Facing charges of domestic violence in Washington can damage a lot of areas of your life. You may lose the trust of people you care about, jeopardize your job and possibly have to put your life on hold to serve time behind bars.
Even more disheartening, you may feel that you cannot control your emotions. Violent tendencies may develop as the result of past traumas and experiences. In such circumstances, behavioral therapy can help you to relearn valuable coping and negotiating skills.
Identifying risk factors
When confronted with stressful situations, you may feel as though you lack the ability to respond rationally. According to GoodTherapy, a disconnect in coping skills can directly influence your response to pressure. If you never learned how to properly express or manage your emotions or if you suffered trauma that interfered with your response mechanisms, you may have a higher risk of acting aggressively or violently.
Risk factors that can influence you to act irrationally or emotionally may include the following:
- Drugs and alcohol
- Abuse
- Mental disabilities
- Lack of support
- Exposure to violence
- Hereditary disorders
Implementing controls
Behavioral therapy provides you with resources and education to relearn critical coping skills. You can learn about the consequences of violence and the impact that irrational behavior may have on your ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships.
When you begin therapy, professionals will help you identify the root causes of your ineffective thinking. They can show you where your thinking becomes problematic and introduce alternative responses to stress. You can learn to negotiate without acting aggressively. Even after you complete behavioral therapy, you may need ongoing support and intervention to help you maintain and strengthen your new habits.
