MOTIVATING BATTERERS TO CHANGE IN THE TREATMENT CONTEXT

Many treatment programs for domestic abuse perpetrators rely on consis tent, direct, and often intense confrontation of defenses. These inter ventions may unwittingly increase rather than decrease resistance and defensiveness and may reinforce the belief that relationships are base d on coercive influence. Available research suggests that confrontatio nal, hostile, and critical therapist behaviors limit treatment effecti veness and can harm vulnerable clients. Conversely a supportive and co llaborative working alliance between therapist and client enhances tre atment effects. Supportive strategies are available to increase motiva tion to change in resistant clients. These techniques rely on a compre hensive model of the change process and match therapist interventions to the client's readiness for change.