Positions Constructed for a Female Therapist in Male Batterers' Treatment Group

Abstract

How the gender of the therapist affects the treatment of intimately violent men has been little researched. In this study we examined the positions that batterers construct for a female therapist in batterers' group treatment. The data consisted of five videotaped therapy groups for male batterers. Three positions of a woman were constructed: woman in general; woman as spouse and woman personally as herself. These positions were often based on a constructed difference between men and women. The female therapist repositioned herself to diminish the difference constructed between the genders and to make fear of the spouse visible.

Keywords:

• gendered positions
• male batterers
• intimate partner violence
• female therapist
• group therapy
• grounded theory
• gender conscious therapy
• co-operation between the therapists