Alternatives To Violence

A non-residential counseling program in Long Beach and West Los Angeles for the survivors and perpetrators of abuse as well as other victims of crime and trauma.

Men's Anger Management and Domestic Violence Groups

Services include Court Approved programs:

  • Partner abuse

  • Anger

  • Clinical work with battered women

  • Clinical work with abusers

  • Partnership

  • Negotiating anger in the workplace

  • Assessment of dangerousness

  • Prevention

  • Violence in gay and lesbian relationships

The Program

  • Weekly 2-hour meetings

  • Group size 10 - 12 participants

  • A minimum 1 year is recommended - usually mandated

  • Approved by the State of California Probation Court to meet the 52 week Court Ordered classes

  • Focus on changing beliefs supporting verbally controlling and abusive behaviors

  • For men with behaviors ranging from controlling verbally abusive to being physically violent

  • Sessions $60 each, sliding scale offered

Click here for additional L.A. County Approved Batterers' Programs

The Team

Alyce LaViolette, M.S., M.F.T.
Began her work with battered women in 1978 and founded ATV in 1979 as a non-residential counseling program in Long Beach and West Los Angeles for the survivors and perpetrators of abuse. She has published on this topic and co-authored the book: It Could Happen to Anyone: Why Battered Women Stay

Marc Sadoff, MSW, BCD
A Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the California Society for Clinical Social Work since 1989; on staff at Alternatives to Violence co-leading the men's batterers group since 1988.
He also has many years of clinical experience treating families, children and adults.

Do I really need 1-year in Group???

Attending 52 weeks in weekly 2-hour counseling sessions may seem like a long time, but consider how long it took to develop abusive behaviors. In many cases, six months is needed just to start opening up and feeling comfortable with examining how you got to this point. Changing a lifetime pattern is like undoing an emotional reflex or learning a second language emotionally.

Are Perpetrators Born or Victims of their Environment?

An abusive man reveals how his father created abusive behavior.
But his life was turned around with counseling.