Batterers' Intervention Program 

The Batterers’ Intervention Program (BIP) at Lighthouse Addiction Services, is a twenty-six week program based on the Duluth Model’s curriculum, Power & Control: Tactics of Men Who Batter (1990), Minnesota Program Development, Inc.  The program includes an assessment session, an orientation to the program and a twenty-four week curriculum.  The eight central themes of the program are: 1) non-violence; 2) non-threatening behavior; 3) respect; 4) support and trust; 5) honesty and accountability; 6) sexual respect; 7) partnership; and 8) negotiation and fairness. 

Batterers are encouraged to:  1) take responsibility for their behaviors; 2) to identify the behavior, emotional and physical cues that signal escalating anger, and to take a “time-out”; 3) to better identify and articulate emotions; 4) to develop support systems; 5) to take personal responsibility for their actions; 6) to control their own behavior without blaming others, especially the victim(s); and 7) to identify the effects of domestic violence on their partners. 

Other areas explored during these psycho-educational sessions include: 1) the physiology of anger; 2) the cycle of violence; 3) improving listening and communication skills – especially listening with empathy; 4) improving problem solving skills; 5) improving negotiation skills; 6) teaching stress management techniques; 7) improvement of self-esteem – especially improvement to control behavior; 8) demonstrating the effects of distorted thinking on emotions and behavior; and 9) exploring the effects of substance abuse on domestic violence. 

Therapeutic interventions are strictly psycho-educational in nature.