The "Walk the line" program is a service for people who have committed domestic and family violence, demonstrated a sincere desire for change and remain committed to the process of change. There are a number of ways to understand the importance, value and meaning of this service.
- One way to conceptualise this service is that remaining violence free for some is a narrow path. Sometimes, some assistance and guidance to stay on that narrow path can be quite helpful.
- Another way to understand the value of such a service is to listen to the testimony of Dominique Walpower, who has moved through his childhood abuse, his own violence and is now a behavioural change practitioner. Dominique's testimony can be found in the episode #34 of the podcast "Speaking of" by the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. You can access it through the following links.
- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nmcadv-speaking-of-podcast/id1746983020
- https://open.spotify.com/show/1QppRrOpaTqqvjDJvFPvdv
- As the podcast explores, significant change requires a commitment to addressing many aspects of life choices, and how we got to the place we are in today. I visualise this as a jigsaw puzzle, that only works when everything clicks together. This service is only one piece of the jigsaw, and it helps with connecting the other pieces as well. The image is deliberately left incomplete, as there may be other pieces of the puzzle to consider.
What is on offer.
- Ongoing mentoring and support for people who have acknowledged their own violence and abuse and are seeking to make a change.
- Mentoring and support informed by frameworks such as the Duluth Model, the Safe and Together Model and the Ken McMasters curriculum.
- Access to recent research and thinking on change that helps you choose to create a safer environment for partners, ex-partners, children, and yourself.
- Maximum of one session, every two weeks.
- Each session is for one hour, with an email follow-up on the themes and challenges discussed, the ideas and supports workshopped together and any follow-up task for you to follow-through on.
- A straightforward service at a reasonable cost.
What is NOT on offer.
- Counselling for any clinically diagnosed disorders. Counselling for these are best provided by engaging with an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, counsellor or psychologist. I can refer you to a trauma-informed, DV-informed Accredited Mental Health Social Worker for that body of work.
- A service that can be used in family court or domestic violence court as evidence of change.
- In-person sessions. All sessions are delivered remotely either via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
- A guarantee that you will never commit further violence or abuse. The choice to remain violence-free is yours to make.
- 24/7 support is not available.
- A funded service that is delivered at no cost to you.
- Confidentiality at all costs. Confidentiality is important, but there are limits and confidentiality is not given priority over safety.
Before starting the program.
Consider the four steps to lasting behavioural change.
- Find your path.
- Get on your path.
- Stay on your path.
- Help others.
This service is all about the final two steps. Therefore, you need to have completed the first two steps. prior to engaging with this service. You need to:
Provide proof that you have engaged in and successfully completed in a Behavioural Change Program recognised by the funding body of the state in which you live.
To get started.
If possible, please include:
- Your final progress report from the Behavioural Change Program course.
- A statement of your availability for remote sessions.
- A statement of the goals that you hope to achieve from this service.
You will receive an email back as soon as possible with options for an initial remote / induction session and fees. The first session will also cover mutual obligations.
Click here to download the latest flyer for this service.
