Description
Violence in relationships, where the roles of offender and victim are fixed, and couple violence, where the roles are changing or simultaneous, often takes place unreported within the home. Violence which doesn’t escalate enough for the police to be notified is never dealt with. Project Stop Violence in Relationships offers a complex therapeutic programme with special focus on violent persons and couples, who face frequent conflicts and arguments, and those who humiliate and insult each other. Most referrals are from Prague City Hall, though some of the clients are from other regions (e.g. they work in Prague, they want to remain anonymous in their place of residence). Through working with perpetrators we are trying to increase the safety of, and reduce the risks to, the family and children. Besides both the individual and group therapies, the program offers also anonymous crises interventions, Self-help groups and on-line help - chat room. A pilot of a new therapeutic method, specifically couple and multicouple therapy, was focus on developing their own abilities to address relationship problems. The project includes also diagnostics and research into the effectiveness of the programme in cooperation with the Charles University in Prague and run a publicity campaign for the public.
Summary of project results
Thanks to the project it was possible to solve domestic violence and mutual partner violence in the complex therapeutic program. The program offers help for people experiencing wild range of violence, from very inconspicuous sing of violence, that hardly somebody notices, to dangerous forms of violence, ending often with serious hurt of a victim and condemnation of a perpetrator. The program Stop violence in relationship has the fixed structure, the complex methodical, the team of experts and good facilities for therapeutic interventions in cases of DV. Results of diagnostic assessments support the assumption, that people committing violence in partnership do not fulfil criteria for personality disorders but they scored significantly in some personal characteristics. This means, that these people often fail to recognize their own needs, they either do not realize they need something, or they are not able to communicate these needs to the partner. It is very difficult for them to take responsibility for fulfilling their own needs.These characteristic mentioned above are accessible for psychotherapy (psychotherapy is able to influence them) unlike severe personality disorders. It was also confirmed during the realization of the project. The realization of the project has actually its big social significance. While if we want to solve the problem of DV we have to solve it complexly. This means we need protect and support victims but along with we provide help/chance to change to perpetrators, eventually both partners together. Therapy of perpetrators seems to be way how to start process of reconciliation and reparation in the families and prevent some breakup of families, and repression of perpetrator.
Summary of bilateral results