Eight Years in the Making, Relationship Communication Program Begins in Salmon Arm, BC

March 27, 2011 - PRLog -- A long-standing community need in the Salmon Arm, BC area is finally being addressed after eight years of study and discussion.  Local relationship violence expert, Marji Aiken, is excited about seeing her dream fulfilled on April 1, 2011 when she begins working in a brand new program.  For many years, relationship violence concerns have been addressed through the provision of safe shelters for women and children.  Men involved in altercations were sometimes required to attend assaultive spouses groups with the hope that they would learn how to behave differently.

Aiken began working in groups for men in 2003.  All her clients were men who were mandated by the court system to attend the standardized relationship violence program.  Aiken quickly saw how beneficial it would be to families and to the community if the problem of abuse and violence was dealt with before the legal system became involved.  Discussion with other community services providers revealed that very little, or nothing, was available to couples wanting to steer clear of the law by being pro-active about their abuse issues.  Most often, the only option was to pay for private counselling.

Frequently, money is a big concern for couples, and it may even be the trigger that sets off an abusive tirade.  Aiken thought that a program that was provincially funded would eliminate the financial barrier people can face when seeking assistance with family problems.  Time after time, her attempts to make this happen were denied.  Determined to make a difference in the lives of people involved in relationship violence, Aiken returned to university to learn more about effective intervention and treatment options.  Her Masters-level studies led her to develop a program that encompasses trauma, addictions, and relationship violence.

By including a residential addiction treatment centre as one of her workplace settings, Aiken was able to receive feedback about her ideas from both male and female clients.  Data was gathered through the use of a simple survey.  Stories were listened to as hurting people shared their life experiences.  With dogged persistence, Aiken continued to talk about the problem of abuse and her idea for a solution to anyone who could possibly help change the existing system.

April 1, 2011 is Day One of that change. Couples are already waiting to meet with Aiken and begin to make significant alterations to their personal lives.  This will be accomplished through a variety of methods, with strategies tailored to the individuals and adjusted to obtain a good fit.  Most importantly, both players in the relationship will be able to learn the same things at the same time, thereby eliminating disjointed attempts to change.