guiding Principles

  • In Colorado, court-ordered treatment for sexual offense-specific and domestic violence cases is conducted in strict adherence to the guidelines established by the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) and the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB). Our program is designed to meet these standards by providing evidence-based, structured, and accountable therapeutic interventions that prioritize safety, accountability, and rehabilitation. We are committed to supporting clients through a respectful, culturally informed process that aligns with state requirements while promoting meaningful behavior change and community healing.

  • Community and victim/survivor safety is central.
    Disrupting cycles of harm is a vital component of effective therapeutic intervention. Research consistently shows that treating individuals who have caused harm, especially those court-ordered to therapy, is essential to reducing future incidents of abuse and promoting long-term healing within communities. Addressing the underlying behaviors, beliefs, and social influences that contribute to harmful actions helps break patterns that often perpetuate violence across generations. By fostering accountability, self-awareness, and healthier coping strategies, therapeutic approaches support individuals in transforming destructive behaviors, ultimately protecting potential victims and contributing to safer, more resilient communities.

  • This therapeutic practice prioritizes holistic, non-shamed-based care by separating harmful actions from the individual, reducing objectification, and treating each person with dignity and respect. To achieve this, it is essential to understand the cultural influences on choices and actions, fostering empathy that challenges individuals to grow not only in their thinking but also in their relationship with their emotions, body, and the world around them. The approach integrates evidence-based modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and body-oriented therapies, art therapy, somatic work, restorative justice, social justice frameworks, emotion-focused, and humanistic therapies. Together, these modalities address the complex emotional, cognitive, and social factors involved in behavior change, supporting individuals to heal deeply, regulate emotions, and build healthier relationships within themselves and their communities.

  • Our therapeutic practice is deeply committed to challenging whitewashed wellness and heteronormativity in domestic violence and sexual offense-specific court-ordered treatment. This is a brave space where individuals are encouraged to confront their own biases, judgments, and internalized societal norms. Society often imposes double standards rooted in heteronormativity, portraying men primarily as perpetrators and women primarily as victims of sexual assault—a framework still dominant in much of the research and public discourse. However, effective therapy requires a commitment to tailoring treatment to the diverse identities of clients. It is vital to develop a nuanced understanding of how United States culture shapes clients’ experiences, recognizing that behaviors do not arise in a vacuum but are influenced by broader cultural, social, and systemic factors. Exploring with clients how they and their communities have been impacted by USA culture can foster insight and healing. While some themes may be common across cultures, appreciating the specific identifiers and influences of the USA culture in which clients live enhances therapeutic relevance and effectiveness. This culturally informed approach supports clients in navigating their world authentically and safely.

  • We are deeply committed to supporting the broader community involved in the supervision and rehabilitation process, including treatment providers, supervising officers, and victim representatives. To foster systemic healing and promote healthy change, we offer presentations, trainings, and wellness self-care experiential sessions designed to enhance collaboration, build capacity, and support the well-being of all stakeholders involved in court-ordered treatment. By engaging at this systemic level and incorporating diverse perspectives, we aim to create a more informed, compassionate network that contributes to sustained positive outcomes for clients, victims, and communities alike.

Core
components

  • At The Bravery Initiative, LLC, our work with individuals involved in sexual offense-specific court-ordered treatment is grounded in the belief that accountability, healing, and transformation are essential to breaking cycles of harm and aligning with community safety. We adhere strictly to SOMB guidelines, providing evidence-based, culturally informed interventions that prioritize client dignity, respect, and victim/survivor and community safety. Our holistic approach integrates cognitive-behavioral, somatic, and restorative justice modalities to address the complex factors that contribute to harmful behaviors. We challenge societal stigmas and heteronormative biases by creating a brave, inclusive space where clients are empowered to take responsibility for their actions, understand cultural influences, and engage in meaningful change. Our commitment extends beyond the individual to systemic healing through community engagement, training, and collaboration with justice and supervision partners.

  • The Bravery Initiative, LLC embraces a comprehensive and culturally responsive framework for court-ordered domestic violence treatment that aligns with DVOMB standards. We recognize the intricate social, emotional, and systemic factors that contribute to domestic violence and emphasize accountability alongside empathy and respect. Our approach disrupts harmful cycles by fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier relationship patterns through evidence-based and holistic therapeutic methods. We promote parental, relational and familial wellbeing through our programming. We actively confront heteronormative and whitewashed wellness paradigms, ensuring services are inclusive and tailored to diverse client identities. Our philosophy prioritizes community safety and healing, remaining survivor/victim-centered, supervising officers, and treatment providers in collaborative efforts to promote sustained positive outcomes and systemic change.

Our holistic evidence-based approach integrates the following core components:

  • Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) principles aligned with Colorado SOMB Standards  

  • Victim-centered programming emphasizing accountability, impact awareness, empathy, and safety

  • Alternative therapeutic modalities tailored individually for improved responsivity

  • LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC culturally informed treatment  

  • Consistent communication and strong collaboration with MTT/CST partnerships

  • Integrated treatment modalities to encourage responsivity (RNR)

  • Thorough, SOMB and DVOMB-aligned evaluations