BT06 Keynote 05 - Principles and Strategies for the Prevention of Spouse and Partner Abuse - Cloé Madanes, LIC, HDL

Description:

This presentation will cover the assessment and detection of spousal and partner abuse, as well as intervention strategies. Community resources, cultural factors and same gender abuse dynamics also will be discussed.

Educational Objectives:

1. To list three strategies for intervention in spouse and partner abuse.
2. To describe three cultural factors in spouse and partner abuse.

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

Outline:

Introduction of Cloe Madanes and Her Work

• Dr. Zeig introduces Cloe Madanes, praising her impact on family therapy and her work with the Erickson Foundation.

• Cloe describes her therapy style as interactional, focused on changing social context rather than just individuals.

• She highlights the use of therapy directives—straightforward, indirect, metaphorical, or paradoxical—and emphasizes action over discussion.

• Stresses the value of optimism, respect, humor, and avoiding psychological jargon.

Core Elements of Her Therapeutic Approach

• Advocates respect for both victim and perpetrator; avoids labeling clients as “resistant.”

• Uses clients’ own language and worldview (utilization) to shape interventions.

• While therapy can focus on any time frame, understanding the past is key in addressing violence.

• Emphasizes family hierarchy and the role of extended family/community in healing.

Strategies for Preventing Partner Abuse

• Recommends 14 steps, including temporary separation and involvement of extended family.

• Encourages addressing spiritual pain and requiring sincere repentance from the abuser.

• Reparation can be symbolic or material; reunification should be gradual and supervised.

• Consequences for future abuse should be agreed upon by the family; abuser should have a mentor.

Examples and Applications

• Shares real cases, like a therapist using their own disability to de-escalate conflict.

• Describes rituals like shaving and burying hair to symbolize letting go of the past.

• In one case, involving the abusive husband’s father led to behavioral improvements.

• Introduces “executive meetings” where couples calmly discuss problems and end on a positive note.

Ericksonian Seven Steps to Prevent Marital Violence

• Includes interviewing the couple, showing sympathy to the abuser, and offering a behavior contract.

• Contract requires depositing money in a joint account with a disliked relative; forfeited if abuse occurs again.

• Provides clear incentives to stop abuse and models respectful behavior under stress.

• Concludes with emphasis on spiritual healing and family involvement in sustaining change.