Empowering young people who experienced domestic violence and abuse: The development of a group therapy intervention

Abstract

This article describes the development of a group-based therapeutic intervention for young people (YP) who have lived with domestic violence and abuse. The intervention was informed by interviews with 107 YP, focused on their experiences of coping, resilience and agency. The intervention draws on resources from systemic, creative and narrative approaches to group work, and aims to facilitate YP's expression of distress in a way that recognizes that it is embodied, contextual and relational. The intervention also explores YP's existing strategies for coping and maintaining a sense of agency, and works to harness, enhance and further develop those skills. We report on the pilot of this intervention, and its development and application across four European countries (the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy and Spain). We outline the goals, strengths and limitations of this group intervention, as well as the main challenges, hindrances and ethical dilemmas experienced by the research and intervention team. Implications for therapeutic practice and training are addressed.

The Nature and Extent of Qualitative Research Conducted With Children About Their Experiences of Domestic Violence: Findings From a Meta-Synthesis

“…There are encouraging signs that qualitative research with children can help inform and impact on the policy and practice landscape. Innovative programs informed by the findings of the included studies, that subsequently acknowledge and incorporate children’s own strengths, resources, and coping strategies, are now emerging (see Fellin et al, 2018). These developments and models of practice are critical to ensure that policy makers and practitioners better understand and balance children’s active roles and strengths, alongside their vulnerabilities and need for protection (Fairchild & Skewes McFerran, 2018).…”

Panorama científico de la relación entre la violencia intrafamiliar y de género y la resiliencia familiar: posibilidades, retos y límites

“…Comportamentalmente se reconocieron la: mediación, la solución de conflictos, la comunicación (Bain & Durbach, 2018), el establecimiento de límites, las relaciones interpersonales positivas, la búsqueda de información y el apoyo por parte de la policía (Cherewick et al, 2015) la ayuda a otros, la solidaridad y el empoderamiento (Fellin et al, 2019;Goodman, et al, 2016), el emprendimiento (Green, Blattman, Jamison, & Annan, 2015), la generación de redes de apoyo (Gregory, Williamson, & Feder, 2017) y el desarrollo de habilidades prosociales (Howell, Thurston, Hasselle, Decker, & Jamison, 2018).…”

Swedish School Nurses’ Experiences of Child Abuse

“…Group interventions for children exposed to domestic violence, and/or their families, are described as cost effective and well received, but there is limited evidence for their effectiveness (Bunston, Pavlidis, & Cartwritght, 2016; Howarth et al, 2016). However, according to Fellin et al (2019), group interventions that offer a safe place to identify, discuss, and value one’s own and others emotional response and coping strategies were shown to be effective. Group activities could be a way for SNs to provide vulnerable children with opportunities to create a confident and safe relationship with a SN.…”