ABSTRACT
Abusive men can be difficult clients, They frequently tend to be demanding, self-absorbed, self-centered, blaming, defensive, argumentative, hostile, intimidating, and controlling, although they may, at times, appear to be compliant and passive. Abusive men offer a variety of defenses to avoid taking responsibility for themselves, both in the intake process and throughout the group. In addition to education, training, and experience, some specific personal characteristics are part of being an effective group leader. Group therapy helps many batterers deal with the shame they experience by allowing them to observe other men directly talking about and addressing control, abuse, and violence. Group members will gain confidence that they can change what has brought them to the program when they feel that the therapist is present as someone who is there for them. It is common, in individual or group sessions, for a therapist to become a secondary victim to a batterer's abusiveness.
