Kent CDAP
Community Domestic Abuse Programme
Especially for Men
What is CDAP
The Community Domestic Abuse Programme is a rolling programme of sessions. Based on the Duluth Programme, it is designed to help men who feel their behaviour towards their partner has been, or is still, abusive.
CDAP challenges that behaviour and shows you how it affects your partner or ex-partner and any children that may be involved. We know it can be tough facing up to difficult problems. This programme will support you to make the changes you need to develop respectful, non-abusive relationships so that you are safe around your partner and any children.
How long is the programme?
The programme consists of 27 weekly sessions which can be delivered in a group or 1-1, by zoom or a phone call. The programme aims to work in a flexible way, and with a range of diverse needs. It is expected that once you are accepted on to the programme, you will attend all of the sessions.
How can I access CDAP?
The first step is to decide if you want to change your behaviour. After that, contact us and we will offer an interview to assess your suitability. One condition of attendance is that you provide contact details of your partner or ex-partner.
Does it change abusive behaviour?
The programme cannot ‘cure’ abusive behaviour or guarantee dramatic change. Behavioural change is a long process and may continue after the programme is finished. However, research shows that men who completed the programme are more likely to reduce their abusive behaviour.
How does CDAP work?
CDAP is a rolling modular programme. There are nine modules. Each module has three sessions, making twenty-seven sessions in total. Throughout the programme you will look at the various qualities and behaviours needed in a healthy, equal relationship.
Modules of the programme
- Non-violence
addressing use of physical abuse, hitting, poking, kicking, hair pulling, strangling – anything that is physical contact in a harmful way. - Non-threatening behaviour
addressing using Intimidation, making your partner afraid by using looks, actions, gestures, smashing things, destroying her property, abusing pets, displaying weapons. - Respect
addressing putting your partner down, making her feel bad about herself, calling her names, making her think she is crazy, playing mind games, humiliating her, making her feel guilty. - Support and trust
addressing controlling what your partner does, who she sees, what she reads, where she goes, limiting her outside involvement, using jealousy to justify actions. - Accountability and honesty
addressing making light of the abuse and not taking your partners concerns seriously, saying the abuse didn’t happen, shifting responsibility for abusive behaviour, saying she caused it. - Sexual respect addresses pressuring your partner to have sex, making degrading comments about her body and appearance, saying you will go with other women.
- Partnership addresses treating your partner like a servant, making all the big decisions, acting like the “king of the castle”, being the one to define male and female roles.
- Responsible parenting addresses making your partner feel guilty about the children, using the children to relay messages, using visitation to harass her, threatening to take the children away.
- Negotiation and fairness addresses preventing your partner from getting or keeping a job, making her ask for money, giving her an allowance, taking her money, not letting her know about or have access to family income.
Why is there a women support service?
Any women whose partner or ex-partner is attending the programme will have experienced some level of abuse, and for most this will have been over a long time.
It is extremely important that partners and ex-partners are offered support to help them deal with the often devastating effects of this violence.
The Community Domestic Abuse Programme offers a separate and confidential support service for the women partners and ex-partners of the men they are working with.
Your partner/ex-partner will have the choice to be kept up to date on the progress of the programme via our Women’s Support Worker, who will contact them at regular intervals to help maintain a balance in the support you are receiving.
Testimonials
CDAP has certainly helped me to look at situations from a different perspective – to be honest a perspective I didn’t know was in me.
David
I want to say thank you for everything you have done for me, my children and my relationship. It’s been a lifesaver.
Clive
I just want to thank you for all your hard work with my partner, I really appreciate it. He has learnt so much and values you a lot. I can see a real change in him. So keep doing what your doing it’s working well and changing people’s lives.
Thank you so much.
Rebecca
Get in touch
West Kent: 07956 228 891 / 07718 120 870
East Kent: 07955 039 703
Medway & Swale: 07852 927 617
EMAIL: [email protected]