Project PIPA
(Preventing Intimate Partner Abuse)

Project PIPA (Preventing Intimate Partner Abuse) is a 5 session (3.5 hours each) early intervention domestic abuse course for standard-medium risk individuals who have perpetrated abuse towards an intimate partner. The course helps identify and change their abusive behaviour, by encouraging self-reflection and increasing motivation to make positive long-term changes.

The course utilises Feminist theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Practitioners will encourage behaviour change through introducing and defining abusive behaviour, increasing awareness of links between core beliefs, thinking and behaviours. We then challenge these thoughts in order to change behaviour. To promote long term change, PIPA looks at emotional management, and the impact on victim/survivor and children to encourage empathy and perspective of their behaviour. Overall, PIPA enables individuals to develop individualised practical strategies for maintaining change.

Course outline:

• Harmful Behaviour and Beliefs – Introducing and defining abusive behaviour, increasing awareness of links between core beliefs, thinking and behaviours.
• Gender, Masculinity & Beliefs – How gender & masculinity impact on beliefs, decisions, & emotional control, and explore the impact of societal messages of gender on relationship expectations.
• Emotional Management – We work to improve emotional management .
• Victims and Children – Looking to increase victim empathy and perspective taking skills, while raising awareness of how behaviour impacts on others.
• Risk – We review risks posed to the partner and child and develop individualised practical strategies for maintaining change.

An adapted intervention for female perpetrators (including a trauma-informed approach) is also available, completed as a one-on-one.

Alongside working with those referred, RISE ensures that support is offered to the victims of the attendees through our Domestic Abuse Safety Advisors (DASAs) and sharing this information is a condition of their attendance. We ensure victims are given feedback from the course (if requested) and that they feel supported and empowered.