Domestic Violence within same-sex relationships is just as prevalent as violence in heterosexual relationships. Sexual orientation is frequently overlooked while providing treatment. Group therapy with heterosexual offenders can be a struggle for the GLBTQ client who feels misunderstood by the group. At Pride Counseling, we integrate sexual orientation issues into the overall format of domestic violence treatment. The therapeutic process involves addressing issues of sexual orientation in addition to domestic violence issues.
We are dedicated to the creation and maintenance of a coordinated community response that holds batterers accountable for their behavior, while promoting safety and empowerment for domestic violence victims. Fostering a coordinated community response to domestic violence is done by providing a forum for interaction and information sharing between agencies and individuals concerned with the provision of batterer intervention services. The same community coordinated response is also used to hold substance abusers accountable for their behavior while promoting sobriety and improved safety for the community.
At Pride Counseling, we believe that therapists must also teach their clients to value their sexual identity and help them to gain an understanding of who they are, which includes identification of their beliefs and values. Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse many times are the result of an individual not knowing nor liking who they are. It is important for therapists to normalize the client’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. As long as the client views their sexual orientation or gender identity as abnormal, they will continue to internalize homophobic attitudes and beliefs. This, in turn, may lead to continued violence and substance abuse in the life of the client.
The goal of the program is to stop the batterer from continued abuse of their intimate partner, thus breaking the cyclical and often inter-generational pattern of family violence. Our implicit goals include justice and accountability of the offender to the victim, judicial system, and society as a whole. This will be done through a variety of activities and services:
The first is the monitoring of an offender's progress and completion of the program. There will be immediate reporting to the court upon any known violations of court order conditions.
The program also strives to ensure victim safety and well-being by providing resources and services to the partners of the offenders. The program will notify the victim to offer services and ask that a report be made to the office of any current violence or abuse.
The victim will also be offered support services including advocacy, nonviolence education, monthly support groups, along with individual counseling.
The assessment of the offender will provide an individualized rehabilitation program including, the provision of a nonviolence education program with group treatment for building social skills, focus on an attitude for change, and support for emotional development.
The program’s final, and possibly the most important goal, is to change the community climate of tolerance toward domestic violence through domestic violence education and training.
