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IEFV: Amie Zarling | New Ways of Preventing and Treating Domestic Violence through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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About
Amie Zarling, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, professor, and director of the Partnerships for Prevention Science Institute, as well as department chair of the Human Development and Family Studies department, at Iowa State University. Dr. Zarling’s research integrates clinical psychology, family science, and criminal justice to promote rehabilitation for those who have caused harm, while advancing justice and equity for vulnerable populations like survivors of domestic violence and justice-involved families. She develops and evaluates trauma-informed, strengths-based interventions, trains professionals in approaches such as motivational interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and works to expand access to evidence-based programs that support behavior change and well-being. The promising results of her dissertation led to a partnership with the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) to develop a new program for male domestic violence offenders, called ACTV. Dr. Zarling and the IDOC have expanded this mutually beneficial partnership for the past 15 years to include implementation, dissemination, and evaluation of ACTV throughout the state of Iowa and to all correctional populations. Dr. Zarling has trained more than 1000 correctional staff in the ACTV program and focuses on how to effectively train staff to improve outcomes. She continues to be involved in ongoing training, evaluation, and improvement of the ACTV program in the state of Iowa. Dr. Zarling has also successfully implemented several grants with the IDOC, which have been funded by the Center for Disease Control, Office on Violence Against Women, and the Department of Justice. These projects have included implementation, sustainability, and training grants, as well as randomized controlled trials.
Abstract
This presentation introduces Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV), a novel approach to domestic violence intervention rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and grounded in evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care. Developed in response to the limitations of traditional batterer intervention programs (BIPs), ACTV aims to foster psychological flexibility—the ability to change behavior in service of one’s values, even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings.
The presentation outlines findings from multiple studies, including a head-to-head comparison of ACTV versus Duluth for men convicted of domestic violence. Results demonstrated significant reductions in criminal charges and victim-reported aggression among participants in the ACTV condition. Preliminary studies exploring mediators of treatment success (how does it work?) are also presented.
Beyond system-mandated settings, the presentation highlights new adaptations of ACTV, including ProACTIVE, a community-based violence prevention program. Additional efforts extend ACTV to women, youth, and incarcerated individuals, with ongoing trials and dissemination in multiple jurisdictions.
This event is pending approval for 1.0 hour of Minimum Continuing Legal Education Credit by the State Bar of California. UC Irvine School of Law is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider.