Family Counseling in Honduras: a model of male re-education to overcome domestic violence

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to summarize the results of a study on how Family Counseling Services in the Central District contribute to shaping a new, less violent and inclusive masculinity. The research focused on men referred by the Courts for domestic violence and the perspective of the multidisciplinary team that serves them. A participatory methodology was used, utilizing group workshops, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and testimonials. And why does it work? Results. Re-education is aimed at all audiences. Psychological and economic violence were the most frequent. In the counseling services, changes begin when clients accept responsibility for the assaults. They continue when they reduce aggressiveness and question learned behaviors of dominance, possession, control, and promiscuity. Working in groups with other men helps them revalue themselves and develop a more inclusive fatherhood. Men and women exercise violence against each other. Re-education gradually reduces violence. Conclusions. Domestic violence acts as a sieve, revealing or detecting violence to a lesser extent, when re-education is still possible without criminalizing it. Unfortunately, this great work of the Ministry of Health has remained largely hidden, and it is necessary to make it known and multiply it in the educational field so that men stop attacking not only women and those closest to them, but also other men and themselves.