Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most prevalent types of violence perpetrated against women. However, men and non-binary people can also be victims of IPV, too. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about 20 people per minute are victims of IPV in the U.S, and IPV accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
Survivors of IPV often wonder if it’s possible for the person who is hurting them to change and whether there are treatment programs for domestic violence perpetrators. Domestic violence intervention programs, sometimes referred to as batterer intervention programs, are programs that provide education and accountability for domestic violence perpetrators, though their effectiveness is mixed.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at domestic violence intervention programs, including what their goals are and whether they are effective. We’ll also look at other ways to prevent domestic violence—and most importantly, resources for survivors of domestic violence.
What is a violence intervention program?
A domestic violence intervention program is also sometimes known as a domestic violence accountability program, explains Tracy-Lee Neville, psychotherapist with Grow Therapy. It is also often referred to as a batterer intervention program. These programs are conducted in group form, Neville says, and are attended by perpetrators of domestic violence.
Domestic violence intervention programs are “designed to directly help offenders of domestic violence and indirectly to prevent future abuse,” Neville describes. “Such a program is most often court-mandated; sometimes it is attended voluntarily,” she adds.
What are the goals of a domestic violence intervention program?
According to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, there are several different types of domestic violence intervention programs. Most of these programs center around counseling/mental health, education, and community services. The most prevalent types are batterer intervention & prevention programs (BIPPs). BIPPs focus on complete accountability, along with safety for survivors and education for perpetrators of domestic and family violence.
People enter certified barrier intervention programs for various reasons, including:
- As a requirement as part of their probation sentence.
- As a way to save their relationship with their partner.
- Because of a desire to change their ways.
Wanting to change is the best reason to enter a domestic violence intervention program, and is a promising sign that the perpetrator will be able to follow through, reform themselves, and end their violence behaviors. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen; likewise, many people enter domestic violence intervention programs because they are told they should or because they are required to.
As the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, describes, some of the education that happens in a domestic violence intervention program includes:
- Information about healthy relationships and gender roles.
- Examining pre-existing beliefs about entitlement.
- Defining violent and non-violent behaviors.
- Looking at how substance abuse impacts domestic violence.
- Learning about the role mental health and behavioral health play in domestic violence.
One of the main goals of a domestic violence intervention program is for the participants to take responsibility for their abusive behaviors, Neville says. These programs “give them an opportunity to discuss and explore their abusive behaviors and associated attitudes with instructors and other abusers, to receive education in relation to potential reasons behind their choices, alternative ways of interacting with intimate partners, and ultimately and ideally to lead participants to want to treat intimate partners better in the future,” she describes.
Are domestic violence intervention programs effective?
The data we have right now on the effectiveness of domestic intervention programs is mixed.
According to the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families, data shows that batterer intervention programs that are integrated into communities as part of domestic violence response can be effective at reducing domestic violence.
On the other hand, the National Institute Of Justice notes that research about the effectiveness of domestic violence intervention methods are inconsistent. They explain that some interventions appear to be more effective than others. For example, the Duluth model, which employs group exercises and feminist psychoeducation, appears to reduce violence. But cognitive behavioral therapy, another common intervention, appears to be less effective when it comes to reducing violent behaviors.
What types of interventions are used for survivors of interpersonal violence?
What about the survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and family violence? Domestic violence intervention programs for partners who cause harm may be helpful in some cases, and less helpful in others. Either way, if you are involved in a violent relationship, you need and deserve help. Your mental health, well being, and safety depend on it.
Support for victims and survivors
If you are experiencing domestic abuse in your relationship, you don’t have to go through it alone. Support is available to help you understand this very confusing experience.
The main types of support that survivors of domestic abuse need include:
- Creating a safety or emergency plan.
- Attending to legal concerns, which may include seeking support for filing a restraining order, child custody, and immigration issues.
- Stable housing and financial support.
- Psychoeducation to better understand the complexity of domestic violence and what they have been through or are surviving.
- Support in processing trauma and reconnecting with themselves, after spending so long having to walk on eggshells and please others; this is best done with an individual therapist.
Where to get help if you are a survivor of domestic abuse?
There are many resources out there for survivors of domestic abuse. You can search for government websites, local women’s shelters, and you can reach out to local agencies that help survivors of domestic abuse.
Often, it’s hard to know where to get started. Many people start the search for help by calling a domestic violence hotline, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which is a free, confidential hotline that can connect you with local resources, support, safety plans, and can also help you identify signs of abuse.
You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224. The National Domestic Violence Hotline also has an extended list of resources found here.
It’s important to note that sometimes abusive people track their partner’s online activity. Here’s a resource for how to take precautions when getting help for domestic abuse online.
Mental health interventions for survivors of domestic violence
Intimate partner violence can have significant mental health impacts on survivors and their families, particularly their children. According to 2021 research published in BMC Women’s Health, the effects of IPV for women include an increased propensity toward depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and PTSD. Mothers may experience decreased confidence in their parenting skills. Children who witness domestic violence can experience long term mental health impacts, including anxiety and depression.
At the same time, there is evidence that therapeutic interventions can have positive effects on IPV survivors. As the BMC Women’s Health study notes, the following interventions can be helpful:
- Social-cognitive therapy
- Narrative exposure therapy (treatment for trauma disorders)
These cognitive programs work best when combined with social support, resources for surviving domestic violence, advocacy, and empowerment.
Interventions for domestic violence prevention
Neville says that identifying interventions that are most effective for domestic violence prevention is tricky and open to debate. “It could be argued that the best way to prevent abuse is to provide accurate and comprehensive education to people from a young age on what an abusive relationship typically looks like and the warning signs to watch out for,” she says.
The education would make it clear that no one is immune to finding themselves in a relationship with an abusive partner—that this can happen regardless of your intelligence, culture, or social status, Neville notes. “Additionally, one should be aware that a person’s level of academic education and their profession ought not to be used to determine whether a person is capable of being a perpetrator of domestic violence,” she says
Warning signs that someone may be an abuser
One of the most challenging aspects of domestic violence is that it isn’t always easy to tell that you are being abused, and some of the signs are subtle. According to Neville, some warning signs of an abusive personality include:
- Becoming angry for no apparent reason.
- Controlling behaviors, such as checking in on a partner when they’re not together, directing their partner on how to dress, or preventing their partner from receiving support, such as being in contact with family or friends.
- Frequently belittling and criticizing their partner.
- Never takes responsibility when something is their fault; instead attempting to shift the blame onto their partner (i.e., gaslighting).
The bottom line
Domestic violence intervention programs are sometimes a helpful option when it comes to holding perpetrators of domestic abuse accountable and decreasing abusive behaviors. But these programs don’t work for everyone, and don’t address the immediate needs of survivors of IPV. If you are experiencing domestic abuse or trying to leave an abusive relationship, please reach out for help. Again, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233 [SAFE] or 1-800-787-3224) is a great way to start and it’s completely free and confidential. You might also consider reaching out to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional.
