A Group-Centered Approach to Exploring Sexual Respect in Batterer Intervention Programs

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is a serious social and public health issue often treated via psychoeducational groups in batterer intervention programs. The topic of sexual respect is a universal component in these groups, but traditional approaches may be too structured to address its complexity. This article outlines examples of how to select and process issues related to sexual violence and sexual respect in a way that honors group dynamics and process and accounts for various stages of offender accountability. We offer a curriculum that uses a careful selection of topics that is related to the skills deficit of the members, while utilizing the power of the group to facilitate the discussion. Specifically, we outline how sexual respect can be addressed in the low-accountability forming stage, the medium-to-high accountability norming/storming stage, and the high accountability performing stage in batterer intervention programs.