Court-Mandated Perpetrator Assessment and Treatment Handbook

Table of Contents

Introduction 	 

Treatment Overview
   Clinical Modality 	 
   Family and Couples Therapy
   Therapy versus Education 	 
   Group Psychotherapy 	 
   Length of Treatment 	 
   Missed Sessions 	 
   Dealing with Missed Appointments Clinically 	 

The Assessment Process 	 
   Making it Safe for You 	 
   Setting the Frame: Informed Consent 	 
   Setting the Frame: Confidentiality 	 
   Setting the Frame: Privilege 	 
   Developing Rapport: An Overview 	 
   The Therapeutic Alliance 	 
   Client Motivation:  An Overview 
   Male Perpetrators and Therapy 	
   Motivation in Clients of Color 	 	       
   Evaluating the Motivation of the Court Mandated Client 	
   Relapses 	 
   Motivation and Reports to Third Parties 	 
   Determining Suitability 	 
   High Risk Cases 
    Other Special Treatment Issues 	 
   Assessment of Suitability Summary 	 
   Differential Diagnosis 	 
   Psychoactive Substance Disorders 	 
   Personality Disorders 	 
   Neurological Impairment 	 
   Taking a Violence History 	 

Psychological Violence Assessment 	 
   Psychological Maltreatment of Children 	 
   The Conflict Tactics Scale 	 
   Amnesty International Definition 	 
   The Psychological Violence towards Women Inventory 	 
   The Power and Control Wheel 	
   The Penal Code and Non-Physical Violence 	 
   Clinical Issues 	 
   Psychological Violence Inventory 	 

Risk/Lethality Assessment 	 
   Domestic Violence Risk/Lethality Research 	 
   Lethality: The Legal Perspective 	 
   Risk Checklist 	 

Child Abuse Reporting 	 
   What is Child Maltreatment? 	 
   Deciding to Report 	 

The Social History 	 
   Who Conducts the Assessment and for How Long? 	 
   Procuring a Signed Authorization to Release Information 	 
   The Assessment Process: Review 	 
   Matching the Client to the Right Group 	 
   Clients Who Are Not  Accepted into the Program 	 
   Clients Who are  Accepted into the Program 	 
   The Limitations of Treatment 	 
   Informed Consent Form 	 
   Victim/Partner Contact 	 
   Legal Issues: Collateral Contacts 	 

Client Fees  	 

Treatment Goals, Methods and Evaluation  	 
   Goal 1: Emotional Regulation 	 
   Goal 2: Education on Dynamics of Domestic Violence 	 
   Goal 3: Social Problem Solving Skills 	  	      
   Secondary Goals	 

Running the Group 	 
   The Check-In 	 
   Check-In Questions 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work:  Processing Acts of Violence 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work: Reporting Acts of Violence 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work: Volatile Situations 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work: Reporting of Violence Perpetrated Towards The Client 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work: Non-use of Anger Management Skills 	 
   Prioritizing Client Work: Summary 	 
   Introducing New Members into the Group 	 
   Homework for Group Members 	 

The Basic Homework Assignments: Time-Outs and Anger Journal 	 
   The Time-Out: A Definition 	 
   How Time-Outs Work 	 
   Difficulties in taking Time-Outs 	 
   Practice Time-Outs 	 
   The Anger Journal 	 
   Other Homework Assignments/Therapeutic Interventions 	 

Addressing Childhood Abuse 	 
   The Psychological Effects of Abuse 	 
   The Effects of Specific Types of Abuse 	 
   Abuse and Attachment 	 
   Protective factors 	 
   Memories and Childhood Abuse 	 

Graduation and Termination Issues 	 
   Causes for termination (and examples) 	 
   Mandatory Termination 	 
   What is Successful Completion of Treatment? 	 
   Has This Person Changed? 	      
   Concluding Treatment 
   Closing ritual
	 
California Domestic Violence Law 	
Appendix - Forms

Section A  Clinician Assessment and Treatment Forms 	 
Domestic Violence Program Intake Form 	 
Spouse Abuse History Form 	 
Spouse Abuse Injury Form 	 
Child Abuse History Form 	 
Child Abuse Injury Form 	 
Risk Checklist
Risk Checklist Recommendations & Report Paragraphs	 
Sample Report	
Client Transmittal Summary 	 
Progress/Enrollment/Termination Report 	 
Client Evaluation Form 	 
Individualized Treatment Plan 	 
Domestic Violence Critical Incident Form 	 
Victim Contact Form 	 
Client Group Notes 	 

Section B Client Treatment Forms 	 
Program Rules Form 	 
Definitions of Physical, Sexual and Psychological Violence 	 
Evaluation Guidelines 	 
Program Rules 	 
Group Therapy Confidentiality Policy 	 
Group Therapy Confidentiality Agreement 	 
Fee and Payment Policies 	 
A Sample Co-Payment Schedule (Group Treatment) 	 
Summary of Rules for Domestic Violence Program 	 
Authorization for Release of Information (Partner/spouse)	 
Authorization for Release of Information (Probation/other)	 

Section C Client Handouts	
How to stop the violence - NOW! 	 
The Anger Journal