MANSFIELD – Domestic violence is a community concern. Its effects have far-reaching consequences and may result in death or significant – and often permanent – physical injury, and almost always cause serious psychological damage to the victims.
In response, Family Life Counseling and Psychiatric Services has developed the Metanoia Domestic Violence Intervention Program to assist in the prevention, reduction and elimination of family violence.
“A batterer’s controlling and abusive tactics impact the primary victims as well as their children who are directly and vicariously traumatized from childhood into adulthood,” says Debora Van Romer, MA, PCC, Metanoia program director. “Guilt, shame, feelings of fear and betrayal, low self-esteem, poor social skills, anger, mistrust, and difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships are experienced by many trauma survivors.”
Family Life Counseling’s Metanoia Domestic Violence Intervention Program is designed to promote change through both group and individual counseling formats, which include strategies that address the following objectives:
To help the participant understand how his abuse stems from beliefs of entitlement which support his control of his partner’s actions, thoughts and feelings;
To increase the participant’s understanding of the causes of his violence by examining the cultural and social contexts in which he used violence against his partner;
To increase the participant’s willingness to change his actions by examining the negative effects of his behavior on his relationship, his partner, his children, his friends and himself;
To encourage the participant to become accountable to those he has hurt through his use of violence by helping him to acknowledge his abuse, accept responsibility for its impact on his partner and others, and take specific steps to change;
To increase the participant’s understanding and willingness to change by exploring actions, intents and beliefs that support equality with a woman; and to provide the opportunity for a man to find love, trust and commitment in relationships with women and children by learning new ways of acting in a relationship.
“The philosophy of our approach is steeped in evidence-based practices that include Family Systems Theory, Multi-Systemic Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Informed Therapy,” explains Van Romer. “We work to address this serious problem in collaboration with local law enforcement, the judicial and probation system, the Domestic Violence Shelter and other area agencies and community providers.”
Family Life Counseling is also a member of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
In addition to domestic violence, Family Life Counseling offers a holistic treatment approach for survivors of sexual abuse. The Raphah (One Healed) Sexual Abuse Recovery Program empowers individuals to take back that which was taken from them. This includes emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual well-being.
“The strength-based approach of this program instills confidence in both individuals and family members to cope effectively with the issues they are facing, and alleviates the misconception that the therapist has all the answers to solving their problems,” says Van Romer, who also serves as the Raphah program director.
The Raphah program is designed to promote healing through individual counseling as well as the opportunity to participate in a recovery group to assist with further support, healing and education. Counseling is tailored to children, adolescents, adults and non-offending parents/caregivers , and subjects covered include: safety and stranger danger; identifying individual and family strengths; support networks; remembering and telling your story; the stages of grief in recovery; trust; boundaries; handling feelings; parenting skills; and healing.
“The effects of sexual abuse have far-reaching consequences from childhood into adulthood,” states Van Romer. “Some behaviors exhibited by individuals who have been sexually abused include criminal activity, substance abuse, academic problems, eating disorders, self-mutilation, anxiety, depression, illnesses and psychosomatic problems, and suicide.
“With proper treatment, we strive to prevent these behaviors from happening.”
For more information about Family Life Counseling and Psychiatric Services, visit www.flcps.com or call 419-774- 9969.
