A special counselling service for men is being considered by the Physical Abuse Centre.

"We are hoping to set one up,'' centre president Mrs. Arleen Swan told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

It would be run along the lines of similar services in the United States, she said.

But men would attend on a voluntary basis -- and not be ordered to by courts, as in America.

Mrs. Swan spoke after a two-day conference on violence against women organised by the abuse centre.

Florida expert Ms Judy Bittman told the Cathedral Hall meeting how her scheme worked in the US.

And she suggested Bermuda should put in place a similar one.

Such counselling was crucial if domestic violence was to be tackled, she added.

Men needed therapy to help them change their ways, and perceptions of women.

"I really think you have the potential in Bermuda to have a group for men who batter their partners,'' Ms Bittman told the meeting which ended yesterday.

Ms Bittman explained her programme was based on the "Duluth model''.

Under it, a court would direct a batterer to attend the course. Violating an order would mean jail.

A chief aim of the course was to hold batterers accountable for their actions.

And to drive home the message that they choose to abuse their partners.

For often it took up to three weeks for men just to admit they were responsible for their behaviour.

Ms Bittman said courses lasted 26 weeks, catering for between 12 and 15 people in each group.

The two-hour sessions were run by a man and a woman.

Often it was therapeutic for men -- so used to feeling control over their partners -- to experience having a woman in charge.

"We find it works better that way,'' explained Ms Bittman.

But Ms Bittman said often the most influential people in the groups were participants, not counsellors.

A batterer trying to pretend he was changing his behaviour would be unmasked -- by another batterer.

During the sessions men would, among other things, analyse their behaviour.

They would identify aspects of their upbringing which could explain their actions.

Ms Bittman said partners would also be consulted during the course to ensure their men were not reverting to violence.

"To graduate a man has to show that he has made some changes in his behaviour.'' Ms Bittman said statistics showed the counselling worked.

Of 1,000 men who attended the courses, just nine percent were rearrested for domestic violence.

"Our programme is making changes. Obviously it is not perfect, so don't expect miracles.'' At the outset yesterday the conference focused on violence among teenagers.

A video was shown highlighting physical, emotional and mental abuse.

Ms Terri O'Sullivan, who works with Ms Bittman for a refuge in Orlando, explained emotional abuse was often more "subtle and insidious'' than physical abuse.

And it was often the lead-up to violence.

Ms O'Sullivan said teenage girls were particularly vulnerable to such abuse.

She said they were under great pressure from their peers to go out with someone, and conform to a stereotypical ideas about women.

But the man they dated could be the most handsome at school and also an abuser.

Ms O'Sullivan said emotional abuse came in many forms -- such as ignoring someone, putting them down, or controlling what a partner does or whom she sees.

"Emotional abuse is something damaging. It's hard to pick up. It is not tangible.'' Ms O'Sullivan said teenagers' ideas of male and female roles were strongly shaped by history.

Women have often been seen as chattels which men can use at will. Such attitudes were hardened by films.

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