Negotiated time-out: a de-escalation tool for couples

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Family Therapy
• Domestic Violence Intervention

Background:

• Current domestic violence intervention standards often mandate separate treatment for offenders and victims.
• This separation can limit the effectiveness of certain therapeutic tools when couples choose to remain together.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for conjoint treatment components in low-level domestic violence cases where couples remain together.
• To introduce and illustrate the usefulness of a "negotiated time-out" procedure developed for conjoint therapy.

Main Methods:

• The study advocates for a shift from strictly separate treatment models.
• A "negotiated time-out" procedure is described, developed from clinical experience.
• Client feedback from victims and offenders is used to demonstrate the procedure's utility.

Main Results:

• The "time-out" tool, when taught only to offenders, is often ineffective and can be misused.
• Conjointly teaching the "time-out" tool enhances its effectiveness and safety.
• Client feedback supports the usefulness of the negotiated time-out procedure in conjoint therapy.

Conclusions:

• Conjoint therapy, specifically the negotiated time-out procedure, offers a viable alternative for couples experiencing low-level domestic violence who wish to stay together.
• Therapeutic interventions should be adapted to accommodate couples' choices to remain together, prioritizing safety and effectiveness.
• Rethinking intervention standards to include conjoint elements can improve outcomes in specific domestic violence contexts.