Domestic Violence Counselling Program (aka PAR) in Toronto
Structured support for accountability and lasting change.
Connection Counselling offers a 12-session Domestic Violence Counselling Program for individuals who have been arrested or charged following psychologically, verbally or physically abusive behaviour toward an intimate partner.
This program is sometimes requested by lawyers or discussed in court-related matters as a Partner Assault Response or “PAR” program. Our private, PAR-focused program combines individual counselling and psychoeducation to help clients understand their behaviour, take meaningful responsibility, and develop healthier ways of managing emotions, communicating, and resolving conflict.
Our approach is compassionate and non-judgmental while maintaining a strong focus on accountability, behavioural change, and the safety and well-being of partners and children.
What Is the Domestic Violence Counselling Program?
Domestic violence can include physical aggression as well as intimidation, threats, coercive or controlling behaviour, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and repeated violations of a partner’s boundaries.
The program allows clients to examine the beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and behavioural patterns that may have contributed to abusive or harmful conduct. Clients learn practical alternatives for responding to anger, stress, jealousy, rejection, and relationship conflict without becoming aggressive, controlling, threatening, or abusive.
The goal is not simply to complete a legal requirement. It is to help clients understand what happened, reduce the likelihood of future incidents, and create meaningful, sustainable change.
What Does the Program Aim to Achieve?
The program is designed to help clients:
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Recognize different forms of intimate partner abuse
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Understand how abusive behaviour affects partners, children, and families
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Identify personal triggers and early warning signs
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Manage anger and other intense emotions more effectively
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Challenge beliefs and attitudes that contribute to abusive behaviour
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Replace harmful behaviours with healthier responses
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Communicate respectfully during disagreements
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Resolve conflict without aggression, threats, or control
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Develop and respect healthy relationship boundaries
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Understand how alcohol or drug use may affect behaviour
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Take responsibility for choices and their consequences
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Reduce the risk of future abusive incidents
Lessons are evidence-informed and draw upon cognitive-behavioural therapy principles to help clients recognize and change patterns of thinking and behaviour associated with intimate partner violence.
What Is Covered in the 12 Sessions?
The curriculum includes:
✓ Defining Abuse
Clients learn to recognize physical, psychological, verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, and controlling forms of abuse. This includes behaviours that may previously have been minimized or viewed as a normal part of relationship conflict.
✓ Understanding the Effects of Abuse
Clients examine how abusive behaviour can affect an intimate partner’s emotional and physical safety, a child’s well-being, family relationships and the client’s own life and future.
✓ Examining Beliefs & Attitudes
Clients explore beliefs about relationships, entitlement, gender roles, control, respect, jealousy, and conflict that may contribute to harmful behaviour.
✓ Modifying Maladaptive Behaviour
Clients learn to identify and replace aggressive, defensive, controlling, or avoidant responses with healthier and more constructive choices.
✓ Recognizing Triggers & Warning Signs
Clients identify the situations, thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations that may signal an increased risk of escalation. They develop a plan for intervening before their behaviour becomes harmful.
✓ Assessing Substance Use
The program explores whether alcohol or drug use has contributed to impaired judgment, emotional escalation, relationship conflict, or abusive behaviour.
✓ Creating Healthy Boundaries
Clients learn how to establish and respect emotional, physical, sexual, and interpersonal boundaries within intimate relationships.
✓ Practising Non-Violent Communication
Clients develop skills for listening, expressing emotions and needs, making respectful requests, accepting “no” and communicating without intimidation, insults, threats, or demands.
✓ Managing Conflict
Clients practise strategies for regulating themselves during conflict, taking an appropriate timeout, and returning to difficult conversations in a calmer and more respectful way.
✓ Taking Responsibility and Accountability
Clients are encouraged to acknowledge their choices, understand the consequences of their behaviour, and demonstrate responsibility through consistent behavioural change.
What to Expect
The program consists of 12 structured, individual counselling sessions completed with the same counsellor. Sessions provide a private setting in which clients can discuss the circumstances surrounding their charges while working through the program curriculum.
The counselling process is tailored to each client’s history, behaviour, risk factors, and treatment needs. Clients may complete their sessions virtually from anywhere in Ontario or in person at our downtown Toronto office.
Our counsellors understand that participating in a court-related program can feel stressful, embarrassing, or overwhelming. Clients are treated with dignity and respect while being supported in examining their behaviour honestly and taking meaningful steps toward change.
Program Completion & Documentation
After completing the required sessions, clients receive a letter confirming their participation and completion of the program. With the client’s written consent, this documentation may be provided to their lawyer or another authorized professional.
A more detailed clinical report may also be available when requested. The report can summarize the client’s participation, topics addressed, demonstrated insight, progress, and recommendations. Additional fees apply for detailed reports.
Completion of the program does not guarantee a particular legal outcome. Clients should speak with their lawyer about whether the program is appropriate for their circumstances and how its completion may be presented in court.
Begin the Domestic Violence Counselling Program
You do not have to wait for a court order to begin addressing the behaviour that brought you to this point. Starting counselling voluntarily may help you demonstrate initiative while developing skills that can improve your relationships and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.
Contact Connection Counselling to learn more about the 12-session Domestic Violence Counselling Program, speak with a member of our team, or register and begin booking your sessions.
Book a free 20-minute consultation or register for the program today.
