When most people think of domestic violence services, the focus is often on survivors — helping them find safety, heal from trauma, and rebuild their lives. This is essential, but it only addresses part of the problem.

At RevCore, we recognize that to truly break the cycle of abuse, we need to look at the other half of the equation too: the perpetrators. That’s why we are one of the few organizations that offer a treatment track for perpetrators in addition to one for survivors.

How do we ensure everyone’s safety with these 2 (separate) treatment tracks? What kind of benefits are there in having both? In honor of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s dive deeper into our unique approach towards a safer community. 

Why treating perpetrators matters

When domestic violence occurs, the immediate harm to survivors is undeniable. But if we focus only on their recovery, we leave a critical gap in addressing the root causes of abuse. 

Domestic abuse is often a cycle, with perpetrators repeating their behavior if nothing is done to intervene: some studies show that approximately one half of survivors report repeated violence within a year of the initial incident. For this reason, treating perpetrators is crucial to preventing future harm.

At RevCore, we do this with a non-discriminatory approach to treatment. As Clinical Director Keisha Taylor-Glanville explains:

“We see our clients as people and not their offenses… We are not in the business of condemning or judging people. We are in the business of serving people.” 

We aim to address issues that are linked to abusive behavior, including alcohol and substance use and mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The goal is to help perpetrators recognize and change harmful patterns, so we can stop violence before it happens again. 

Ultimately, this doesn’t just protect current survivors — it reduces the risk of future harm to others and helps build healthier relationships. 

Facing the challenges of treating perpetrators

As important as inclusive support is, it doesn’t come without challenges. The two main ones we see are stigma and reluctance. 

Confronting the stigma around perpetrator treatment

People naturally prioritize the safety and recovery of survivors, and understandably so — and therefore treating domestic violence perpetrators is often seen with stigma. Unfortunately, this can worsen the cycle of abuse as it makes it even harder for perpetrators to get the help they need in order to improve their behavior. 

To overcome this barrier and promote healing for everyone, it’s helpful to look beyond solely the perpetrator’s behavior to the potential factors leading to it. 

As Clinical Director Keisha Taylor-Glanville explains:

“Some individuals who perpetrate domestic violence have also experienced a history of violence themselves, and are walking around with grave trauma.”

Indeed, a history of physical or emotional abuse in childhood has been found to be one of the risk factors of becoming a perpetrator.

Therefore, many perpetrators were once survivors — so why shouldn’t they be given equal access to treatment? Ultimately, even without a history of being abused, perpetrating violence is a sign of unhealthy beliefs and behaviors. Any person deserves access to treatment in order to heal, and enabling this to happen will only benefit everyone involved. 

Engaging reluctant patients

Another challenge in treating perpetrators is the willingness of perpetrators themselves. Most perpetrators initially enter treatment due to legal mandates, and many come with defensive attitudes. They may deny or minimize their abusive actions, deflect responsibility, or even resist engaging with the treatment process altogether. These barriers are common, but we at RevCore focus on creating an environment where individuals can feel safe enough to lower these defenses.

Our program avoids judgment and emphasizes rapport-building between clinicians and clients, giving perpetrators a safe space to explore their behaviors without the fear of condemnation. Once trust is established, perpetrators can work with the clinician to understand the root causes of their behaviors. Most critically, they can start working toward change from their own volition rather than it being imposed on them. This is what leads to truly meaningful behavioral modification, making real progress possible.

Ensuring survivor safety while treating perpetrators

You might be wondering how we make a dual treatment track for domestic violence work, given the high risk involved. Of course, the safety of our clients is always our highest priority. 

It’s important to highlight that there is absolutely no juxtaposition or intersection between our services to survivors and our services to perpetrators. They are provided through separate tracks, ensuring there is no physical or temporal overlap between the two groups in treatment spaces. Additionally, we rarely treat survivors and perpetrators from the same domestic violence situation. In cases where family therapy is required, specific guidelines and protocols are in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

Confidentiality is also a cornerstone of our approach at RevCore. We understand that for anyone to fully engage in their recovery, they must trust that their information is secure and will not be shared. Our dedication to safeguarding client privacy ensures that all parties can engage fully in their respective treatment and focus on their own recovery and wellbeing.

This extends to legal mandates as well, with only necessary information — such as participation updates — being shared when clients are mandated to treatment. Any further disclosures require specific consent, and we treat every client’s privacy with the highest level of respect.

How do we measure the program’s success?

One of the most important outcomes of domestic violence treatment is, of course, a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending. Unfortunately, this can be rather hard to track, as organizations aren’t able to track clients’ behavior once they stop receiving services, and even while they do, clients may not disclose new incidents. 

However, one thing we can see is whether perpetrators have completed their treatment plans, and to an extent also whether their behaviors have changed as a result. This progress is measured through service plan goals tailored to each individual, with the understanding that recovery is not a linear process. Even if there are setbacks, the overall movement toward healthier behavior is what defines the success of the program.

Fostering healthier communities across New York

As part of our efforts to create a healthier community, RevCore collaborates with external partners. One of these is the NYPD with Project Resolve. When NYPD officers respond to domestic violence incidents, they inform perpetrators about RevCore’s treatment programs and pass on their contact information to RevCore for follow-up.

While not very many perpetrators actually reach out, it remains an essential part of our community outreach, offering an early intervention option to individuals who may not otherwise think to seek help. 

Additionally, we have many other initiatives to collaborate with other organizations and local communities. Our community-based services enable better access to treatment directly in patients’ communities. We also offer training on various topics like crisis de-escalation and overdose response to organizations that could benefit from this knowledge with the people they serve. 

In building these networks within the community, we aim to ensure that individuals in need are aware of the available support services and feel empowered to reach out for help.

Get in touch with RevCore’s domestic violence services

It’s clear that addressing domestic violence effectively requires more than just support for survivors. By treating survivors and perpetrators in separate tracks, we at RevCore ensure a full-spectrum approach that seeks to break the cycle of violence at its root. Our commitment to safety, healing, and individualized care allows both survivors and perpetrators to work through their trauma in secure, confidential environments. You can read more about our approach in our interview with Clinical Director Keisha Taylor-Glanville here.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, please reach out to the Revcore Mental Health Program at 718.514.6007. Whether you are a survivor or someone struggling with harmful behaviors, our doors are open to provide the support you need.

If you are not ready for treatment, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.