Constructing Healing Dialogues in Group Treatment for Men Who Have Used Violence Against Their Intimate Partners

Abstract

Although various “talking cure” treatments typically constitute an important part of practices in social work and mental health services, there are few studies on the actual “talk-within-the-cure.” This qualitative study examined talk in group treatment for men who had used violence against their intimate partners. Using the method termed Dialogical Investigations, the aim of the present study was to examine the construction of “healing dialogues,” that is, dialogues that promote change in clients, within treatment conversations. The results of the micro-analysis suggest that mutually responsive and constructive dialogical interaction and talk with symbolic language may support the emergence of new meanings, with alternative ways of thinking and behaving. These can be seen as important triggers of the goal of the treatment (i.e., a change in behavior and an end to violence in the relationship).

Keywords:

• group treatment
• partner abuse
• dialogues
• domestic violence