The aim of this study was to conceptualize the variety of ways in which male
clients using violence against a female partner might present themselves to
form a working alliance that might appeal to them. We studied how 20
men voluntarily in individual IPV treatment contributed at the beginning of
therapy to forming an alliance with therapists skilled in such treatment. The
first therapy session in 10 drop-out and 10 completed cases was transcribed
verbatim and analyzed qualitatively, following guidelines drawn from the
constructionist grounded theory. The analysis resulted in a conceptual
model of gateways and invitations to an alliance. Gateways are themes that
have the potential to open a path toward collaboration on personal change.
Each of the three gateways identified, comprised solide and weak invitations
to an alliance: (a) presenting reasons for seeking treatment—as their own
choice, as avoidance, or as a mistake; (b) presenting notions of change—as
their own need to change their violent behavior, as ambivalence toward the
project, or as a need to change the partner; and (c) disclosing and describing
violence—as a personal narrative, as a scene, as a fragment of their life,
or as something else. Implications for therapists’ understanding of clients’
motivational goals, negotiation of alliance, and disclosure of violence early in
therapy are discussed.
Keywords
intimate partner violence, working alliance, clients’ contribution, motivational