title: Context of treatment and therapeutic alliance: critical factors in court-mandated batterer intervention programs.
abstract: This paper deals with the influence of the therapeutic context in batterer intervention programs. We conducted 2 complementary studies: a descriptive analysis (Study 1) and a qualitative study (Study 2) analyzing the aspects that may help to improve the operation and effectiveness of treatment in a group of men (N = 27) who participated in a program for convicted perpetrators of intimate partner violence. The results show a statistically significant relationship between the therapeutic alliance and the assessment of the usefulness of the program attended by offenders (r = .69, p < .01), and between the therapeutic alliance and the assessment of the usefulness of the program content (r = .43, p < .05). Furthermore, the results of the qualitative analysis show that aspects of the therapeutic context may play an important role for the adhesion of offenders to treatment, increasing their motivation and improving results. It is proposed that future research should provide more in-depth analysis of the elements related to the context of the intervention and therapists' skills as facilitators of change.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain).
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boira
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: del Castillo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbajosa
authors.forename: Chaime
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcuello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult