A person who has abused his/her partner/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend becomes accountable when he/she:

• Has acknowledged to the abused partner and to their community of friends and family that he/she has assaulted and controlled that partner, and that he/she has committed acts of violence against the partner.
• Has admitted that the pattern of abusive control hurt his/her partner
• Has admitted that his/her behavior was unprovoked and inexcusable.
• Knows that his/her behavior was immoral and criminal.
• Understands his/her behavior was not caused by stress, chemical dependency (alcohol and drug use), or any other outside factor.
• Knows that he/she was not out of control.
• Admits that he/she intended to control or punish his/her partner.
• Deeply regrets his/her actions and is horrified by them.
• Recognizes the pain and suffering he/she put upon his/her partner.
• Accepts full responsibility for his/her acts.
• Acknowledges this without expectations of approval from his/her partner.
• Understands he/she is not entitled to the partner’s forgiveness.
• Recognizes that the partner may never trust him/her again, and may remain afraid of him/her forever.
• Can recognize all of the losses suffered by his/her partner and the partner’s family and friends.
• Does not expect protection for his/her name or reputation.
• Realizes that he/she needs the help of his/her family, friends and community to prevent further use of violence.
• Knows that he/she needs to find others to support him in non-violence.
• Knows clearly that there is nothing in the relationship or the partner that caused the abuse or violence.
• Knows that he/she is at risk of abusing any partner in the future.
• Realizes that the abused partner should not have to hear any of the above points from him, unless the abused partner desires to hear it.

In addition, if the abused partner has left, then the abuser:

• Agrees to limit or cut off (depending on what the abused partner wants) contact with the abused partner, the abused partner’s friends and the abused partner’s family.
• Agrees to stop chasing and tracking the abused partner.
• Agrees to avoid the places the abused partner frequents, and to provide the abused partner with plenty of space away from him/her.
• Agrees to stop collecting information about the abused partner.
• Understands that he/she needs to pay restitution as child support and/or alimony, if the abused partner desires, agreeing to support the abused partner as long as the abused partner and/or children need it, to replace the losses the abused partner has sustained.
• Refuses to manipulate their children to discredit the abused partner.

When you as a man/woman who has abused your partner, can do all of the above, then and only then, are you accountable to the person you have abused, to all survivors of abuse as a group, and to yourself.

Guidelines for Assessing Change in Men Who Abuse Women