Page 27 - Jan/Feb 2017 FTM

Family Therapy magazine recently spoke with Judah Oudshoorn, MA, a professor of Community & Criminal Justice at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Canada. He shared some of his experiences working with violent men, particularly fathers, and gave some insights into the criminal justice systems in North America.
Could you describe the work you do in this area? What draws you to it? What motivates you?
Over the past decade, I’ve worked with many men who have used violence toward partners and/or children. The work has taken place
in community-based individual and group counseling and psycho- educational programs, and in correctional settings as part of restorative justice programming.
I am motivated to work with men, especially dads, because I think as men, we are responsible to end the epidemic that is male violence in our communities. Although men and boys are also victims of violence, the vast majority of perpetrators of partner and family violence are men.
What keeps me coming back to the work is that I find it meaningful. Most men who use violence don’t want to use violence. Violence often conflicts with their values, as well as who they want to be. Not only do I learn a lot from the men, but I also find it rewarding to support people in a journey towards being kind and whole people. >>
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