Feb. 3--ABUSED women need psychological support to be socially, economically and politically empowered, but it is usually overlooked, says a top expert.

When an abused woman is psychologically sound, she can learn and achieve anything because she is no longer confused, said Batelco Care Centre for Family Violence Cases president Dr Banna Bu Zaboon.

"How can you learn if you are upset and down -- you are disadvantaged," she told the GDN.

"Psychological support is the core. Then women can go onto other programmes to help them economically and politically."

Dr Bu Zaboon is conducting a weekly group therapy class aimed at empowering and boosting the self-esteem of victims of abuse.

The women are given cognitive therapy and taught stress, time and conflict management, goal setting, effective communication, problem-solving, assertiveness and self-reliance.

"This programme is unique in the Middle East and elsewhere, women are often supported, politically and economically but not psychologically and this is the core, it's the foundation for the rest," said Dr Bu Zaboon.

"We give them psychological and social empowerment so they know what steps to take next.

"We teach them how to focus, how to get out of being down, to understand their emotions and their physical effects and how to get control of their thoughts.

"Women subjected to abuse and other issues need to know how to have a better home environment and be strong in society."

The clinical psychologist said many abused women felt useless and through the sessions their beliefs were changing.

She said it was a long process because victims of abuse needed to get rid of negative thoughts and stop blaming themselves.

"Society says, 'you were abused because you did something wrong'," she said.

"But it's wrong to say, 'what was the reason to make your husband abuse you?', instead we say, 'what was the factor behind your husband abusing you?', which is very different."

The sessions also train participants as facilitators to enhance the growth of self-sufficient support groups for other abused women.

The weekly classes have grown from four or five people to more than 20 and many of the women have gone on to help other victims.

"The women support each other emotionally and financially, you see a bond between them, it's about the community sharing a responsibility," said Dr Bu Zaboon.

"Through our workshops survivors speak about their experiences and this is a fantastic benefit for people who don't want to mention what they are going through.

"Through the programme many women also go on to get jobs and describe themselves as 'newborn'," she said.

The classes are free and held at the centre on Budaiya Road every Monday, from 6pm to 7pm, for a course of eight weeks.

For more information and to register for the therapy sessions contact the centre on 17597777.

Dr Bu Zaboon believes that education and awareness is the key to reducing domestic violence cases.

In this regard, she is conducting a series of 10 free monthly workshops for police to raise awareness about domestic abuse and to give participants a new approach for dealing with victims.

Twenty-five police officers are attending the fourth workshop, which began at the Interior Ministry in Manama yesterday.

The three-day event is held under the patronage of Public Security chief Major General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

"I am teaching them everything from A to Z, such as how to deal with adolescents and family members, family counselling and writing reports," said Dr Bu Zaboon.

"This training is mainly application and role play.

"The same 25 participants take all of the workshops and we are planning for the group to go on and teach others."

To see more of the Gulf Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gulf-daily-news.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, Gulf Daily News, Manama, Bahrain

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.