Transcript Day 2 - Athabasca University

Reaching for a Good Life
Karen M Nielsen, PhD, RSW (Clinical)
Ann Marie Dewhurst, PhD, R. Psych
Claire Johnson, MSW
Jill Storcer, M.A
Our Need
A program that :
• Allowed for ongoing evaluation of client and
program
• Practiced-based evidence & theory
• Focused on client-centred change
• Positive in orientation
• Respectful of clinical need & process
• Inclusive
We Planned a Therapeutic Group Program for men
• Non-criminal population
• Self-referrals
• People who are expressing a need for help now.
• Organic/flexible – the program content changes
based upon the clinical and risk-related needs of
men currently in the program
• Theoretical foundation was the Good Lives
Model
The Good Lives Model
• Unacceptable behaviour is a result of a poorly
defined Good Life Plan
• Living a good life depends on:
• Well defined individual goals
• internal conditions (skills and capabilities)
• external conditions (opportunities and
supports).
Understanding Abuse from a GLM View
• Abusive behaviour is a result of a poorly defined
Good Life Plan.
• Ward and Brown (2004) describe four major
types of difficulties that support abusive
behaviour:
• Problems with the means used to achieve goals
• A lack of scope within a good lives plan
• The presence of conflict among goals, ill
defined goals
• A lack of the necessary skills to adjust to
changing circumstances (e.g. impulsive
decision making).
REACHING FOR A GOOD LIFE GOALS: 10 GL FACTORS
GL
Factor
Life
Knowledge
Descript Taking Care Desire to
ion
of Self
Learn
Regular
exercise,
healthy diet,
taking care
of health
issues,
getting
enough
sleep, in a
comfortable
living
situation;
balance in
work, home
& play;
healthy sex
life.
Asks
questions;
attends
school or
training to
increase
ability;
seeks to
increase
selfawareness
& social
skills,
desire to
learn for
fun.
Excellence
DecisionMaking
Inner
Peace
Relationship
Community
Spirituality
Happiness
Creativity
To go
above &
beyond
The desire to Aware of
set one’s
one’s
own goals,
emotional
state
Desire to
To be
develop
involved in
close,,
community
relationships
Desire to
Being
discover
satisfied
meaning
with life;
or purpose
in life
Desire to
do new &
different
things;
Desire to
do
something
to the
best of
one’s
ability at
school,
work,
leisure, or
selfimprovem
ent
activities;
wanting to
do better
at work or
play;
Make
decisions, &
be
independent;
includes
money
management
assertiveness
skills,
problemsolving ability
& generally
being
responsible.
spouse,
children,
friends, other
family); able
to connect
emotionally;
engages in
social
activities.
living
according
to morals
& values
that
support
life
purpose;
reflecting
on values;
maybe
engaging in
a faith
community
.
to be
productive;
engaging in
hobbies,
art,
parenting,
music, etc.
able to
manage
difficult
feelings in
a good
way.
able to
identify
other’s
emotional
states &
respond
appropriat
ely
to belong
to a group
with similar
interests &
values,
being able
to rely on
others for
support;
activities,
having
positive
friends.
engaging in
activities
that bring
value and
satisfaction
to life
The Program Design
Reaching for a Good Life
• Continuous Intake/Orientation
• Weekly
• No appointment
• Assessment
• Individual Interview
• Psychotherapeutic group process
• 16 weeks
• Four modules
• Post-group exit interviews
• Reaching Higher
Risk Assessment
• HCR 20 – assesses risk for violence
• SARA – assesses risk for domestic violence
• SAPROF – (Structured Assessment of Protective
Factors for violence risk) assesses protective
factors for violence. Developed as a companion
to the HCR-20
SAPROF
• Internal Factors: Intelligence, Secure
attachment in childhood, Empathy, Coping, Selfcontrol
• Motivational Factors Work, Leisure activities,
Financial management, Motivation for treatment,
Attitudes towards authority, Life goals,
Medication
• External Factors Social network, Intimate
Relationship, Professional care, Living
circumstances, External control
Four Modules
• Self-awareness and self-management skills
• Emotional Communication
• Values and moral decision making
• Consciousness raising regarding power in
relationships
In Closing
• We are encouraged that a Good Lives approach is
appropriate for men dealing with family violence.
• Our preliminary findings both qualitative and
quantitative, suggest using the GLM as a a
framework for working with men who are
abusive in intimate relationships, is important in
developing violence free lives.
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