BT06 Conversation Hour 11 - Spousal Abuse - Cloé Madanes, LIC, HDL

Description:

Educational Objectives:

1. To describe philosophies of various practitioners and theorists.

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

Outline:

Introduction and Workshop Setup

• Cloe Madanes opens the meeting, inviting questions and case consultations.

• Discusses the lack of responsibility in abusive behavior and introduces a method inspired by Milton Erickson.

• Strategy: Have the abusive spouse deposit money in a joint bank account with their most disliked person to deter violence.

Steps of the Method and Handling Reactions

• Discuss relationships, express empathy, and propose the bank account contract.

• If violence occurs despite this, modify the contract to direct money to charity.

• Goal: Make the abusive spouse feel he has something real to lose.

Involving Extended Family and Third Parties

• Family involvement and respected third parties can help deter violence.

• Cloe shares an example suggesting OJ Simpson’s mother could have shadowed him to prevent violence.

• Third parties are especially crucial in severe cases.

Dealing with Resistant Spouses

• If the abusive spouse resists therapy, engage their extended family to set firm consequences.

• Men in the family can be particularly effective in setting limits.

Cultural Differences and Legal Considerations

• Clients must understand and comply with American laws, regardless of cultural norms.

• Frame therapy around legal consequences to encourage compliance.

• Involving the whole family is critical for success.

Addressing Emotional and Financial Abuse

• Recognizes the additional burden faced by emotionally and financially abused women, especially in Latino communities.

• Building a support system through extended family is key to protection.

Therapy Involving Children

• Involve children in therapy sessions to influence resistant abusive parents.

• Children’s input can be powerful in motivating change.

• This approach is also used successfully with military families.

Working with Male Victims

• Male abuse victims are treated similarly to female victims, with a focus on family involvement.

• Cultural stigma around male victims is acknowledged and addressed sensitively.

Challenges of Immigration and Adjustment

• Immigration stress can destabilize families temporarily.

• Cloe recommends family-focused therapy and advises against drastic decisions during high-stress adjustment periods.

Preventing Repeat Abuse

• Encourage women who leave abusive relationships to change patterns, seek support, and date cautiously.

• Break the cycle for themselves and set a positive example for their children.