Mindful Workbook for Women: Domestic Violence Group Treatment Program, Paperback

Mindful Workbook for Women is an acceptance-based, cognitive behavioral participant workbook adapted from the Emotionally Intelligent Batterer Intervention program. This comprehensive treatment manual is also a self-help guide for high-conflict couples. Research shows that shame is highly correlated with domestic violence. Many individuals enter treatment overwhelmed and defeated by shame. With a strong emphasis on compassion, curiosity, and accountability, Mindful Workbook for Women teaches self-acceptance, empathy, and impulse control. Accountability is a tool used to strengthen self-esteem and regulate emotions. Given that the vast majority of domestic abusers suffer from a history of trauma, Mindful Workbook for Women is a trauma-informed treatment program. Participants learn to identify and override harmful thinking patterns while healing old wounds. Individuals become vulnerable, transparent, and authentic as they develop an internal locus of control through powerful cognitive restructuring techniques. Readers express feeling grounded and empowered as they learn to slow down through mindfulness training. Mindful Workbook for Women promotes healthy boundaries, assertiveness skills, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, empathy, and responsible parenting throughout the program.This workbook can be adapted for domestic violence treatment programs ranging in length from 16 to 48 weeks.

Wendy W. Coates, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Virginia. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of San Francisco. In 1994, Wendy began her career in Northern California providing individual, family, and group therapy for high-risk families in the juvenile justice system. This setting was the foundation for her focus on treating domestic abuse, anger management, and trauma recovery. While living in California, she also worked as a psychiatric social worker. This acute inpatient psychiatric hospital provided extensive diagnostic, treatment, and crisis intervention experience. In addition, she worked as a therapist contracted with the child protective services family reunification program. At this location, she provided individual and family therapy as well as court ordered mental health evaluations. Following her relocation to Northern Virginia in 2005, Wendy completed postgraduate coursework in marriage and family therapy at Virginia Tech. While living in Northern Virginia, she has been directing and facilitating batterer intervention, domestic violence, and anger management treatment programs. She is a member of the Virginia Batterer Intervention Program Certification Board.