Therapeutic Factors in Guidance versus Counseling Sessions of Domestic Violence Groups

Group leaders randomly employed a counseling leadership approach for one session in place of the guidance leadership approach typically used in six ongoing domestic violence offender groups. Group members completed the Critical Incident Questionnaire to assess therapeutic factors and the Group Experience Rating Form to assess if the leadership approaches were worthwhile. Results suggested more participants experienced hope and information during the guidance sessions, and universality, cohesion, and interpersonal learning during the counseling sessions. Existential factors were more prevalent during the guidance sessions. There was no significant difference in the extent to which members believed the two approaches were worthwhile.