Applying the CARE Method to Treat Those Who Have Committed Domestic Violence
Please note: This training is not eligible for CE credits.
Each registration includes a certificate for attendance. To be eligible for a certificate, you must attend the entire live training and complete an evaluation form within 24 hours following the live event.
Compassion, Accountability, Reflection, and Empathy are the fundamental elements harnessed by the CARE method to build lasting behavioral change in those who commit domestic violence. When applied effectively, the CARE method aligns with the risk, need, and responsivity principles. Developed by Nil Buckley, this person-centered approach integrates elements of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral treatment, and draws from contemporary neuroscience and internal family systems therapy.
In this training, Ms. Buckley introduces the CARE method and discusses its development. She emphasizes the importance of a person-centered approach to engagement, particularly in the treatment of justice-involved clients. These individuals often have histories of trauma, exhibit rigid cognitive styles, possess limited coping skills, and may struggle to trust professionals. Ms. Buckley explores these client characteristics and provides insight into how involvement with the criminal justice system can influence those characteristics.
The training then covers the CARE method in detail, addressing topics such as identifying triggers, building emotional intelligence, understanding intergenerational trauma, enhancing communication skills, and recognizing cognitive distortions. Ms. Buckley highlights the importance of relational dynamics, including healthy conflict resolution and the impact of substance abuse on relationships, and she suggests strategies for addressing warning signs of relational decline.
Additionally, Ms. Buckley outlines five common errors professionals make in domestic violence treatment and examines how implicit biases among practitioners can affect not only clients but those who have been harmed by their actions.
Interactive Follow-Up Meeting
Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.
1) Identify common client characteristics relevant to domestic violence treatment.
2) Describe five frequent mistakes professionals make in domestic violence interventions.
3) Recognize implicit biases and understand their impact on clinical effectiveness.
4) Apply strategies to reduce client defensiveness and resistance.
5) Conduct treatment in ways that minimize the risk of further harm to others.
Audience
This training is primarily for professionals who work directly with people who have been abusive, experienced abuse, or are otherwise affected by it. It will be of particular interest to those who work with other forms of abuse, such as sexual violence. This includes mental health counselors, social workers, clinical psychologists, and forensic experts.
Content Level
Cancellations
Who's Presenting
Nil Buckley, MA, LPC, LAC, DVCS, NBCC, ACS
Nil Buckley was born in a small village in Northern Brazil. She migrated to the United States in 2007 to pursue higher education. Nil graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Addiction from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2016. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2018 and a Licensed Addiction Counselor in 2017.
She was awarded Full Operating Level Male and Female Offender Evaluator and Treatment Provided by the Colorado Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB) in 2018, and Domestic Violence Clinical Supervisor (DVCS) in 2022. She has worked with the forensic population since 2015. She founded Vivus Counseling in 2018 and C.A.R.E Forensic Solutions in 2024.
Nil is a Presentence Criminal Evaluator and Treatment Provider for Domestic Violence Courts in El Paso County. She is also a Post Sentence Evaluator and treatment provider for Veterans Trauma Court in El Paso County. She received formal training in Litigation and Evaluation Involving Allegations of Abuse in Family Court Cases in November of 2023 by the Institute on Violence and Trauma (IVAT). She has however conducted Civil Domestic Violence Evaluations for custody cases for the past six years. Nil is currently representing Mental Health Professionals and DVOMB Providers on the Colorado DVOMB Board.
She is the founder and current Chair of the El Paso County Domestic Violence Task Force in Colorado Springs, Colorado.