Proposal for a Support Group for Male Victims of Domestic Violence

The resource is to allow male clients to discreetly access contact numbers for services which can assist them when they are subject to domestic abuse. Straus (2004) argues that domestic abuse where males are the victims are becoming a major issue in terms of public health and require interventions in place which allow male clients to access services in order to have the courage to leave abusive relationships. This highlights the need for Health Visitors to be aware of the prevalence of domestic abuse in males in order to meet to their needs and support the victims.

Support groups have evolved drastically to the point that participants are learning and teaching others about similar arguments and coping skills. These groups reinforce professional and non-professional procedures for the better good of the community, as well as providing individuality for certain groups of people. At the same time, participants are becoming intimated by society and the stigmas they place upon support groups. Although support groups might have some negative understanding from society, there are also benefits that overcome the public stigma, and helps the community and its civilians to disseminate information on research, treatment, resources, and methods of coping. With that in mind, support groups of any kind helps everyone in need.

Made a Beginning Group (MAB) of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was observed in the efforts to link course readings and class lectures to real life group work. MAB was observed on October 14, 2015, at 6:00 pm. with fourteen people in attendance. The open support group meeting was located at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando on East Robinson Street and was led by one facilitator. MAB and the facilitator showed deviations from the normal group practices discussed in the class of Group Dynamics and Process. However, some familiar therapeutic factors such as Instillation of Hope, Imitative Behavior, Universality, Group Cohesiveness, and Catharsis were evident in the group’s dynamics. The observation techniques included the point of view of an observer, a hypothetical point of view as facilitator, and the observer’s reaction. Together, these observations suggest that even though MAB does not follow standard group procedures; therapeutic and helping factors occur relatively routinely.

In completing this essay, an opportunity was provided to select a case study and determine whether individual, group, or both kinds of services would be most effective treatment for a client. The essay will be based on the case study of Working with Survivors of Domestic Violence: The case of Charo. The issue the client is facing will be discussed, along with my recommended intervention. The essay will conclude with identifying the best delivery method for an intervention with supporting resources to validate my decision.

The group for psychoeducational support groups for the perpetrators of intimate partner violence. The ultimate goal of the group is to ensure that they can manage any anger problems, emotional problems, and drug related problems that may contribute to their behavior (Corey, Corey, & Corey, 2014). It should be every group member’s goal that he or she learns techniques to genuinely improve relationships with others. Every group members’ goal should be to be truthful and open about their abusive behaviors towards others and learn alternative ways to interact with others (Corey et al., 2014). In addition, there may also be a need managing the stress from any other contributing factors that may affect abusive behavior (Corey et al., 2014). Group members will be given different outlets to help individuals feel in control over emotions and behaviors. Also, it is the group leader’s goal to make sure that the group member’s take responsibility for their actions and are not solely placing blame on the victims of intimate partner abuse (Corey et al., 2014). Lastly, the group members should develop compassion and empathy towards the individuals that they are around (Corey et al., 2014). This will allow the perpetrators of domestic violence to address any rationalizations that may prevent them from making progress within the group.

The human services organization in this proposal is Sudbury Male Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse Counselling and Crisis Centre. The mandate of the organization is to provide services to men of eighteen years of age or more that have experienced or are suffering from mental, physical or sexual abuse. Because males have a tendency of feeling, the abuse was their fault, that they have no support system and people will not believe their story, they are less likely to report their incidents (McDonald & Tijerino, 2013). With that being said this organization will also act as a safe haven, in the form of a shelter for men that are worried about their safety. It will give them support to strive for personal growth, it will teach them necessary skills to overcome their current situation and will promote community health by educating the community about male abuse and the services available for victims. Throughout the proposal, there will be four main topics discussed; these include principles for practice, organization behavior and administration, program accountability as well as intra/inter-organizational relations.

Domestic violence is an issue that effects individuals nationwide, it affects women, men and same sex gender couples. There is one in every seven males who are a victim of domestic violence. The problem we face today is that there is a lack of support for different groups. Groups such as the men as well as the same sex gender couples. Understanding domestic violence is essential and the long term effects on each person involved. Who are the underserved and why? The underserved are the individuals who are often under-reported, exposed to prior domestic violence and judged by the society. Society needs to open the doors for the under-served as everyone deserves an equal opportunity for safety.

One of these organizations is: The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health. It offers training, care, and session to advocates, mental health and substance abuse benefactors, legal professionals, and representatives as they work to improve group and systems-level responses to the surviving victims and their children. Their work is for the survivor to defined and entrenched in principles of social justice. It is one of the four specialized center that also focuses children, adolescence, and a violated family.

This agency was established in 1989 by the collaborative efforts of the city of Grand- Prairie, Texas and its citizens to create a program that will assist and support victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults within its city and everywhere else. All people are welcome. Its mission is to empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing emergency safe shelter and support services, and to reduce violence in our communities. They are funded by the

The study by Barber examines the definition of domestic violence, changing the focus of domestic violence which was being mainly focused on women, whom are seen as the victims and males being the perpetrators. The author also notes the challenges of finding dependable estimates of males who are victims of domestic violence, as so few men are willing to step forward and acknowledge they are being abused. Therefore, not seeking professional help. The study reflects that incidents of men who are abused may go unreported of “fear of ridicule, social isolation and humiliation.” The study shows that in some cases, male victims were ignored by the police when they did report domestic violence and often experienced discrimination or prejudice. Men are traditionally perceived as being “stronger” than woman. Consequently, male victims may not report being abused or seek help because of fear of

By making society conscious of domestic violence against male victims, it has aided in creating and informing victims of help that is out there for them. This would include support groups. Being able to identify with peers that have similar situations, and discussing these issues, can help the healing begin.

Davis, who is an adjunct professor at Quincy College in MA talks about how men are also victims of domestic violence. Davis teaches Domestic Violence at Quincy College in MA. He is also Vice President for “Family Nonviolence, Inc.” He has experienced domestic violence as a police officer for 21 years. According to Davis, society thinks that women and children are the only victims of domestic violence and that men are just the perpetrators. This article appears in the Journal of Aggressive Conflict and Peace Research. Davis wants to raise awareness about men also being victims of domestic violence. The websites like www.ncadv.gov don’t mention men as abusers. The Congress also labels men as the perpetrators and not as victims. Davis also explains that domestic violence can be emotional abuse and have negative, long lasting effects on their victims. Emotional abuse also leads to more suicides than

Men unfortunately do not receive as much help throughout the society as women, but that can be due to under-reported cases. In the article by Shuler, C.A. (2010) is it understood that men are often under-report due to their feeling of embarrassment and lack of support. Men have found themselves reaching out for help by calling authorities and shortly after be humiliated that their spouse is abusing them, “No man wants to be considered as weak” (Shuler, C.A., 2010, pg. 167). The society plays a vital role on how individuals are seen as a victim and a perpetrator, the muscular the person the more likely they are to be a perpetrator and the more feminine an individual then they are more likely to be a victim as per Little, B., & Terrance, C. (2010). Also, as any victim despite who they are have a possibility for being in denial of what is really going on. A victim in denial can tell themselves “It is not that bad” or “I got through the prior attack I’ll get through this one” and unfortunately they do not make it. Shuler reported that there is a lack of studies for the male group and that “Male victims of intimate partner violence are secluded victims in our society” (Shuler, C.A., 2010 pg. 171), if there was more studies performed for male victims there would be a clearer understanding of what is going on the side of a male victim as well as the female

Earlier in the course, we were challenge to think about a group we would like to lead and I choose private support group for survivors of domestic violence and abuses. I would use the Dyads during the

Male victims of domestic violence - attitudes towards the UK public services and organisations available to them