SCOPE AND STATISTICS

• One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States (U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1988).



• Every year, 2 to 4 million women in the United States are battered by a partner (Horton, 1992).



• 1 in 5 women who had been victimized by a partner or ex-partner had been the victim of three assaults within a six-month period (Harlow, 1991).



• An estimated 43 percent of battered WOMEN NEVER TELL ANYONE  (Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women, 1991).

The availability of appropriate laws and statutes mandating the police to arrest batterers, the willingness of the District Attorneys to prosecute and the judges to issue orders of protection have resulted in exposing the complex, multi-determined reality along with the insufficiency of our conceptualization of the problem.

RECONCEPTUALIZING THE ISSUE:

While it is clear that in respect to the cases that come to the attention of Victim Services the courts and other agencies, women's fear for their own and their children's safety play a central and motivating factor in their seeking help, fear is not the only emotion requiring attention. Intense rage, the tenacity with which the aggressor remains involved with the victim and vice versa, the ambivalence exhibited by the victim when the question of pressing charges and testifying against the abuser is raised, must all be taken into account when devising a more effective strategy against the physical and mental health devastation caused by abusive patterns of interaction among intimates.

Contrary to what may be expected, resorting to physical aggression in navigating the intense emotional arena of intimate relationship does not create a sense of power and effectiveness in the aggressor. Both the intimidating party and the frightened victim experience a sense of powerlessness and misery. The aggressor is often full of remorse and the victim apprehensive and baffled. It is clear to both parties that a frighteningly significant event has taken place, but both try to deny its importance, to promise that it will never happen again, to blame it on too much alcohol, too much pressure at work, a terrible misunderstanding, etc., etc. It is rarely, if ever, viewed as a symptom of a potentially malignant process in their relationship.

At times, the first slap or punch, etc. may indeed be the only occasion that loss of control occurs, but the more likely scenario is that of repetition and escalation of destructive behavior, sometimes ending in such catastrophic events as homicide and suicide.

Unlike other acts of violence, the goal of the aggressive act among intimates is not to create distance but to bind and enmesh. The flight of the victim is not experienced as a victory by the aggressor but a further affront. Total submission and virtual enslavement of the victim to the aggressor does not appease but seem to enrage even further. Indeed, most often, the aggressor does not hide when the enormity of abuse is obvious to all, but promises to continue to follow, stalk or harass his tormented victim even as he is convinced that he is the one being tormented and or abused. It is reported that seventy-nine percent of spousal abuse is committed by men who are divorced or separated from their wives (Harlow 1991).

The unique characteristics of psychological and physical battering between intimates indicate that the behavior pattern must be viewed as a disorder of an interpersonal relationship that is reinforced and validated by cultural and political norms. Bio-psycho-social factors as well as historical, cultural and economic issues play an important motivating role in all individual behaviors including aggression. Personal relationships are played out against and through a socio-political background that validates traditional gender differences and power differentials. The cultural roles of man/woman husband/wife partner/lovers have within them the seeds of potential conflict and abuse.

Choices Mental Health Center's short-term, focused, treatment model has been designed after extensive clinical experience and a thorough review of research in the area. There have been many and various theoretical constructs defining the etiology and treatment of domestic violence. Historically and currently these theories have been viewed as conceptually mutually exclusive or politically adversarial, resulting in a general failure to effectively address the escalation of the problem. C.M.H.C.'s eclectic approach allows intervention on various points of the cycle of abuse and maltreatment in order to prevent the onset of physical violence as well as prevent its escalation and reduce harm when it has occurred.

Our program is designed to address the political and psychological aspects of the problem without further re-victimizing the victim of violence--or demonizing the abuser. It is well known that there are indeed women who continue to stay in abusive relationships because there are positive emotional and psychological bonds. Others stay because they feel their lives would be further endangered if they leave. We will not further shame and victimize the woman who wants to maintain her relationship. On the other hand, we will not cast the abuser in the role of a pariah. We believe there are victimizers who want to and can be helped to change.

C.M.H.C. has reframed and renamed the issue of domestic violence as Disorders of Intimacy in order to address the continuum of abuse and the need for harm reduction strategies. As a misguided communication strategy between couples, violence must be addressed in the context of their relationship.

DISORDERS OF INTIMACY TREATMENT

Choices Mental Health Center Disorders of Intimacy Treatment Program has been developed to address the treatment needs of couples involved in patterns of interactions that could and often do lead to violence. C.M.H.C. is committed to addressing the range of needed therapeutic interventions to prevent and reduce the incidence of what has heretofore been labeled "domestic violence". To that end, C.M.H.C. has developed a theoretical framework applicable to multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, heterosexual and same sex partners which allows us to provide treatment for the individual and/or the couple depending on the dynamics, needs and abilities of the parties involved.

Choices Mental Health Center treats:

• the batterers who need to be removed from the home and be in treatment before any possibility of reconciliation takes place ( if this is desired);
• the batterers who can acknowledge their unacceptable behavior and can respond positively in couples counseling;
• the victims, some of whom have successfully left violence behind them and some of whom find themselves leaving one abusive relationship for another; and
• the couples, men and women and men and men and women and women who find themselves bound to one another in spite of the violence.
• C.M.H.C. will also treat the families who have been impacted on by the violence.

No one strategy can hope to treat the dysfunction represented by disorders of intimacy. It is our responsibility to help maintain the emotional integrity and physicalsafety of the victim, continuously acknowledge the responsibility of the batterer and when present, support the couples desire to remain together. All of this is done in collaboration with the law enforcement and court system as well as broader community supports when available.

In order to end the violence in the home, treatment can be with: the victim, the batterer and/or the couple. If a couple is not appropriate for conjoint treatment. Individual and group therapy is available to both in order to enhance:

• their coping skills
  
• the development of insight into their role expectations
  
• communication and behavior with the goal of reduction of violence
  
• increased motivation for change.

REFERRAL PROCESS:

Referrals to the Choices Mental Health Center can be accepted from legal authorities, therapists, hospitals, etc. including mandated and non-mandated clients. The basis for ongoing collaboration is established with the referral agency. When mandated by the courts, the mutuality of goals, i.e. to prevent further violence is discussed with the client. A feedback mechanism is put in place by which the court can get periodic assessments regarding the level of participation and perceived progress of change. The client is informed of the nature of the feedback and the relationship between therapy, the legal system and their violent behavior is clarified.

The client is given an appointment within 5-7 working days for an intake and assessment.

Clients must be covered by insurance, Medicaid or be able to afford a sliding scale rate for services.

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CHOICES MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
97-77 Queens Boulevard / Forest Hills, New York 11374
800-421-7079 / Outside NY Metro Area
718-275-6020 / NY Metro Area