Practitioner’s experiences of working with men who engaged in Intimate Partner Violence: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Historically, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been a subject to a variety of research, mainly based on the gendered perspective of investigating women who have
been victims of male perpetration. However, within the last few decades, research evidence has been suggesting that IPV can be perpetrated by both men and women. To date, these research findings have led to disagreements between feminist activists, psychologists, and other professionals in relation to definition, study, and treatment of IPV. Albeit the present controversy, there is a growing number of men presenting with difficulties around IPV in private, public, and statutory services.

The aim of the current study, thus, is to give voice to practitioners working with male clients of IPV, to learn more about their subjective experiences. Interviews were conducted with 6 participants, 2 men and 4 women. The transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. A total of three themes were developed; a rich account of how the gendered model of IPV led to the invalidation of male abuse was foregrounded and how this might have affected how men presented their difficulties related to IPV in therapy. Furthermore, challenges arising from personal associations of IPV were discussed, including distortions of male clients’ narratives of IPV and preconceived ideas of gender. Finally, all of the participants encouraged integrative treatment models depending on each individual case of IPV, including approaches related to person-centred psychotherapy, attachment theory, and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

The findings highlight the need for practitioners to pay attention to the presentation of IPV in therapy, which is linked to the threat of the stereotypical masculine self-concept in society. Also, the study supports the need for practitioners to be aware of distortions/ assumptions of IPV narratives due to personal associations with IPV. Finally, practitioners recommend integrative approaches in which the therapeutic relationship is considered as central.