Brighter Futures
The Millfields Trust 'HQ'
Unit 29
237 Union Street
Plymouth
Devon
PL1 3HQ
Tel: 01752 294044
Mob: 07779 349557

Specialist Domestic Violence & Abuse Program and Risk Assessments

Domestic Violence & Abuse

Research suggests that around 25% of women and 17% of men have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

Some men and women have difficulties with managing their feelings and emotions and often this results in feeling resentful and blaming of others for the way that they feel. They can become angry, leading to intimidating, aggressive and abusive behaviour which can ultimately result in violence.

Domestic violence and abuse can take many forms. Physical violence can range from punching walls and damaging property to physically assaulting others. Being violent and abusive to others wrecks lives and families. In the extreme, people are killed as a result of domestic violence and abuse.

All forms of domestic violence and abuse involves the use of power and control in various forms, for example, intimidation, to get what they want, or by controlling another’s movements or by withholding financial support as way of controlling another for example. Subtle forms of emotional abuse such as name calling and ‘putting someone down’ are all forms of domestic violence and abuse.

This cycle of abusive behaviour seriously damages relationships with others and can lead to alienation, family separation and divorce. If a perpetrator of domestic violence and abuse is prosecuted, this could result in receiving a custodial sentence and a criminal record which could also result in losing a job or career and therefore losing an income and possibly their home. This can lead to further isolation, loneliness and depression. In some cases, this can lead to a dependency of prescribed medication or other forms of non-prescribed substances such as illegal drugs or alcohol abuse to ‘numb the pain’ of feelings, emotions and loneliness.

In the extreme, anger can lead to the death of the perpetrator as well as the victim.

Most people with these issues just want their abusive behaviour to stop as much as their victims want it to, but do not know how to positively change the way in which they manage their feelings and emotions.


Brighter Futures can empower you to break the cycle of abuse

Some of the most common comments we hear from clients are:

• “She/he pushed me too far.”
• “I just lose it and blank out.”
• “No one understands me.”

None of these are true.


At Brighter Futures, we understand conflict, aggression, rage, anger, intimidation, domestic violence and abuse very well and the associated feelings and emotions. We work with clients to enable them to cease their violent and abusive behaviour which can have a major impact in increasing the safety of others and reducing the risk of harm to others as well as the client.

Through working with the client’s difficulties, empowering them to take responsibility for their abuse and to both recognise and change cognitive behaviour through various therapeutic processes and interventions during their time with us, we are able to redress the balance and see real and lasting change.


Clients' Comments

“Saying what I had done was the hardest thing for me but once it was all out in the open, I was able to deal with it. It’s the best decision I ever made.”

“I can see how abusive and violent I was and I’m gonna spend the rest of my life putting things right, particularly to those I’ve hurt. This counselling works. I’m the living proof.”

“I nearly lost everything. The program saved my marriage and my career. My family now choose to spend time with me whereas before they weren’t given a choice. They're not frightened of me anymore and that feels so good.”

“Once I took the courage to start the program, I didn’t want to stop. Not only did I learn how to become non-abusive, but I learnt so much about me. It helped me to put things into perspective and realise what was really important to me and my family.”

Our Program

We have a very comprehensive program with strategies that will help those who want to change and become non-abussive, to live fruitful and meaningful lives. Please feel free to contact us for details about our our very successful and comprehensive program.

• We also provide materials for clients to work with at home. The costs of most of the materials are covered in the session fees.
  
  
  Initial Assessments
  
  All clients will be assessed initially to ensure their suitability for the program. This will also help us to identify any special needs that may be presented and enable us to offer the appropriate assistance and support needed.
  
  
  Risk Assessments
  
  We can carry out the following Risk Assessments on your behalf:
• Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
• Risk Assessments relating to Care and Contact Proceedings – Private and Public Proceedings.
• Child Physical Abuse Risk Assessment
• Child Sexual Abuse Risk Assessment
• Mother’s/Father’s ability to Protect – Risk Assessment
• Stress Risk Assessment

How long is the program?

This is dependent on the presenting issues and the motivation and commitment of the client to change. As you can see, there is a lot of work to cover in our sessions and some people grasp the concept and understanding of this work faster than others.

We advise that a minimum of between ten and twelve sessions be completed initially before a formative progress prognosis can be made. Depending on the presenting issues, clients generally attend the program once a week for between six and twelve months.

It can take several decades to learn how to be abusive. Therefore, the modification and changing of this behaviour will not happen over night. There is no ‘quick fix’ solution. We know that our program is very successful because of the length and quality of our program. The principles of non-violence need to be firmly embedded into the ‘fabric and being’ of individuals so that it becomes a way of life, rather than just for when things get difficult.


Our commitment to you - We will not compromise the safety of others by reducing sessions and materials to suit the budgets and financial constraints of client funders. To do so would be unethical and would be putting others at risk of harm. 

Each counselling session lasts for one hour and clients will be given work to complete at home between sessions. The costs of most materials are included in the session fees.

Group Work

We also provide domestic violence group work for adults and young people. Please contact us for details about group work.

Where do we work from?

We can meet for personal counselling sessions at our offices in Plymouth. In certain circumstances, we can meet at the premises of other agencies or service providers.


What does it cost?

Sessions cost £40 for each session. However, if you pre-pay for several sessions in advance, or you are an agency or organisation commisioning our service on a regular basis (such as Social Services or the Legal Profession for example) we can agree a discount. We will also consider the circumstances of those on low incomes.

Summative and formative reports and risk assessments are charged separately. Please contact us for further information.


Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are here to help you or your clients to achieve a ‘Brighter Future’.