162P
Self-Determined Goals in a Solution-Focused Batterer Intervention Program: Application for Building Client Strengths and Solutions
Batterer intervention programs (BIPs) are a class of programs directed towards individuals arrested and charged with assault against an intimate partner. Self-determined goals are an integral part of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) group BIPs, and are intended to create the context of change that will benefit participants both personally and interpersonally. In the early phases of SFBT group BIPs (generally session 1 through session 3), the therapist facilitates the development of goals premised in pathways towards accomplishment. As the group intervention progresses, part of the focus lies in assisting participants observe, evaluate, and amplify the beneficial consequences of their goal effort with the intended purpose of ultimately developing a future-oriented road map of success specific to non violent behavior and positive internal and external perceptive definitions of self. The purpose of this study was to explore the self-determined goals men construct during enrollment in a SFBT group BIP.
Methods
Participants included men enrolled in a SFBT group BIP in a large metropolitan area of north Texas (n=89). As part of the therapeutic process, participants identified and developed a self-determined goal during the course of treatment. The self-determined goals were qualitatively analyzed using grounded theory techniques (Creswell, 1998; Miles & Huberman, 1994; Strauss & Corbin, 1990) of open coding and axial coding in an effort to identify emergent themes. Using the open coding approach, two researchers independently coded the self-reported goals and identified emergent themes. During axial coding, the researchers triangulated and collectively identified and defined distinct themes.
Results
The qualitative analysis generated four overarching themes: 1) emotional regulation as it relates to regulating behavior and emotions through means such as self-control, letting little things go, and stress management (n=22); 2) personal growth through identification of the desire to engage in positive physical, mental, and emotional changes (n=27); 3) improve relationships with intimate partners, family and friends (n=26); and 4) improve communication by improving general communication patterns during interactions (n=28). In addition, a subtheme termed empathy emerged and was conveyed through the desire to become respectful and compassionate.
Conclusions and Implications
The findings from this study offers preliminary insight specific to the self-determined goals of violent offenders in a SFBT group BIP. The emergent themes were directly or tangentially indicative of non-violent behavior and/or positive change. Of particular interest is the emergence of empathy as a subtheme. Within batterer interventions, empathy has been regarded as a deficit and a roadblock to change among batterer populations (e.g. Buck et al., 2012; Covell, Huss & Langhinrichsen-Rolling, 2007; Scott & Wolfe, 2003). Across studies, there appears to be some consensus between reduced empathy and the risk for increased violence. However, the precise role of empathy in relation to violent behavior is still unclear. The emergence of empathy in a violent offender population upon enrollment in BIP is a unique and promising finding that should be explored further.