Stop Abuse Campaign and NPEIV join forces

December 7, 2011 – 5:18 pm

NPEIV and Stop Abuse Campaign “call on all survivors, advocates, activists, researchers, practitioners, and abuse-focused organizations and agencies to join them in stopping abuse in America within the next 25 years”.  Read the entire press release here

My first meeting as a member of NPEIV was in September, 2011 in San Diego. Many of the primary researchers in interpersonal violence (IPV) and leaders in the field were in attendance. Your involvement in prevention, intervention, and treatment of domestic violence either through the criminal or civil courts positions you to make valuable contributions to this group. Consider applying for membership at NPEIV. Join us in San Diego in September, 2012 to voice your concerns and add your expertise.

When we all work together to carry the message that abuse is harmful to infants, children, and adults, we alert our communities to what is needed to end abuse. We share a message of promoting safe, stable, nurturing families, relationships, and communities as the means to stem the tide of abuse. Go out and spread the word about your work and how you intervene to stop the cycle of abuse. Together, we all make a difference every time we speak our truth.

Peacefully yours,

Dr. Debra

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Batterer Intervetion Program training, Batterer Intervetion Program training, Child Abuse Prevention, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Effects of Violence on Children, Promote Safe Stable Nurturing Communities, Promote Safe Stable Nurturing Relationships, Safe Stable Nurtured Children, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (0)

Happy Thanksgiving from our House of Peace to yours

November 23, 2011 – 3:32 pm

Happy Thanksgiving wishes from Dr. Debra and the Virtual Training Center team.

At this time of the year, I like to pause and appreciate all of you. You are involved in an honorable work to make a difference in the lives of your clients. When you make a difference in one life it ripples out to all those connected to your client. Thank you for engaging in this challenging work.

This year I am grateful for meeting so many of you through our teleseminars.  Your shared experiences enrich the lives of all of us.

Over this past year, we expanded the work of House of Peace Publications to address domestic violence dynamics in contested custody cases.  Additional courses were developed to train professionals about how domestic violence presents itself in the family courts.

Thank you for your feedback on the courses that you want presented.  More courses are planned for 2012… Stay tuned.

What are you thankful for over this past year?   Share your gratitude list with everyone through our comments section below or send Thanksgiving wishes to everyone you met this year.

A peace-filled , gratitude filled Thanksgiving to everyone,

 Dr. Debra and the Virtual Training Center team

P.S. Be sure to let us know what courses you want in the spring.  The schedule is being planned now.

P.P.S. Feel free to contact us anytime here questions@houseofpeacepubs.com

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Batterer Intervetion Program training, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Family Relations Courts, Psychoeducation | Comments (0)

Domestic Violence Virtual Training Center Fall Courses

September 8, 2011 – 4:56 pm

Fall is in the air. With the renewed energy from cooler  days, now is the perfect time to review your training plans for the year. The  Virtual Training Center Fall 2011 schedule is available for you now. Take a few  minutes to review the scheduled courses. Be sure to review our exciting new courses added this year.

Remember, we are here to serve your training needs. If  you see a course you want to take that is not currently scheduled, please  contact the office at questions@houseofpeacepubs.com  or call 719-647-0652.  Let us know your  preferences so we can make your course available to you.

Course times sometimes  conflict with our trainees schedules. Let us know what works for you.  We will make sure your preferred course is  made available to you. To review the current schedule and all the courses we  offer, find them here.

Are you looking for a course that is not in our current  list? Please let us know and we can work with our course developers to create  the course. We are here to meet your training needs no matter where you are  located.

Peacefully yours,

Dr. Debra and the Virtual Training Center Team

P.S. Your input is extremely valuable to us.

P.P.S. Be sure to register for courses coming up
September 19.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (0)

Protective Parent Trust Betrayed

July 26, 2011 – 2:32 pm

When protective parents reach out for help and put their trust in the systems put in place to protect them and their children, too often they find that trust betrayed. Protective parents find they are blamed by the system and ultimately lose the option to protect their children. Instead, the system places the children in the custody of the abusive parent. How does this happen? PMA International writes “Family courts frequently minimize the harmful impact of children’s witnessing violence between their parents and sometimes are reluctant to believe mothers.”

Protective parents are mystified, overwhelmed, re-victimized by the system after being victimized by an abusive spouse/intimate partner. They go from being the primary caregiver for their children–a role their former partner agreed with—to being allowed limited supervised visits or no contact with their children. You may ask “does this happen often?” It happens in approximately 10% of divorce/custody cases with the result that abusive parents gain custody up to 70% of the time. In the other 90% of divorce cases where children are involved, the parents come to agreements about division of parenting time.

The next question that arises is “what underlies these cases?” Abusers use Coercive Control Tactics while they are in their relationships. Many times these tactics never reach the level of abuse that requires law enforcement intervention. These unreportable tactics continue after separation by the abuser through indirect methods, sometimes called DV by Proxy. What is of greatest concern is the damage of Coercive Control Tactics to the emotional and mental health of the protective parent and children. These tactics can render the protective parent and children  vulnerable to the manipulations of the abuser.

Children in these cases are used as pawns by the abuser to leverage the system personnel to inadvertently collaborate in carrying out the abuser’s Coercive Control Tactics. This is why it is extremely important that all system personnel be educated to develop the skills to avoid being the proxy for the abuser. Find out about specialized training in domestic violence/coercive control dynamics.

Discover quality continuing education in the virtual training center available from the comfort of your office or home. Our trainers have direct experience providing treatment to abusers, protective parents, and silent-witness victims/children. Now, you gain from their expertise to build your competency-based skills to keep children safe from abuser parents.

See you in the training center,

Dr. Debra
Trainer, Author, Speaker

P.S. Be sure to complete the survey to gain access to course dates and registration.

P.P.S. Be part of the professional movement to keep children safe from abuse—stop the betrayal of their trust.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Coercive Control by Proxy, Coercive Control Tactics, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Family Relations Courts, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (1)

Child witness-victims heal with Transformational Journaling™

June 28, 2011 – 1:59 pm

Victims of domestic violence have a prominent relationship between their childhood history of victimization and adult victimization. We find many domestic violence victims who relate witnessing domestic violence of their mother. In addition, there is a significant history among domestic violence victims being abused during childhood. Victimization can be any form of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect. The words of Dorothy Law Nolte (1972) “Children Learn What They Live” are very true for this group of children.

Often, children who grow up in violent and abusive homes living with all types of coercive control think this is normal. They are unconsciously drawn to those types of relationship partners as adults. As part of treatment for victims, we must offer healing tools to children as well as adults.

One method incorporated in trauma-based treatments is journaling. In my experience working with adults and children abused in childhood, I found a guided form of journaling works best. The form of guided journaling that helps victims transform their lives is “Transformational Journaling™”. This process was developed as part of my counseling practice for my clients.

In my recent review of the literature addressing domestic violence related to child custody, I was introduced to a special group of “Courageous Kids” who wrote their stories of being placed in the custody of their abusive parent (primarily fathers). Their stories inspired me to develop a book especially to help children in similar situations to use “Transformational Journaling™” techniques to help them on their healing journey.  “Through a child’s voice: “Transformational Journaling™” is being prepared for launch in early July 2011 in connection with my presentation at the Sex Offender Management Board annual conference in Breckenridge, Colorado. You can keep up with prelaunch activities here.

Check out the “Transformational Journaling™” workbook for adults abused as children “From Darkness to Light: Your Inner Journey”.  This workbook guides adults through the transformational journaling™ process to re-create their lives through conscious choice. This book is also highly recommended for self- defending victims by Victoria Youngblood, M.A., CAC III, Approved Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Provider.

Helping children heal is just one of the areas professionals need to understand in greater depth related to domestic violence and abuse. Increase your understanding of “Victim Dynamics” and “Offender Self-Management” in our upcoming courses in July. Late summer and fall course schedules will be available soon. Keep checking back for those schedules on our registration page.

Serving your training needs virtually,

Dr. Debra and the VTC Team

P.S. Be sure to plan your registration for 7 days prior to the course start date.

P.P.S.  Register now for your courses starting July 18 and 19.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Child Abuse Prevention, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Effects of Violence on Children, Transformational Journaling, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (1)

Kids Count and Effects of Violence on Children

May 25, 2011 – 3:32 am

A couple of days ago I attended the annual Colorado Kids Count report from the Colorado Children’s Campaign. The report focuses on factors that impact children’s lives and well-being. Lt. Gov. Garcia talked about the impact of a down economy on kids. While he noted how poverty impacts kids in many ways, he mentioned in passing the social issues tied to economic downturns. Among the issues he talked about were spousal abuse, and child abuse and neglect.

What I found missing from the in-depth statistical analysis of impacts on children were the effects of one parent battering the other parent. When I raised the issue, I was referred to a brief at Coloradokids.org. This brief only scratches a pin-sized tip of the iceberg of consequences of offenders battering on children. Remember, domestic violence increases when unemployment increases. This often leads to increases in child abuse and neglect as well.

Gain an in-depth look at the Effects of Domestic Violence on Children that are transmitted inter-generationally in your next teleseminar that starts June 7, 2011. Discover why domestic violence offenders miss the connection between their battering behaviors and the impacts on their children. Get an in-depth look at the short and long-term effects of witnessing domestic violence on children.

Your next “Criminogenic Needs: Effects of DV on Children” course is scheduled for June 7, 9, 14, 16, 2011 — 12:00 P.M.(Noon) Eastern; 10:00 A.M. Mountain.  Go here to register now.

Serving your training needs virtually.

Dr. Debra

P.S. The more you know and have the skills to address Effects of Violence on Children with domestic violence offenders, the more you protect victims and children.

P.P.S. Remember to register by midnight May 31, 2011 to attend “Criminogenic Needs: Effects of DV on Children”.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Child Abuse Prevention, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Effects of Violence on Children, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Personality Disorders in Domestic Violence Treatment

May 10, 2011 – 12:10 pm

Personality factors and personality disorders are one of six criminogenic factors that yield to change in risk behavior by clients. As dynamic risk factors, criminogenic needs may be understood as contributing towards criminal behavior (e.g. domestic violence), and if effectively addressed, should decrease level of risk. (Andrews, 1989, Andrews and Bonta, 1994; Bonta, 2002).

5 Key Reasons to know about personality disorders with Domestic Violence offenders

  • Personality disorders are an important criminogenic factor in treatment with domestic violence offenders.  Personality factors “are strongly correlated with risk.” (Latessa, & Lowenkamp)

 

  • When you acquire a knowledge base of the various personality disorders, you gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of your client and their possible  manifestation in a domestic violence relationship.

 

  • Offenders are good at hiding their attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs outside their relationships.  An assessment of personality disorders gives the treatment provider a deeper understanding of areas of resistance and the best treatment approach to use with the client.

 

  • When you develop a comprehensive case plan, targeting personality disorders is one of six criminogenic factors to consider for successful treatment and remediation of domestic violence.

 

  • While some personality disorders are deeply entrenched in a client’s psyche, other clients may only exhibit features or traits of a personality disorder. These features and traits are more amenable to treatment changes.

In the upcoming course Criminogenic Needs: Personality Disorders, you will learn that Personality Disorders are more commonly found among domestic violence offenders than Axis I disorders. You will focus on identification of personality disorders in assessment, development of personality disorders, research on criminal interventions with personality disordered offenders, and effective application of these interventions.

 

Your next “Criminogenic Needs: Personality Disorders” course is scheduled for May 17, 19, 24, 26, 2011 — 5:00 P.M. Eastern; 3:00 P.M. Mountain.  Go here to register now.

 

Serving your training needs virtually.

 

Dr. Debra

 

P.S. The more you know and have the skills to address personality disorders with domestic violence offenders, the more you protect victims and children.

 

P.P.S. Remember to register by midnight May 10, 2011 to attend “Criminogenic Needs: Personality Disorders”.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Personality Disorders, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (0)

Three Trauma Issues Domestic Violence Victims Experience

May 3, 2011 – 3:42 pm

Three Trauma Issues Domestic Violence Victims Experience include living daily with an abuser who engages in Coercive Control Tactics, Physical, and Sexual abuse; trauma surrounding victims escape to safety with or without her children; and being a Protective Mother during separation/divorce proceedings to keep her children from harm by the abuser.

 

  • Daily life filled with negative anticipation, fear, and uncertainty is normal for a domestic violence victim. Abusers use a pattern of coercive control tactics mixed with physical and sexual abuse to constantly keep the victim in a heightened state of alertness. This state of never knowing what the next move of the abuser will be makes it very difficult for the victim to live her life outside the strictures established by the abuser.  Very often, we find the victim staying in the relationship because of the coercive controlling tactics of the abuser. She reasons “I can take the abuse so long as it doesn’t hurt my children”.  When she does discover her children are also being abused, the next trauma occurs.

 

  • Escape to safety occurs most often when the mother realizes her children are being abused. Her attempts to keep the abuser from physically or sexually abusing the children have failed. She leaves with the children to protect them from further abuse. Her desire is to find the help within the community to provide the safety she was unable to do alone. Very often, this includes going to a safe house or women’s shelter and filing for a restraining order through the civil courts. If she has physical injuries, a criminal case may be filed by local law enforcement. Totally uprooting her children and her own life sends her into a series of traumas to regain her emotional balance. With the help of victim advocates and victim services, she slowly finds her true self and moves her life forward to stand on her own.

 

  • When children are involved, the escape to safety may mean filing for separation, divorce, and/or child custody. As a “Protective Mother”, the victim finds the Family Court system is difficult to maneuver and extremely confusing. She is recovering from years of Coercive Control Tactics and finds the court system unempathetic to her situation. She may initially appear less stable than her abusive partner.  Over time, we know that “Protective Mothers” establish a stable lifestyle and are ready and willing to parent fully their children. However, the court system may re-traumatize her by giving custody/primary parenting responsibilities to her abusive partner.  This trauma may go on for years until the children age out of the custody courts.

 

Addressing trauma issues for domestic violence victims is a specialized area of mental health practice. Develop the awareness, knowledge, and skills to competently meet the needs of these clients as a victim advocate, mental health professional, or professional working in the family court system.

 

Your next “Trauma Issues” course is scheduled for May 16, 18, 23, 25, 2011 — 2:00 P.M. Eastern; 12:00 P.M. (Noon) Mountain.  Go here to register now.

 

Serving your training needs virtually,

Dr. Debra and the House Of Peace Virtual Training Center Team

 

P.S. The more you are aware, know, and have the skills to meet the needs of domestic violence victims, the more you protect children.

 

P.P.S. Remember to register by midnight May 9, 2011 to attend “Trauma Issues”.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Family Relations Courts, Psychoeducation, Trauma Issues, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (2)

Domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse: The intersections

April 19, 2011 – 10:39 am

What is the ACE study? ACE stands for adverse childhood experiences. This study identified 10 adverse childhood experiences with early onset long-term impacts on physical health.

How are the findings relevant to domestic violence treatment? It is important that domestic violence offenders understand how their behaviors impact their children with these Adverse Childhood Experiences.

How do the ACE study findings inform domestic violence treatment providers about the criminogenic factors of domestic violence, child abuse, and substance abuse as they intersect? The ACE factors connect directly with the biopsychosocial aspects of domestic violence criminogenic factors of child abuse and substance abuse.

These three questions provide the overriding background to help domestic violence treatment providers provide their clients education about the long-term impact of domestic violence on their partners and children. The definitive and repeated findings of this study and subsequent studies tell us why intervention and treatment of domestic violence is so crucial. For example, did you know that early onset chronic illnesses starting in the mid-40s can be traced back to adverse childhood experiences (ACE)? These 10 factors include all forms of child abuse and neglect, witnessing violence perpetrated on the mother, parents having a substance-abuse problem, or one parent out of the home due to mental illness or being imprisoned.

You gain in-depth knowledge and practical application skills of this information for your treatment groups in your upcoming course:
Criminogenics: Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Substance Abuse: The Intersections

Course Dates and Time: April 26, April 28, May 3 and 5
Noon to 1:45 p.m. Eastern time, 10 to 11:45 AM Mountain time

Go here to register

Peaceful  journey,

Dr.  Debra

P.S. Be  sure to plan your registration for 7 days prior to the course start date.

P.P.S.  Register now for your courses starting April 25 and 26.

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (0)

Batterers Coercive Control Tactics Across Multiple Settings

April 12, 2011 – 1:18 pm

Batterers Coercive Control Tactics Across Multiple Settings is the topic I will speak on at the Sex Offender Management Conference in Breckenridge, CO in July, 2011. In preparation for the conference, I reviewed my previous training on Coercive Control Tactics (CCT). Because this conference is focused on sex offender treatment, I wanted to make my presentation closely related to their training needs.

The primary focus of domestic violence research focuses on the criminal aspects of batterers. I wanted to look at the crossover of battering and sex offending. What stands out is the two areas have similar dynamics of power and control and a similar cycle of offending. However, I find there are some missing links to help treatment professionals connect the dots. While both domestic violence and sex offending are criminal acts under statute, when the two are presented together in court they usually come out in civil proceedings. These civil proceedings are usually related to child custody/parenting time. An entirely different set of factors are addressed in Family Relations Courts.

Family Relations Courts are interested in children maintaining contact with both parents. They work with the parents to find parenting time arrangements based on “the best interests of the child”.  Another standard often used by family relations court is the “Friendly Parent Doctrine”. When these standards are applied, children are often caught in the middle as the “protective parent” attempts to make sure the children are physically and emotionally safe. At the same time, the “abusive parent” wants to maintain power and control over the children and his ex-partner. This is where Coercive Control Tactics (CCT) are used with court-related personnel.

Based on my research, Court-related personnel have limited understanding of how CCT are used with them to manipulate them. This results in courts and court-related personnel inadvertently colluding with the “abusive parent”. In this way, “abusive parents” gain custody/primary parenting responsibilities of their children. Once the children are under the control of the “abusive parent” or sometimes before they gain control, “abusive parents” are in a position to sexually abuse their children without interference from the justice system.

You are probably asking yourself the same questions I asked myself when I first learned about the problems in the Family Relations Courts. How can the courts knowingly place children in at-risk situations with an “abusive parent”? Here are the points I am researching presently: What are the missing links, to bring judges, child custody evaluators/child family investigators, mediators, parenting coordinators and other civil court personnel in line with understanding and supporting protective mothers?

  • Missing link — comprehensive definition of coercive control tactics in statute
  • Missing link–comprehensive valid instrument to assess coercive control tactics used in
    relationships

These two missing links are keys to the answer I will provide through future posts.

Discover answers to these questions in upcoming teleseminar trainings through the Virtual Training Center.  Go to http://HouseOfPeacePubs.com/dv_courseinformation.htm
for your next scheduled course “Batterers as Parents”.

Peaceful journey,

Dr. Debra

P.S. Be sure to plan your registration for 7 days prior to the course start date.

P.P.S. Register now for your courses starting April 25 and 26.

 

 

 

By Debra Wingfield | Posted in Coercive Control by Proxy, Domestic Violence Treatment Training, Psychoeducation, Virtual Treatment Training | Comments (0)