The Processes of Help-Seeking and Counsellor Development in the Context Of Men who Experience Intimate Partner Abuse
Date
2021-08-19
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Men experience IPA from women at significant rates; this abuse can be severe and can have serious, deleterious effects on men’s emotional and physical health. Yet, men are hesitant to seek help for this abuse. Simultaneously, literature depicts a divide amongst counsellors’ willingness and ability to provide services to this population. Through a review of this literature, I thought it beneficial to better understand the processes involved in men seeking help in the context of IPA, and in becoming a service provider who validates men’s experiences of IPA and is willing to provide counselling to them. To approach this goal, I utilized grounded theory methodology, within the context of a social constructionist epistemology and a relativist ontology. Further, I utilized feminist anti-oppressive theory as my overarching theoretical lens through which I developed and implemented this dissertation project.
Study 1 involved interviews with 10 men who had experienced IPA: eight of whom had sought help, and two of whom had not. The results of Study 1 depicted a five-phase process that men go through, each time that they seek any type of help, for any type of IPA. These phases included: 1) Experiencing Distress/Abuse, 2) Recognizing Severity, 3) Realizing Limitations, 4) Deciding to Seek Help [Subphase a) Exploring Options, and Subphase b) Weighing Pros and Cons; both which were driven by a feeling of Ambivalence towards seeking help], and 5) Obtaining and Engaging in Help. For Study 2, I recruited eight participants who provided counselling services to stigmatized populations: six of whom provided counselling services to men who have experienced IPA, and two of whom provided counselling services to other stigmatized populations. The results of Study 2 depicted a three-phase process that counsellors go through, as they become someone who is willing to provide services to this population. Namely: 1) Realizing Severity, 2) Wanting to Help, and 3) Forming a Validating Connection [Subphase a) Recognizing Biases, and Subphase b) Addressing Biases].
The results of Study 1 align with previously postulated models of both general and IPA-specific help-seeking, and add further depth and clarity regarding the specific processes involved. This model can be used to help service providers predict and subsequently address exit points for men in their help-seeking journeys. It further provides clarity regarding what needs to be addressed societally in order to further facilitate men’s help-seeking. The model developed through Study 2 corroborates previous theoretical literature, which posits that professional and personal experiences are salient factors in counsellors’ professional identity development. Moreover, this model adds to the literature, as it allows for a description of the mechanisms through which these experiences affect professional development. Further, this model is unique in its clarification of the process counsellors go through in determining which populations to work with. This model can be used to predict when and why counsellors might choose to, or not to provide services to men who have experienced IPA and can be used to guide development of training and continuing education programs for professionals, in order to encourage better service provisions to men who have experienced IPA. These models elucidate the factors which can cause men and counsellors to egress the processes and can help to propagate ideas regarding how best to address these barriers. This is all done with the intention of increasing help-seeking amongst men who have experienced IPA, and of making their help-seeking and receiving experiences safer, easier, and more beneficial for them.
Description
Keywords
Intimate Partner Abuse, Gender, Counselling Development, Grounded Theory, Masculinity
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology
Program
Psychology