Information on NVR for Practitioners wishing to refer a client

Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) is an innovative systemic therapy, which has been developed to target aggressive, controlling, harmful and self-destructive behaviour in young people (Omer, 2001, 2004). We have been the first to use this approach in Britain (Jakob, 2006), and have adapted it to families involved with Local Authorities, Social Services (Jakob, 2013) and for looked after children (Jakob, 2011).

In most cases, the intervention begins with an intensive three-month proposal with a midway review to potentially extend for a following three to six months depending on the need of the individual family.  It may be necessary to provide longer interventions for multi-stressed families, looked-after children, and/or where there have been histories of child abuse and complex attachment insecurity. High efficacy and very low drop-out rates make this an efficient and cost-saving approach, which can prevent family breakdown or facilitate the rehabilitation of looked after children back into their families. PartnershipProjects provide highly skilled, experienced Accredited NVR practitioners to carry out this work.

NVR is increasingly being used for anxiety disorders in hard-to-reach young people (Lebowitz & Omer, 2013). Approximately 30% of children and young people with avoidant problems do not engage sufficiently or cooperate in therapy. This group is especially at risk of serious self-harm over their life span; by working with the family environment and developing a support network around the family, it becomes possible to help these young people, even if they do not physically attend CAMHS.

A variety of other difficulties involving harmful behaviour, whether directed at others or oneself, are now being responded to effectively with methods drawn from NVR, including internet addiction, eating disorders, Adult Entrenched Dependency (AED) (often in conjunction with severe and enduring mental health problems), gang involvement, and domestic violence.

The work using non-violent principles and methods span across the immediate family, communities, residential settings, and schools. Increasingly, more projects support New Authority work in schools and in the community (Omer 2011).

PartnershipProjects offers foundation level and advanced level training for professionals in NVR as well as NVR supervision.

For more information and a free consultation email referrals@partnershipprojectsuk.com