The STOP Program: For Women Who Abuse: Group Leader's Manual

Group leader's manual for treating women who abuse their partners.

Long disregarded and downplayed, female domestic violence is today rapidly gaining awareness as research proves not only that it exists, but that―according to multiple incidence studies―the frequency of women abusing men is much higher than we ever knew. While certain core elements of intimate partner violence are shared among all domestic violence offenders, female offenders face unique triggers, personal backgrounds, and relationship dynamics. The STOP Program: For Women Who Abuse is the most innovative and comprehensive manual to address domestic violence treatment specifically to female offenders, with a program targeted to engage women in their own healing process. This program will radically change the landscape for treatment of women who abuse.

This comprehensive instruction manual for group treatment offers therapists, social workers, and other counselors sound, psychologically-based interventions to reach the very women who often seem unapproachable in a treatment setting. Developed and field-tested for over twenty-five years among military and civilian populations, the program provides a skill-building approach to address the core elements of all intimate partner violence as well as the aspects that are unique to female offenders. Participants are held responsible for their actions―and pushed to examine the complex roles of trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem deficits, and histories of personal victimization in their relationship struggles.

Presented in a 26-week or 52-week psychoeducational format, the group leader’s manual is packed with teaching methods, skills-training exercises, articles, video clips, and other resources, as well as guidelines for addressing the substance abuse issues which frequently exacerbate female domestic violence. Accompanying handouts and homework for participants (sold separately) provide structure for recovery both within the sessions and at home. Order and learn more about the handouts and homework here.

David B. Wexler, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and executive director of the nonprofit Relationship Training Institute. He lives in San Diego, California.