BT06 Case Supervision Panel 01 - Case Supervision on Spousal or Partner Abuse - Cloé Madanes, Lic Psic, HDL, and Jeffrey Zeig, PhD

Description:

This special presentation is for those licensees needing to fulfill the requirements for Spousal and Partner Abuse. Bring your cases for discussion and commentary.

Educational Objectives:

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Introduction and Workshop Objectives

• Dr. Zeig introduces the workshop on partner abuse, highlighting Cloe Madanes’ expertise.

• Emphasizes a non-hierarchical, experiential format encouraging participant contributions.

• Focus on applying Ericksonian and systemic perspectives rather than didactic learning.

Challenges in Reservation Communities

• High rates of violence and cultural acceptance of abuse on reservations discussed.

• Chloe suggests working with community elders and handling cases individually.

• Example: A child expelled from multiple schools; challenges of cultural adaptation.

Cultural Adjustment and Violence

• Cloe advises teaching realistic self-defense and helping children adjust culturally.

• Stresses being pragmatic about entrenched cultural violence and finding practical solutions.

Preventive Psychiatry and Cultural Adaptation

• Cloe introduces Gerald Caplan’s concept of preventive psychiatry.

• Focus on adapting interventions to clients’ unique cultural and personal contexts.

• Distinguishes between feeling deserving of abuse and lacking support.

Empowering Victims and Addressing Abusers

• Importance of engaging cultural support systems like churches and women's groups.

• Involve extended family and apply social pressure to stop abuse.

• Understand and use family hierarchies in interventions.

Handling Suicide Threats and Confidentiality

• Strategies for relocating victims and managing confidentiality in violent situations.

• Handling suicide threats with watch plans if necessary.

• Emphasizes understanding abusers' confusion between love and violence.

Systemic Training and Maintaining Compassion

• Suggestion to train first responders (like police) in family therapy.

• Importance of supervisory networks and case discussions for independent practitioners.

• Systemic training helps maintain compassion among front-line workers.

Cycle of Violence and Emotional Bonds

• Discussion of the violence cycle, including the “honeymoon phase” post-abuse.

• Victim attachment to abusers has biological and emotional roots.

• Emphasizes the need for systemic understanding to break abuse cycles.

Motivating Change and Cultural Adjustment

• Motivate abusers by focusing on the impact on children’s future.

• Educate immigrants about cultural norms and laws.

• Example: A girl feeling responsible for her abusive family's stability highlights the emotional complexity of abuse cases.

Reframing Provocation and Legal Consequences

• Cloe stresses separating provocation from violence and explaining legal consequences.

• Address confusion between violence and expressions of love.

• Highlight challenges of changing deeply entrenched cultural norms.