The Consumer’s Domestic Violence Treatment Plan Review Proposal

 The Consumer’s Domestic Violence Treatment Plan Review Proposal

   As a Domestic Violence Treatment Participant, you are being asked to respond to the following prompts: 

You will be asked to answer all three of the items under Questions A, B and C (below) to the best of your ability.  

And you will be asked to write or print legibly. 

The questions are as follows: 

A. Up until now during my Domestic Violence Treatment Sessions, I have been working on the following 3 changes that I have been making in whole or in part that can help me prevent Domestic Violence from happening in my life:  

1.

2.

3.

B. At this point in my Domestic Violence Treatment, in order to prevent Domestic Violence from happening again in my future, I need to be working on these new changes that I can make, that could help me, as well as some of the older changes from the above list.  This combination of changes includes:

1.

2.

3.

C. For now and in the near future, these are positive changes that I plan to make in the future in my life and in Treatment that will help me to prevent Domestic Violence from ever again happening in my life:

1.

2.

3.

BELOW ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS, HINTS or IDEAS about How to Answer the Questions Above.  These include lists of Potential Risk Factors for DV, Risk Factors for DV Re-Offense, and Criminogenic Needs.  All three of these lists contain personal characteristics, thinking styles, attitudes, behavioral histories, and other circumstances that have been shown by Research to contribute to Domestic Violence type Thinking and Behavior.  Please follow each of these links and read each one very carefully as it could safe you a whole lot of trouble in the future.

  For a list of Ideas, it is suggested that you look at the various lists of Risk Factors and Possible Solutions below at the Following Links:

*** #1 Click Here to Study RISK FACTORS for DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.***

*** #2 Click Here to Study RISK FACTORS for DV Re-Offense.***

*** #3 Click Here to Study CRIMINOGENIC NEEDS for DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.***

*** #4 Click Here to Study WAYS TO POSSIBLY PREVENT DV-Related 

THINKING FEELINGS and BEHAVIORS FROM HAPPENING.***

*** #5 Click Here to Study USING OUR VIRTUES to 

      HELP PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.***

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOW: Complete Your Session Feedback Forms Here

          -- Always look for the American Flag!

Always remember to complete your Session Feedback Form after each Session.  Thank you.  And have a nice day.
      Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

And Remember, it is never too early to work on another Treatment Plan -- especially if you have not completed on in the past 10 weeks.        

* Please Click Here to Work on Another Treatment Plan. *

(c. 2021-2024, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)

Potential Risk Factors for DV: Help Prevent DV, by Identifying Risk Factors that Might Be Relevant to Your DV Troubles

  We know from research that certain things in our lives and things that we think and do can put as at risk of a DV Offense, or even a DV Re-Offense.  Yes, hopefully we are making progress in our DV Treatment.  One can click here to get an idea of what one has learned thus far in DV Treatment.  So it's good to learn about these things now:  Many things can put us at risk of a DV Offense or a Re-Offense.  Trying to be in control of another person is a big one.  It can be really educative and helpful to ponder what puts us at risk of DV.  Click Here!.

  A Risk factor in Domestic Violence is Something that increases a person's chances of committing Domestic Violence. For example, alcohol abuse is a risk factor for Domestic Violence.  If one drinks more alcohol under certain circumstances, he or she might be more likely to commit Domestic Violence than if he or she were not drinking alcohol. 

  According to the Standards for Domestic Violence Offender Treatment (2020) by the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board of Colorado (D V O M B), "the literature demonstrates that there are significant risk factors that should be considered in working with people  who have domestic violence offenses."  And, "the following are some of the risk factors identified in the literature that shall be considered in treatment planning and ongoing Treatment Plan Review. These risk factors may not be present at the initial evaluation, but may become evident during treatment resulting in a need for a change in treatment planning and intensity of treatment." (Colorado D V O M B Standards, 2020, p. 24-26) 

  As also noted on the Domestic Violence Risk Needs Assessment (D V R N A), a General List of Risk Factors for DV includes.  (Some of the Risk Factors below even have links to substantive articles about them): 

• Substance Abuse issues or history, 

• Mental Health Issues, 

• Suicidal/Homicidal History, 

• Use of Weapons during an Offense, 

• Criminal History, 

• Obsession with the Victim, 

• Safety Concerns for the Victim and/or look up effects of DV on Children,

• Violence / or Threatened Violence against the Family of the Victim, 

• Attitudes that Support or Condone Spousal Assault, (Versus Good Boundaries),

• History of Starting and/or Completing DV-Related Treatment, 

• Unemployment, and

• Involvement with Pro-Criminal Influences.

  There are different ways of looking for and/or measuring Risk Factors in DV.

  This is important because if we can better measure and understand a person's Risk Factors, we can start to help prevent DV.  By learning about who is at risk of what and under which conditions; we can then more readily address those items with that individual.

  We each should learn about what our potential Risk Factors are.  It is good for us humans to know about our weak spots, right?

  We also should learn about our Strengths -- particularly the Strengths that might help us prevent or eliminate the negative influence(s) of our Risk Factors in the future.

*** Please Click her to Complete 

     Your Potential Risk Factors for DV Worksheet ***

and

Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

(Originally Posted, 4/27/2020).

What are My Criminogenic Needs???

 What are your Criminogenic Needs?  Do any of the items on this list seem to relate to you:  (If I have one of these, these are things to work on in my Treatment Plan.)

“Criminogenic Needs are factors in a [justice-involved individual's] life that are directly related to recidivism. 

Research has identified six factors that are directly related to crime: low self-control, anti-social personality, anti-social values, criminal peers, substance abuse and dysfunctional family” (Source).

• Criminal History; History of Low Self Control:
• Education (truancy, Low IQ, Learning Disorders, Suspensions/Expulsions) – Poor Grades.  Dropped out.
• Employment Issues: Typically does not have a job.
• Financial Issues / Irresponsibility:
• Dysfunctional Family / Marital: Family of Origin History.
• Accommodation: Are you lacking a place to live?  (For an Alternative View: Do you tend to just go along with the crowd no matter what they do?)
• Leisure /Recreation: Not enough vacation time or rest time. 
• Anti-Social Companions:
• Alcohol / Drug Problems:
• Emotional / Personal / Psychological Challenges:
• Anti-Social Attitude / Orientation:
• Anti-Social Personality Pattern:

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOW: Complete Your Session Feedback Forms Here

          -- Always look for the American Flag!

Always remember to complete your Session Feedback Form after each Session.  Thank you.  And have a nice day.
      Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

And Remember, it is never too early to work on another Treatment Plan -- especially if you have not completed on in the past 10 weeks.        

* Please Click Here to Work on Another Treatment Plan. *

(c. 2021-2024, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)

Ways to Possibly Prevent Domestic Violence-related Thinking, Feelings and Behaviors

  Are you tired to Domestic Violence Treatment Yet?  Are you tired of losing otherwise promising relationships?  Are you tired to going to Court, Probation, and paying, fees, fines and paying for Domestic Violence - related Treatment?

  If so, Please see the below list for some ideas about Ways to Prevent Domestic Violence-related Thinking, Feelings and Behaviors.

  In case you have not yet realized it, this is up to you -- 100% -- This is on you.  Nobody else can do this for you.

  So get to it!!!  What are you waiting for???

Think about it!  What are some Ways to Make it STOP?  

What are some ways to Prevent Domestic Violence in our Futures?

Think about it some more!  

Well, Some Suggestions for getting domestic Violence Thinking, Feeling and Behaviors to STOP, might Include:

• Learning how to Take Our time in Starting Up Relationships.

• Learning how to Recognize when a Situation is Escalating in a negative way. 

• Learning about Our Own Strengths and Weaknesses; rather than focusing on the other person's Strengths and Weaknesses.

• Learning about the Rights that we have; versus the Rights that the other person has.

• Learning how to Recognize Our Triggers for Domestic Violence.

• Learning how to identify my DV Cues (the sensations within me that tell me that Imay be about to do DV or something worse).

• Learning when and how to Take Time Outs.

• Learning how to Build our own Confidence enough to where we make sound judgements in difficult situations -- and even judgements about what is best for us as Individuals; rather than always deciding what we think is best for us as a Couple.

• Learning how to Recognize, Respect and Set Healthy Boundaries.

• Learning how to Assess a relationship with a potential Costs / Benefit Analysis.

• Learning how to Communicate for Healthy Relationships -- during a Crisis.

• Learning how to use Stop, Breathe and Focus.

• Learning how to make an Effective Safety Plan for DV Prevention.

• Learning how to recognize when a Relationship is Dangerously Out of Control.

• Learning how to make an Emergency Toolkit for Prevention of DV.

• Learning how to either Stay Sober or how to Get Help for Staying Sober.

• Learning how to Stop trying to Control our Partners; and focus on simply Trying To Control Ourselves.

• Learning how to use our Healthy Support Systems in order to get away from the Danger of either being Victim of DV or becoming a Perpetrator of DV.

• Learning how to Manage Our Own Emotions; instead of Trying to Manage the other person's Emotions.

• Learning how to do Grounding Exercises.

• Learning how to Recognize Deep-Seated or Mental Health Problems and Get Help.

• Learning how to Stop the Cycle of Violence once it has started.

• Learning how to Identify Our Patterns that lead to DV -- including patterns that lead up to becoming Victims of DV; or becoming Perpetrators of DV.

• Learning how to Problem-Solve and how to Think More Clearly without Cognitive Distortions that tend to get us into Trouble.

• Learning how to Recognize Our Anger, and how to Manage Our Anger.

• Learning how to Respect Ourselves and Learning how to Respect Our Partners too.

• Learning when and how to Walk Away in a Peaceful and Respectful Manner.

• Learning about how to Love Ourselves more thoroughly before we again try to Love someone else.

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOW: Complete Your Session Feedback Forms Here

          -- Always look for the American Flag!

Always remember to complete your Session Feedback Form after each Session.  Thank you.  And have a nice day.
      Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

And Remember, it is never too early to work on another Treatment Plan -- especially if you have not completed on in the past 10 weeks.        

* Please Click Here to Work on Another Treatment Plan. *

(c. 2021-2024, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)

After-Care Planning for a Successful End to DV-Related Thinking, DV-Type Behaviors & DV-Related Charges

  No Matter WHERE a person is in Domestic Violence Offender Treatment; it is a great place to begin thinking: "What am I going to do in order to be absolutely sure that this never happens again???"

  In Domestic Violence Treatment, we plan for After-Care from Day one.  Because the real test of a person's DV Treatment Success will be whether or not he or she is able to maintain a Violence-Free Lifestyle after he or she completes DV Treatment.  The Extra-Credit portion of that test comes in the form of being better able to have Healthy and Fulfilling Relationships.

  Hence, while our completion of DV Treatment may or may not be close; we are going to be talking about how to do an After-Care Plan.  And we will also be completing an After-Care Plan Draft as the Worksheet for this Week's Topic.

  Sustained Progress in Life -- a Life Free of DV-Type Behaviors and Free of DV-Related Charges, typically requires a Commitment to a Violence-Free Lifestyle, Careful Aftercare Planning, and Continuing to be a Life-Long Learner in terms of having Healthy Relationships.

  AFTERCARE PLANNING is the act of Planning for how one will care for himself or herself after Treatment is completed so as to never again commit DV-Type Behaviors and therefore never again end up with a DV-related Charge. Hence, the overall question is: 

  Think about this: Have I developed an Aftercare Plan that could help I do the following?

A. Continue to be fully Accountable for my previous DV Offense? 

B. Continue to heal from my previous DV Offense? 

C. Do I have the Tools it will probably take to have Satisfying, Healthy, Rewarding and Safe Relationships?

D. Am I Committed to Life-Long Learning about how to have Healthy Relationships?  and

E. Continue to make changes to my life that will help me better prevent DV-Type Behaviors and Offenses in the future? 

   Having successfully commenced DV Treatment and made some progress; it is time to plan for sustained progress.  It is time to re-shape parts of one's life such that no matter what comes up; DV-type Thinking, Feeling and Behaving is out of the question.   

   Here, take a look at the following questions and think about how you might answer them.  Some Questions to consider as you move along successfully could include:

1.  "What effect has this domestic violence offender treatment program had on my life?

2.  What changes have I noticed about myself, my relationships, my lifestyle, or your attitudes from when I first started treatment until now?

3.  What did I learn about the cycle of violence?  If I get into a bad cycle, I can recognize it and get off of the cycle in a healthy way.

4.  What are the consequences of violence for everyone involved?  When I think of my offense; what were the consequences?  Nobody wants to see that happen again.  Right?

5.  How do I NOW, communicate with my partner and express my feelings?  Do I find that my communications are healthier?

6.  Describe the steps I use when taking a “time out”?  What about the steps one might use to take a Stop-Breathe and Focus break -- or -- Breathing Exercises.

7.  What do I take responsibility for in my specific domestic violence incident?  

8.  What are my major goals in my personal relationships?  What would I like to see change in a positive way in my relationship(s)?  (3 or more)

9.  What have I done to make amends to the victim -- or to the Community or the World (as it were)?

10. What are some alternatives or options I have to acting out violently? (activities, relaxation exercises, meditations, planning, Time Outs, and Better Choices etc.)

11. Who are the people that I rely on to help me understand my thoughts and feelings?  Talk about how they are supportive to me.  It is important to have a support system.  

12. Name three general attitudes, feelings or ways of thinking, or patterns of cognition that I plan to hold in order to keep me from ever again committing DV-Type Behaviors or being charged with a DV-related Offense.  

13. Describe what it means to me to become a Life-Long Learner about how to have Healthy Relationships?  What can I learn in the future?  How can I learn more?

14. How would I Roadmap a Difficult Situation? 

15. List 2 Sources of Positive Energy or Helpful Information that I can turn to in helping maintain my Violence-Free Life -- especially in a pinch.  Who or what is totally able to distract me from making bad decisions in relationships?

16. List 3 Supporting People I can turn to for help should I be challenged in maintaining my Violence-Free Life?  People I can trust to talk me out of it. 

(Some Aftercare Planning Questions, Courtesy of SLVBHG)

*** Please CLICK HERE to Complete your Aftercare Planning Worksheet *** 

^^^ PLEASE ALSO COMPLETE This Personal Change Plan this week. ^^^

Sources: 

(Original DVTPA by Davies and Associates.  The Present DVTPA is adapted.)

(Some AFTERCARE PLAN Questions by SLVBHG)

(Originally Posted, Sept. 21, 2020).

 (c. 2020, William T. Beverly, Ph.D., LCSW, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.).

Accepting full Responsibility for My Actions and The Impact of My Thinking and My Actions on Others

*DRAFT POST * PLEASE DO NOT PRINT or DISTRIBUTE *

Accepting full Responsibility for My Actions and The Impact of My Thinking and Actions on Others

  Some people are raised to always accept responsibility for what they do to others.

  But other are raised to get away with whatever they can.

  Like, I am nowhere near perfect in a moral sense -- I have definitely done wrong in my life.  And sometimes, I did own up to it.  I blamed it on others.  I did not accept responsibility for it.

  But still, I have conscience that tells me that when I do such a thing it is wrong.  I have a conscience because my mother would hardly ever defend me what someone else was angry at me.  So I had to deal with it.

  Others are raised by parents who defend them no matter what they do -- right or wrong.  What does this teach a child?  Do what you want to do.. .it don't matter who you hurt... Just walk away.. Shine it on...  We have probably all known people like that.

  DVOMB Core Competency "E" states that everyone with a DV-Related Offense should Accept the full Responsibility for their actions and the impact of their actions on others.  More specifically, it says:

E. Accept full responsibility for actions:

   1. Disclose his or her history of abuse

   2. Stop One's Self from denial and minimization

   3. Increase One's use of self-disclosure over time

   4. Accepts Responsibility for the Impact of Abuse on others; and

   5. Recognize that Abusive Behavior is Unacceptable

  Like most every other topic when studying Domestic Violence Prevention, there are words that are commonly used and that seem pretty simple.  Many are included in this Core Competency; however, some may have a slightly different meaning when applied to DV Prevention.  For example: 

• Accepting full Responsibility for My Actions.

• What does this look like?  

• What does the phrase "My Actions" include (My Thinking (which might be based on my feelings and my perceptions), My Behaviors, Outward Manifestations).

• What does this look like?  

• The Impact of My Thinking on Others.

• What does this look like?  

• The Impact of My Actions on Others.

• What does this look like?  

• The Impact of My Thinking and My Actions on My Self.

• What does this look like?  

• My History of Abuse.

• What does this look like?  

• Stop My (or Rescue Myself) Self from Denial.

• What does this look like?  

• Rescue My Self from Minimization.

• What does this look like? 

• Increase My Use of Self Disclosure over time.

• What does this look like?  

• Accepts Responsibility for the Impact of My Abuse on Others.

• What does this look like?  

• Recognizes that My Abusive Behavior is Unacceptable.

• What does this look like?  

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOW: Complete Your Session Feedback Forms Here

          -- Always look for the American Flag!

Always remember to complete your Session Feedback Form after each Session.  Thank you.  And have a nice day.
      Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

And Remember, it is never too early to work on another Treatment Plan -- especially if you have not completed on in the past 10 weeks.        

* Please Click Here to Work on Another Treatment Plan. *

(c. 2021-2024, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)

Learning How To Be By Myself

*** THIS IS A DRAFT POST *** PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR DISTRIBUTE ***

Learning how to be by myself is an essential part of being happy in life.

Even if I have always had people around me, there is still that possibility that one day -- even if it is only for a moment -- I will find myself alone again.  All by myself.  

And I could look at that like a victim and with tremendous sadness.  Or I could look at it as one more paving stone heading back to my garden -- a garden where everything that is growing is a part of me.

Sometimes -- many of us -- do even better by ourselves.  

Some say -- the best thing about being in-between relationships is that we have the opportunity to get to know ourselves again.  

I had to be alone in order to finally hear my own voice again.

I had to spend some time by myself in order to feel myself again. 

Sometimes, we have to think for ourselves -- alone -- JUST for ourselves -- before we can really get our head and our heart back into line.

I have to figure out: "What do I really want?"  

DV AND BEING ALONE:

BY THE WAY -- When it comes to DV -- Many of us are MUCH MUCH Better being able to readily adjust to being on our own.  Why?

  Because some of us are in abusive relationships and we will do better mentally, physically, socially, spiritually and possibly even financially if we are no longer subjected to that abuse.

  "“The most dangerous time for a victim is after she leaves her abuser. Leaving an abusive relationship isn't a matter of courage, but it's a matter of not wanting to die.  According to the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness, 75 percent of homicides related to domestic violence occur after separation.”" (Source.)

  “"Research has shown the risk of domestic homicide becomes highest during the period of separation," said Betty Jo Barrett, an intimate-partner violence researcher and an associate professor in the women's and gender studies program at the University of Windsor.

  "And the intensity of domestic violence escalates when the abused person decides to leave the relationship."

  Many researchers believe it's about power and control, she added.

  When a woman finally says she's leaving the relationship, Barrett explained, abusers may try to escalate their power and control tactics to force the woman to stay.”” (Source.)

THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING TO BE ALONE:

  Learning to be alone has many benefits.

  For example, according to Very Well Mind: "“Spending time alone gives you time to focus on your interests. It's an important part of self-development and allows you to get to know yourself. When you are surrounded by others, you might set your own ideas and passions aside to appease the wants and needs of friends and family.”  “Taking time on your own gives you the opportunity to make creative choices and focus your attention without worrying about what other people are thinking.”  (Source.)

  Very Well mind goes on to say that being alone can help one:

  Boost their creativity

  Develop more Empathy

  Improve Relationships

  

  Very Well Mind even goes far as to suggest that if one is trying to learn how to be alone, the following can be helpful:

  Make a Plan.

  Eliminate Distractions.

  Learn to Value Solitude.  (Source.)

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOW: Complete Your Session Feedback Forms Here

          -- Always look for the American Flag!

Always remember to complete your Session Feedback Form after each Session.  Thank you.  And have a nice day.
      Please click here to complete Dr. B's Session Feedback Form.

And Remember, it is never too early to work on another Treatment Plan -- especially if you have not completed on in the past 10 weeks.        

* Please Click Here to Work on Another Treatment Plan. *

(c. 2021-2024, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)