In The Freedom Step's approach to the concept of violence in all its permutations, repeated violence is regarded as an addiction. While this is a unique view to many who work in the field of violence prevention, I am not persuaded that there are many compelling arguments against this approach.

With respect to those people who are victimized by violence, particularly domestic or relationship violence, The Freedom Step currently takes the following position: those adult victims who return to the perpetrators of the violence could be described as, in some way, co-dependent upon either the perpetrator or some aspect of the perpetrator.

This infuriates many of these victims and their counselors. I have experienced this in many discussions with them. I see this as more of a reaction than a thoughtful response. I do not intend to cause more pain with this approach. I do offer this for consideration only to offer the possibility that, if this is truly an addictive response, there may very well be real solutions, solution protocols heretofore unavailable to victims and counselors working in the DV field.

Just like Alcoholics Anonymous and other anonymous sister programs, which since 1935 has offered solutions to the problems of alcoholism and other addictions, Al-Anon has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics. Al-Anon has done this for more than fifty years, using solutions related to those of AA.

The Freedom Step offers for the consideration of all involved that there may very well be viable solutions when DV counseling is viewed from the perspective of addiction recovery counseling. Treat the causes and conditions rather than the symptoms and results.

Please be open to this. We need to stay open to all possible solutions. It is the children, the victims who have no choice, who really need our help. They didn't cause this. They do not have any power to stop it. You do!