Treatment & Intervention

As of January 1, 2002, the agency has incorporated the services of Anger Management Counseling. We are now one of two providers of court mandated batterers treatment in Santa Barbara with the hope of expanding to North County in the future.

Anger Management Counseling

DVS offers counseling to both voluntary and court mandated individuals who struggle with the issue of controlling their anger. This 12-24 week program teaches healthy responses to anger with practical application of constructive techniques. Families and individuals may also come in for voluntary therapy on a sliding fee basis.

Why Work with Perpetrators

There are people still today who have an attitude about people who have been arrested for domestic violence that says we should "lock them up and throw away the key" and there are still people who think that it is a "lost cause" to work with perpetrators of domestic violence. Indeed, perhaps there are donors and supporters of our agency who, now that we are expanding our work beyond victims or survivors of domestic violence and their children, might feel less inclined to support the agency. I hope and trust that this is not the case. At the very least, I implore you to talk to us about your feelings about this issue before you make any decision about your support.

The decision to expand our work beyond working with victims or survivors into working with perpetrators of domestic violence was solely mission-driven. Our mission is to end domestic violence in our community. To do this, we must get at the core of the issue; we must be able to impact the root of the problem. Domestic violence in any relationship will not just disappear on its own. Without intervention, it will not end.

As an agency, we want to directly impact violence in the home. By working directly with people who abuse others, we can make that impact. Our work with victims and survivors has always included making sure that they are in no way held responsible for what has happened to them. However, without directly working with the people who are directly responsible, it has always been difficult to create a lasting impact of our work. Even though we may impact a survivor's life and assist her/him with information, renewed self-determination, support and encouragement to stay safe and to keep their children safe, without working with the ones who caused the violence in the first place, we know that too often, the violence will simply be visited on someone else the next time.

The Domestic Violence Treatment Program

This counseling program focuses on working with batterers to change abusive patterns in an atmosphere that is caring, compassionate, and safe. We work on behavioral alternatives that stop the cycle of violence. We also help clients to grow in ways that enable them to live lives free of violence and abuse, including:

• the development of personal power
• acceptance of responsibility
• letting go of the need for unhealthy power and control
• issues of gender and development
• the development of a healthy self identity

While your personal growth is supported in a constructive, non-judgemental atmosphere, you can learn such skills as:

• anger management
• effective communication
• assertiveness
• emotional awareness
• self trust
• body awareness
• stress reduction
• positive relationship skills
• conflict resolution

The cost of service differs by program and can be assessed using a sliding fee scale, based on each client's ability to pay. Appointments are available day or evening.