Interventions for Men

Men who want to change.

Are you man who is abusive to your partner but want to change your behaviour? If so Somerset Change can help.

• Do you want an open, warm and honest relationship with your partner and children?
  
• If things continue are you afraid of losing your partner and/or children?
  
• Are you jealous of your partner and do you check up on where she is and who she is with?
  
• Has your partner told you that your behaviour is frightening or controlling?

We offer a voluntary, group work programme to help men change this behaviour. It is a behavioural change programme as opposed to anger management. It encourages men to take responsibility for their behaviour and understand the impact on their partner and children.

There are many reasons why men may want to do this programme including:

• Relationship breakdown/separation
• Encouragement/pressure from family
• Child contact issues
• Child protection issues
• Family Court proceedings
• For future relationships
• To learn be a better role model for their children

Whatever the motivator we encourage men to focus on changing their behaviour rather than other outcomes and this begins with the acknowledgement and accepting responsibility for their behaviour.

The programme is 1 session a week for 26 weeks either in the evening or during the day on Saturdays. Men are required to complete the whole programme and are assessed to determine motivation and suitability.

This is a voluntary programme which requires commitment.

What does the programme include?
It is a group work programme with groups of between 4 and 10 men. It is a rolling programme so men can join at the beginning of any of the 4 modules which are

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Intimacy Abuse
• Children and Domestic Violence

Each module explores the subject, looks at the victim perspective and teaches theory, applying this to the men’s own experiences. Men will explore the beliefs and attitudes which lie behind some of the behaviour. The programme teaches them how to deal with situations in a non-controlling, non-abusive way, to negotiate and communicate assertively not aggressively. And it helps men to work towards creating a healthy relationship based on equality.

How do men get onto the programme?
Men will probably hear about this programme through another agency but are required to contact us themselves for an assessment. A meeting will be arranged to complete an assessment and if suitable the man can start the programme, usually within 6 weeks.

While men are on the programme their partners are offered support from our Victim Service.

Following completion of the programme during which evidence of change must be seen, the men are offered some follow up sessions.