Social Skills Training for male perpetrators

Social skills training for people who cause violence is a program of learning non-violent communication skills and conflict resolution in interpersonal relationships. 

1. A group for men who commit violence agains women

The group is aimed for all men who commit violence. In the program, they have the opportunity to learn how to take responsibility for their violent behaviour and to work intensively on changing inadequate beliefs and behaviours and to develop non-violent communication skills. The program includes 24 group meetings and several individual counselling sessions.

Men can be included in the programme at their own request or upon the proposal of a centre for social work, Public Prosecutor's Office, Courts, Probation offices or other institutions.

The program is held in nine Slovenian cities: Celje, Koper, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Radovljica and Slovenj Gradec.

2. Individual counselling for men and adolescents who commit violence

For those men for whom group work is not appropriate there is a possibility of individual sessions with the same topics as are discussed in a group.

The program of individual counselling is also aimed for boys and adolescents aged 14 to 21 who commit violence. They can start the program on the proposal of social work centre, school, boarding school or other institution. Some may have a court order and some decide on their own or because their parents suggest them to.

The program is held in nine Slovenian cities: Celje, Koper, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Radovljica and Slovenj Gradec.

3. Parent group - Parenting Skills Training

Parenting skills training is aimed at men and women who commit violence to children, neglect them in various ways or lack parental skills and need additional knowledge on parenting. In the program, parents have the opportunity to recognize their inappropriate patterns and get a chance to learn appropriate parenting skills and take responsibility for their behaviour. The training includes 24 weekly meetings of 90 minutes. Currently the program is available only in Ljubljana.