Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

used to predict attrition rates and assist with identifying possible treatment needs of abusive menfor the development of successful intervention programs.Feminist Theory, Offender Rehabilitation Models, Brain and Behaviour Theory,Effective Counselling Practice and Intimate Partner Violence ProgrammingAnn Marie Dewhurst, Valerian Consulting, Edmonton, Canada (annmarie.valerian@shaw.ca)The Reaching for a Good Life program integrates feminist counselling theory, offenderrehabilitation theory, and a common factors approach to effective counselling with men whohave engaged in intimate partner violence. A basic understanding of the biological basis fordecision-making and behavioural control is also integrated into the program. These theoreticalframeworks arise from a worldview which holds that intimate partner violence is a complexphenomenon that must be approached with strategies that meet multiple needs simultaneously. Inthis presentation we suggest that the components that should be integrated into an effectiveprogram for men who engage in intimate partner violence include: a) improving a client’sexecutive functioning skills; b) increasing the client’s awareness of gender inequity and thesocial permission for male aggression against women; c) exploring the client’s personal andcultural values and beliefs to develop those that are incompatible with violence; d) encouragetherapists to use meaningful and engaging change processes that fit with the client’s personalgoals for a good life. This presentation will discuss this theoretical model and its implications foreffective program development.19. BullyingBullying: A Child Psychiatrist’s Qualitative ReflectionMeena Ramani, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, USA(drmeenaramani@gmail.com)Bullying has both physical and mental health consequences. Bullying has been increasinglyrecognized as a serious, but modifiable risk factor in children’s mental health. The mental healtheffects of bullying range from minor symptoms to major psychiatric problems. These may rangefrom poor attention, transient emotional reactions, school refusal, and poor self-esteem to thedevelopment of severe Anxiety Disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PanicDisorder, Major Depression and Substance Use Disorders. Bullying has also been implicated inextreme psychiatric outcomes such as suicides and homicides. Bullying during childhood hasbeen linked to development and persistence of mental health disorders during later life. With theadvent of extensive outreach by internet, bullying has morphed in form over the last decade. It isalso likely to become more pervasive, although mental health effects of cyber bullying are not51