Solutions For Domestic Violence Victims

In recent approaches to the concept of violence in all its permutations, repeated violence is regarded as an addiction. While this could be a unique view to many who work in the field of violence prevention, I am not persuaded that there are many compelling arguments against this approach.

If this is a valid position, then with respect to those people who are victimized by violence, particularly domestic or relationship violence, those adult victims who return to the perpetrators of the violence could be described as, in some way, co-dependent upon either the perpetrator or some aspect of the perpetrator.

This infuriates many of these victims and their counselors. I have experienced this in many discussions with them. I see this as more of a reaction than a thoughtful response. I do not intend to cause more pain with this approach. I do offer this for consideration only to offer the possibility that, if this is truly an addictive response, there may very well be real solutions, solution protocols heretofore unavailable to victims and counselors working in the DV field.

Just like Alcoholics Anonymous and other anonymous sister programs, which since 1935 has offered solutions to the problems of alcoholism and other addictions, Al-Anon has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics. Al-Anon has done this for more than fifty years, using solutions related to those of AA.

If we can open up to this possibility, then for all involved in domestic violence, there may very well be viable solutions. When DV counseling is viewed from the perspective of addiction recovery counseling, tried and true solutions become available. Treat the causes and conditions rather than the symptoms and results.

Please be open to this. We need to stay open to all possible solutions. It is the children, the victims who have no choice, who really need our help. They didn't cause this. They do not have any power to stop it. You do!

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