Using a Restorative Approach to Address Conflict in the Home

A son was displaying an increasing level of verbal and physical abuse within the home. Mum has reached the point that she was scared that she couldn't manage his behaviour, particularly when he reacted to her attempts to enforce boundaries. She was also worried about the impact on his younger sister. The situation was further complicated by the son's diagnosis of ASD/ADHD and Tourette Syndrome; he was also finding the transition to Year 9 at school difficult.

A restorative meeting was held with mum, stepdad, the son and his sister, giving them all the opportunity to speak about the impact and effects of the conflict. For the son, he was able to say what worked for him and what he found difficult. The family agreed to their own outcomes designed to repair relationships and how everyone would conduct themselves in the future.

One month after the meeting, mum, son and sister reported that the relationship between the siblings had improved.

Mum said: 'By discussing resolution techniques all together in a safe environment helped us all to communicate our thoughts and feelings and develop strategies to implement moving forward. [The facilitator] explained the process thoroughly and approached conversations sensitively.'