusive relationships. There is also a chapter on seeking help, including the range of services that are available to partners and their children. The information comes from a wide variety of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper reports, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.

This 2002 book addresses one of the most controversial topics in restorative justice: its potential for dealing with conflicts within families. Most restorative justice programs specifically exclude family violence as an appropriate offence to be dealt with this way. This book focuses on the issues in family violence that may warrant special caution about restorative justice, in particular, feminist and indigenous concerns. At the same time it looks for ways of designing a place for restorative interventions that respond to these concerns. Further, it asks whether there are ways that restorative processes can contribute to reducing and preventing family violence, to healing its survivors and to confronting the wellsprings of this violence. The book discusses the shortcomings of the present criminal justice response to family violence. It suggests that these shortcomings require us to explore other ways of addressing this apparently intractable problem.

This volume explores a unique, interactive group therapy programme for working with abusive men - a programme which encourages men to challenge and alter entrenched beliefs about the roles of men and women. The author presents a new theoretical framework as well as detailed group session protocols, thus providing both practical information for therapists and food for thought regarding the gendered nature of relationships. Sessions address issues such as expressed emotions, recurring thoughts, communication patterns and conflict resolution.