From the Inside Flap
Family violence constitutes the most insidious, pervasive, and destructive mental health problem we face today. Violence is not an impulse or an isolated action, it is a social intervention that impinges on everyone's life. It has become essential that we break the cycle of violence and restore dignity to the lives of violent men and their victims. In this timely book, renowned family therapist Cloe Madanes presents a therapy of social action a proven model of therapeutic intervention developed for professionals who work with violent men. At the very heart of this approach is the conviction that the offender is fully responsible for his actions. As evidence of this core belief, a therapy of social action requires the offender to acknowledge his violent actions, demonstrate authentic repentance, make amends to the victim, and find acceptable alternative behaviors. The Violence of Men is filled with illustrative case studies that demonstrate the step-by-step therapeutic process for working with clients who have committed acts of incest, child abuse, juvenile sexual crime, or marital violence. In addition to the wealth of case studies and examples, the book gives specific guidelines and recommendations for:
- developing communication skills that will compel the offender to take full responsibility for his violent acts
- confronting the offender with the effects of his violent actions so he can empathize with his victim
- allowing other family members who have been victims or offenders to reveal themselves during the therapeutic process
- insisting the offender humble himself in front of the entire family by apologizing to the victim and admitting that the victim is not to blame
- urging the mother and other significant relatives of the victim to apologize for not protecting her from the abuse
- discussing with the offender and adult family members the consequences of any further violence such as maximum legal consequences...
From the Back Cover
Renowned family therapist Cloe Madanes presents her "therapy of social action"?a proven model of therapeutic intervention developed for professionals who work with violent men. This approach relies on the conviction that the offAnder is fully responsible for his actions. When used effectively, it can unshackle both the offAnder and the victim from the physical, mental, and spiritual chains of violent behavior. Included are case studies of the step-by-step therapeutic process for working with incest, child abuse, juvenile sexual crime, or marital violence offAnders.
