What
is the Freedom Programme?
We provide information not therapy. The Freedom Programme is a
domestic violence programme which was created by Pat Craven who holds the
copyright ( all rights reserved) and evolved from her work with perpetrators of
domestic violence.
The Programme was primarily designed for women as victims of
domestic violence, since research shows that in the vast majority of cases of
serious abuse are male on female. However, the programme, when provided as an
intensive two day course, is also suitable for men, whether abusive and wishing
to change their attitudes and behaviour or whether victims of domestic abuse
themselves. Freedom Programme examines the roles played by attitudes and
beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors.
The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to
them, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess. The
Freedom Programme also describes in detail how children are affected by being
exposed to this kind of abuse and very importantly how their lives are improved
when the abuse is removed.
Where is the Freedom Programme?
There are programmes across the UK and in Dublin. To find
contact details for a programme near you click on the Search Section on the web site.
You can also contact our help line /help desk
What
if there are no programmes in my area?
There
are also links on my web site to online programme and to the book section for the Home Study Course which is
available from Amazon. Sales fund our charity.
MISSION
STATEMENT FOR THE FREEDOM PROGRAMME
• Any woman should be able to phone the contact numbers on my
website and be told where and when the next session is taking place and whether
crรจche facilities are
available. I do not endorse intrusive questions, referrals or risk assessments.
• 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.
