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Monday 31 December 2012

Freedom Programme in secret


 

Many high profile professional women are suffering domestic abuse and have never felt able to tell anyone. Men are also asking for help to improve their behaviour. Several people in this situation have contacted me to ask for help.

In response I have put the complete Freedom Programme on line. It costs £10.00 and can be purchased from my website using paypal or most major credit cards. Apparently in the UK a packet of 20 cigarettes cost £7.00!

It is available in different languages via Google translator. Basically it is a combination of 'Living with the Dominator' and the 'Freedom Programme Home Study Course'.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Children returned from care thanks to WAVE Freedom Programme


I commend WAVE for the way they have used the Freedom Programme. I am also delighted that they now have a presence in the Family Court. I wish everyone who completed my training made such effective use of it and could provide such concrete evidence of their success in the area of child protection. I hope that this excellent project continues to receive the funding they need to continue to provide this vital service. 

Louise Casey says she helps a'troubled family' for £4000.00. WAVE charges nothing!



Freedom Programme Evaluation from WAVE DV Centre between June and November 2012.
62 women were referred to the WAVE Freedom Programme. 48 women completed the programme.  
16 of them had children in the care of the local authority.
28 of those children were subject to child projection plans and described as in need of safeguarding. (This was formerly known as the ‘at risk register’)
37 of the women who started the programme reported that they suffered from depression.
24 of those women were taking prescribed anti depressants.
After completing the programme only 4 of the women still had children who remained in care.
12 of them still had children who were subject to child protection plans.
15 women now reported that they were depressed.
12 women were still taking prescribed anti depressants.
SUMMARY.
As a result of attending the Freedom Programme at the WAVE DV Centre:
12  out of 16 women had their children returned from care.
16  out of 28 women had their children’s names removed from the child protection plans.
25 out of 37 women said they no longer suffered from depression.
12 out of 24 women were no longer taking anti depressants.


Wednesday 5 December 2012


A photo from a recently published cook book!

Thursday 8 November 2012

WAVE Centre training


Freedom Program Training for Professional's

 

This two hour training session gives professionals an overview of the Freedom Programme and qualifies practitioners to work through the home study course on a one to one basis with clients.

 

Course Costs £45 per person

Attendees will receive a copy of the Living with the Dominator book and a copy of the Freedom Program Home Study Course.

The course is for:

·                     Anyone who comes into contact with victims of abuse

·                     Professionals who are making referrals to the Freedom Program and want to understand what the programme entails.

·                     Support workers wanting to use the home study course on a one to one with clients.

·                     Professionals keen to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse and how that impacts on children

What is the Freedom Programme?

The Freedom Programme is a 12 week support group for women. It operates as a rolling programme which means referrals can be made at any point. The benefits are the same as long as clients complete 12 weeks.

Who is it for?

The Freedom Programme is open to any woman who wishes to learn more about the reality of domestic abuse, whether she is in or has left an abusive relationship, including women who have no plan to leave their partner.

What are its aims?

·         To help women to understand the beliefs held by abusive men and in so doing, recognise which of these beliefs they have shared.

·         To show the effects of domestic abuse on children

·         To help women to recognise potential future abusers

·         To help women to regain self esteem and the confidence to improve the quality of their lives

·         To introduce women to community resources and support groups

Where is it?

The Freedom Programme is run from several venues across Wigan and Leigh. All courses are open to women from any area. All programmes are free.

How do I make a referral

Contact WAVE 01942 262290 Chris@wavedvcentre.com

Sunday 4 November 2012

Freedom Programme Training Opportunity

Training opportunity
Dear Colleagues
I am inviting all trained facilitators to PROVIDE short training events to professionals.
1. Introduction to the Home Study Course.
The training consists of the first session of the Freedom Programme.
The trainers can charge £45.00 per place. The price includes a copy of ‘Living with the Dominator’ and ‘The Freedom Programme Home Study Course’. The trainers can buy 50 or more of these publications from me for £5.00 per copy plus p&p. The trainers can then inform their trainees that they too can buy these publications either from Amazon or in large quantities directly from me.
2.The Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children.
This training consists of the session which deals with the effects of abuse on children. The price can also be £45.00 per place. This training includes the book‘Freedom’s Flowers’ which are provided in the same terms as the Introduction training.
Promotion
I will advertise all facilitators who provide this service in the ‘Facilitators for hire’ section on my web site. This offer is only available to facilitators who have been trained by me.

Friday 2 November 2012

Parenting Programme

 
Since being made redundant from my post as the Parenting Worker at Survive, an organisation in South Gloucestershire which supports women and children through domestic violence and abuse, I have been developing my own parenting programme to suit the specific needs of traumatised women who are often faced with the daunting task of parenting traumatised children. Experience and research has taught me that using a traditional parenting approach based on rewards and conseqences is not a good match for those affected by trauma and complex attachment.

The main reasons why I do what I do!

1. Post abuse, traumatised families do not need a power & control based parenting approach

2. We need to parent differently to get different outcomes for children and parents

3. We need an approach to raising children which breaks the cycle of violence & victims

4. We need parenting which builds empathy & reduces the effects of trauma
5. Parents deserve to enjoy parenting their children
When I was at Survive, I used to attend the Freedom Programme sessions on the effects on children and it has often been suggested that my parenting programme would be a good follow on from you excellent programme as understanding and parenting complex and often challenging behaviour is often a major concern for women once they are out of the abusive relationship.
Jane Evans
Specialist Parenting and Behaviour Skills Consultant

Mobile: 07946318404
Landline: 01249 721104

Twitter: @janeparenting
Website: www.parentingposttrauma.co.uk
Blog:
http://janeevansparenting.blogspot.com 


Sunday 21 October 2012

Award for Bedfordshire Freedom Programme

Hi Pat,

Just to let you know at the Equality and Diversity Awards held by Bedfordshire Race and Equalities Council, Central Bedfordshire Council won the award for Leading Change with the Freedom programme. I was very proud to accept the award on behalf of the council and the Freedom programme.

Fantastic the work with victims of Domestic Abuse is being acknowledged.

Take care
Ginny


 

Tuesday 16 October 2012

The first review has been posted on Amazon already!



Another amazing and powerful book from Pat Craven, creator of the FREEDOM PROGRAMME.
FREEDOM'S FLOWERS is an account of the effects of domestic abuse on children -
with children, young people and adults telling their own powerful and disturbing stories of 'living with domestic abuse and violence' as children!
The book will unsettle and disturb you ... it will make your stomach churn ... it will tug at your heartstrings .. and it will make you cry ...
because it is an honest and realistic account of how a minimum 0f 750,000 children in the UK alone - every year - suffer physical, psychological, sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of the significant males in their mother's lives.
I am a social work and psychology professional of 25 years standing, and I am desperate that every social work and health professional reads this book ... I believe the information and knowledge within its pages could prevent another 'Baby 'P' in the future - I plead with you to read it as soon as possible!!

Sunday 14 October 2012

FREEDOMS FLOWERS


NEW BOOK

Freedoms Flowers is a book about the effects of domestic abuse on children. It is composed of firsthand accounts from these children and their mothers. Some of the children write as adults from memory and some are male. The youngest contributor is eight years old. Their stories describe not only the abuse from the perpetrators but the dreadful collusion from the professionals who should have been protecting the victims instead of worsening the effects of the abuse. This book is for every teacher, social worker, solicitor, judge and member of the medical profession who comes in to contact with any aspect of domestic abuse. It is for every woman who is staying with an abuser for the sake of the children. Every woman whose children wet the bed, throw tantrums and attack other children should read this. Every woman whose children have been taken into care should also read this. The book also sends a strong message about hope. The contributors describe how their lives were saved when they attended the Freedom Programme. They did not need therapy or threats to save their children from abuse. They only needed information to enable them to make informed decisions. Knowledge is power!

It is available from Amazon worldwide. If you want 50 copies or more they cost £5.00 each plus p&p. Please place orders directly with me for delivery within 30 days.

 

Thursday 11 October 2012

END OF AN ERA


Sadly my association with the theatre company has come to an end.

My training events will no longer include the play.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Sexual assault by an anaesthetist

Last spring I heard from a woman who was sexually assaulted by an anaesthetist when she was unconscious in a private hospital. She was waiting for an operation on her collar bone. He also administered a date rape drug. As a result she was confused for about 5 days and did not report it to the police. She challenged the hospital management but they denied anything had happened. She knew she had been assaulted because she was injured. She thinks he may have used an object.
We were wondering how many other women have experienced this. If it is widespread we can start a campaign.
Pat

Friday 5 October 2012

Finally free!!!

Dear Pat,

Firstly I would like to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU for the Freedom Programme, it has changed my life. I had already left my husband when the police officer dealing with my case suggested your programme. I was struggling with guilt at this poor man that seemed full of remorse after beating up my son in December 2009. It was close to the first court case and, after months of stalking and harassment, he was finally jailed for breaking his bail conditions. He had sent a 19 page letter to my friends. They were amazing. Most of them were there when he broke my jaw several years previous and all relieved that I had the guts to remove him from MY house. It took him beating up my son to give me the strength to stay away. For some reason he justified it whenever I was on the receiving end, but I could not forgive him for hurting my son.

I am almost divorced from him. As I work I have to pay for court fees etc and couldn't afford them, so he is divorcing me. Am sure he is very happy at that because it proves he was wronged by me. I just want the final part of my life back. He gets legal aid as he is not working and spent several times and many months in prison. Hmmmm! My solicitor has managed to get most police reports / hospital reports into the divorce as we are currently waiting for the financial hearing (17th October) He expects a huge amount of money from me. He omitted the damage he caused to MY house (bought by me years before I met him, he controlled the finances and left me in debt.)

Anyway, I am sending this to you in case you can use it. If it helps just one woman change her life, then that is brilliant. My cup is more than half full, I have amazing friends / family and just about to start a fantastic new job. I am still single, 3 years on, but that is my choice. If I see the warning signs I run in the opposite direction. I have also been working on me, finding out who I am, what I like and, most importantly for me, being the mum I knew I always was. I have 4 amazing children between the ages of 16 and 23. I am so proud because it could have been horrible for them but we have had nearly 3 years of giggles, laughter, fun, love and happiness. Its been a struggle at times but thats life!

Love and happiness to all

Sunday 30 September 2012

BOLLOXOGY

One of the most difficult moments on the Freedom Programme comes when we realize that he has never loved us. However the positive side to that comes when we learn that this is not personal. Dominators hate all women. He would have abused any woman he was with. All dominators hate women. That is why they abuse us.
They do not do it because it is our fault, or because they are alcoholics, or stressed or mentally ill, or sex addicts or unemployed or overworked or insecure. All these BOLLOXOGY  excuses are dangerous rubbish. If we believe for example that he is abusive because he is an alcoholic we may stay with him and even join a support group. We may therefore end up as one of the 3 women who are murdered by a dominator every 3 days.

Friday 21 September 2012

MISSION STATEMENT FOR FREEDOM PROGRAMME


MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE FREEDOM PROGRAMME.

 

Any woman should be able to phone the contact numbers on my web site and be told where and when the next session is taking place and whether crèche facilities are available. I do not endorse intrusive questions, referrals or risk assessments.

 MISSION STATEMENT FOR FREEDOM PROGRAMME

Women must be actively welcomed to the programme.

 

We never give advice or tell any woman that she should leave. If it were so easy we would have all left.

 

Judgemental statements such as ‘I would never let anyone do that to me’ or ‘this has never happened to me’ are not acceptable.

 

Facilitators refer to all women as ‘us’ and never use the dreaded words ‘These Women’.

 

These programmes are only for the women who attend them. I do not endorse the presence of observers.

 

Ideally every woman who attends should be given a copy of the book, ‘Living with the Dominator’ and the supplement ‘The Freedom Programme Home Study Course’ as soon as she arrives. This will enhance her learning. Clearly she will know if it is safe to take these publications home or to leave them in a folder with the facilitator. 

 

This programme lasts for 12 x 90 minute sessions. It is a rolling programme so women who attend can miss a session and do it later  when they are ready. Some women can take years to complete it.  Session 4 is about the ‘Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children. It is repeated in session 8. Facilitators who only want to run this once can shorten the programme to 11 weeks.

Friday 17 August 2012

USA book sales

Thanks to Rachael’s efforts on twitter we are now selling Living With .. and the Home Study… in the USA

Thursday 16 August 2012

Quality Control

If women complete the Freedom Programme on line or do the Home Study Course they will be in a better position to judge the quality of any programme they attend.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

On line programme

About 2 years ago a woman in the Scottish Highlands telephoned me. She was an American university lecturer. Her Scottish Dominator persuaded her to join him in his home in the mountains and she them became a virtual prisoner. He allowed her to go to the library for 2 hours a week to change his library books. She phoned me from there. I posted ‘Living with the Dominator’ to the library. I then realised that I needed to make the Freedom Programme accessible to all women in her position. I have also been contacted by women who had asked their social workers to help them to join the Freedom Programme only to be told that they were not ‘ready’ to join. I wrote the ‘Home Study Course’ to reach all women in their position and now I have the on line programme. I am delighted that I can now offer choices to all women whose lives may be saved.

Sunday 29 July 2012

A contribution which came too late for the new book


I will post all contributions which came too late for the book on my blog.
Hi Pat,
this may be of interest for your new book...
Alice, my 6 year old daughter, 11 months after leaving the dominator household, was playing with her dolls house. Firstly she said 'and the mummy gets up to look after the children and the daddy stays in bed'. I was mortified that she had this blue print for her future relationships fixed so firmly. Children learn what they live. I am trying to teach her subtly that she deserves respect and friendships and partnerships should be respectful and fair.
My son has been very mixed up, initially after we left the dominator household, his mood brightened considerably and then he became troubled again and was getting messages from his father that 'he should be naughty and make mummy cry' and 'not to like grandma and granddad cos they dont like daddy anymore'. Although my relationship with their father was abusive, he wasn’t violent towards me and the children still have contact with him. Although they are now free from him most of the time, the effects of the abusive relationship continues. He favours my son who is more susceptible to his coercion and ignores my daughter who will tell him very sagely that he is doing wrong (asking them to lie to me etc). This has resulted in my daughter not wanting to stay over (and his new partner’s daughter has moved into her bedroom - so she feels replaced). Alice went through a large spell of nosebleeds and was picking her nose constantly. I believe this to be a stress reflex.

If this is useful and you want any further info, let me know

Saturday 28 July 2012

Delay


The online course will now not be available until 03.08.12. Sorry for delay everyone.

Warning

WARNING
All my publications reflect the reality of domestic abuse through the language and content. If you are offended by swearing DO NOT BUY THEM.

Friday 27 July 2012

Freedom Programme on line


The entire Freedom Programme is now available to buy on line from my web site in a language of your choice. It is a combination of ‘Living with the Dominator’ and the ‘Home Study Course’. The translation is automatic so I recommend that potential purchasers look at the sample sessions on my web site before buying.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Visually impaired people can now listen to Living with the


Visually impaired people can now listen to Living with the Dominator and the Home Study Course on KINDLE TOUCH

Approved Freedom Trainers


The ONLY approved Freedom Trainers are listed on my web site.

Monday 23 July 2012

Child Protection Training

Freedom Programme Child Protection Training is now available.
Visit the web site for more information.

Sunday 22 July 2012

International book sales


‘Living with the Dominator’ and the 'Home Study Course' are for sale on Amazon in nearly every country apart from China for some reason.




International 'Kindle Touch'


By 24.07.12 ‘Living with the Dominator’ and the 'Home Study Course' will be available on ‘Kindle Touch’. Includes text to speech and translations in to Spanish, Japanese, French, German’ and Brazilian Portuguese.

Friday 13 July 2012

The effects of abuse on children.

The effects of abuse on children.
I am writing a new book about how children are affected by living with a dominator.
I have received many contributions which I will include anonymously. I welcome more if any of you want to e mail me with your stories.  Here is an example;

Remember mummy when dad used to play the banister game. He would take us to the top of the stairs and hold us over the banister, dangling us, you used to scream and cry and tell him to stop but he wouldn’t. OUR LIVES ARE SO MUCH BETTER NOW MUMMY.

Pat

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Radio 4. Get a grip!




I have just heard Libby Purves on Midweek. She referred to the play the ‘Taming of the Shrew’ as being about 'This bitch of a woman'. I have been dedicated to fighting domestic violence for years and frankly language like this does nothing to challenge the beliefs of abusive men. 

Pat Craven  www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

Sunday 20 May 2012

Freedom Programme on line.

Freedom Programme on line.
I have had hundreds of requests to translate the Freedom Programme in to languages other than English.
In response we are actually in the process of putting the complete Freedom Programme on line. It will cost around £10.00 and can be purchased from my website using pay pal or most major credit cards. Apparently in the UK a packet of 20 cigarettes cost £7.00!
It will be available in different languages. Basically it will be a combination of 'Living with the Dominator' and the 'Home Study Course'. As soon as it is complete it will be on my web site. We are hoping that it will be available within a few weeks. Please help us to spread the word to the world when it happens. 

Friday 18 May 2012

Hooray! A Freedom trained family lawyer!




Welcome Amanda. We have been waiting for you for years.

Amanda is our first practising lawyer to complete the 3 day facilitator training

Amanda Johnson


Riacottage@aol.com

Tel: 01773 716125

Mob: 07793 862444

Thursday 10 May 2012

Freedom Programme Facilitator Training

CRITERIA FOR TRAINING Aspiring trainees MUST read 'Living with the Dominator' and complete the ‘Freedom Programme Home Study Course’ before EVEN applying. This programme challenges most widely held beliefs and trainees need to be prepared. We will not change the programme if you do not like it! This training also includes a range of anglo saxon expletives (strong language) and it not for the squeamish. If you are offended by swearing do not attend.

Friday 13 April 2012

Freedom Programme Specialist One Day Child Protection Training

I am delighted to promote this excellent training.
Lavinia Moore is an independent consultant social worker who has worked in child protection for more than twenty years. She has managed front line child protection services in London and the South East and has had extensive domestic violence training with Pat Craven and the Freedom Programme.
This specialist training is for front line social workers and other professionals who work with children and families. It uses the latest research to demonstrate that domestic violence underpins over 50% of casework.
Trainees learn how to use the Freedom Programme to increase their professional skill base and service delivery. This training is available in-house for a minimum of 20 trainees and maximum of 40.
'the best DV training for social workers – will improve my assessments and practice – thank you’
Social Worker, Essex Social Care
‘just wanted to say thank you for our D.V. training day – the team felt this was so very informative in their understanding of D.V. and also assisted in team bonding – thank you very much – Team Manager, Essex Social Care.

Please contact Lavinia on laviniam@hotmail.com for more information or to arrange an event.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Legal advice

I have copied these comments from our Discussion Forum when I asked for recommendations.
Ayers Waters in Stockport are excellent D.V and Forced Marriage solicitors. Victoria Pratt, Kathryn Wright and Maria Taylor all come highly recommended
DAWN DORRELL in colchester, essex is brilliant
Myer Wolff solcitors in Hull who have DV specialist solicitors. They were excellent.

Friday 23 March 2012

An appeal by our Freedom Friendly Journalist.

An appeal by our Freedom Friendly Journalist.

Tanith Carey who is definitely spreading our message wants to write an article about a young woman who will talk about being victimised/bullied over the internet/Facebook by a dominator .
Can anyone help her?
Tanith says
‘I appreciate they may only want to talk anonymously - but for me the most important aspect is the psychology behind it.
I'd like to hear first hand about the vulnerabilities the dominators exploit - and how they have access to more women over the internet’.

tanithcarey2003@yahoo.com

Thursday 15 March 2012

JOB VACENCY

JOB VACENCY
Warwickshire Domestic Violence Support Services

Groups Development Worker

Local Domestic Violence service is seeking someone with experience of working with victims of domestic violence in one to one and group environments to join their team.
Based in Rugby the role is countywide and will necessitate travel.
20 hours per week - Salary £23,000pa pro rata
For application pack contact Corinne on 01788 537112 or email for pack to corinne@warksdvss.org.uk
Closing date 26/3/12
Interviews w/c 2/4/12

Friday 9 March 2012

Sexual assault by an anaesthetist

I have just heard from a woman who was sexually assaulted by an anaesthetist when she was unconscious in a private hospital. She was waiting for an operation on her collar bone. He also administered a date rape drug. As a result she was confused for about 5 days and did not report it to the police. She challenged the hospital management but they denied anything had happened. She knew she had been assaulted because she was injured. She thinks he may have used an object.
We were wondering how many other women have experienced this. If it is widespread we can start a campaign.
Pat

Saturday 4 February 2012

MEN'S PROGRAMMES

I have no men’s programmes planned at present. Men who want to improve can complete the Home Study Course but they should read the free chapters which are available to download on my site. Men who buy the books without doing this and consequentially have a tantrum will not get a refund.

However when I did run them I forbade them to say anything personal about themselves. The reason for that is because every abusive man believes his partner is causing him to abuse her. They honestly DO believe this. So they arrived on my courses expecting me to help them cope with this horrible woman who forced them to be violent.
Be warned that some programmes encourage men to talk about themselves. This means they can wind themselves and each other up! On my programmes they were ONLY allowed to talk about the Dominator.
If a man is in a relationship I used to insist that his partner was in the room so she could see if he was changing or not.
I always refuse to write reports for courts and social services. I take the view that only his partner can judge whether the course has worked. IF SHE has done the Freedom Programme she can see if he has stopped using abusive behaviour.

FEEDBACK FROM A FREEDOM PROGRAMME

HOW DOES THE FREEDOM PROGRAMME CHANGE US?
WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?

I'm FREE – People believe me at last!

Buy what I want for me and kids!

Wear what I want!

Understand what makes an abusive man Tick!

I can breath without fear!

Can sleep at nights without crying!

Be able to relax! Slowly start to be strong

Being free to do what I want to do and go where I want!

Learn a lot about his behaviour gained an insight of DV

Opened my eyes

I can now wake up in the morning knowing I can carry on with my plans for the day and not worry what I'm going home to.

Make me more aware of domestic violence
have friends over (without them being run down)

Go to sleep with no stress

Come out of my shell, able to talk out about it

Make and cook food that I want, make cakes when I need to

Have children more relaxed and not walking on eggshells

Try not to blame myself for his mistakes

Meet a good man (non abusive)

Have things around with out it being a problem (e.g. at home)

Recognise that he has not got autism/aspergers deep down he's just abusive and asserting his power. Agencies believed him, but now I have the words to explain to them that his actions were abusive tactics

Not be yelled at down my ear

Can now understand and see the signs. Can now see that none of it was my fault. I didn’t deserve it

I can take my kids out and buy them things

Buy your own shopping what you want, without it being put back on the shelves

I can now wear make up and clothes that I feel makes me look good, I can go out and meet family and friends any time I choose.

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Mothers for Justice http://www.mothers-for-justice.net

Welcome to Mothers for Justice

We are the campaigning 'voice' for everyone who has suffered an injustice with the corrupt judiciary system.

We endeavor, through our campaigns to bring out into the open the appalling number of injustices (particularly) those relating to child access issues.

Mothers protecting their children from violent, abusive fathers are being imprisoned. Residency is then switched to the perpentrator in order to appease the government with no thought to the child's welfare or needs.

An ANY Dad is better than no Dad policy be he a paedophile or violent thug...contact at any cost prevails.

Our serious concerns regarding our children's welfare is not being addressed. Courts are putting our children in extremely dangerous situations daily, we will not tolerate this abuse any longer. Please join us in our fight for justice.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Recommend Solicitors who are DV aware

Hi everyone
If you have received good legal advice from a solicitor who has had domestic abuse training please post their details on my forum so that others in their area will be able to contact them. Unfortunately I cannot invite you to name and shame the rubbish ones in case they sue me! However when THIS list becomes established it could encourage them to improve so that we can include them!