On the Level: Foundations for Violence-Free Living

Men’s violence has been with us for a long time. We’ve hurt, injured, even killed our wives, partners, brother, and others who have crossed us in moments of anger and rage. The goal before us is not to cast blame, but rather to put a stop to the violence. We need to take responsibility for ourselves, our actions, and our words. There are no winners in violence, only pain, suffering, and loss.

The assignments in this workbook may be some of the most difficult you’ll ever face. You’ll be asked to openly and honestly look at yourself as you’ve never done before—not to find fault, but to find truth. 

While these questions and challenges might be asked and made by others, the answers must come from within. Only you can determine the lessons you’ll learn. You alone will make the choices. You alone will make the changes.

This workbook is yours to remind you of what you are learning and the progress you’re making. There are no right or wrong answers. What you write will probably be very different from what others write. We hope that this workbook will help you chart your progress and growth as you continue to address life issues after completing this program.

This workbook is designed for use with our counselor's guide, Foundations for Violence-Free Living. It forms a permanent record of the work the men have done and the progress they've made toward changing their behavior. It contains 49 worksheets that correspond to the activities described in the facilitator's guide. The language in this workbook was edited for adult learners, to be sure men of all educational backgrounds could use it.

DAVID J. MATHEWS, MA, LICSW, is a counselor with the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Community Assistance Program in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is very active in violence intervention and prevention, and has trained local, state, and national organizations. He is the author of numerous presentations, a chapter on parenting groups for men who batter and a collection of parenting activities, Parenting Under Stress.