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University of Milano-Bicocca, visiting PhD candidate

We are delighted to welcome Monica Facciocchi, PhD candidate in Education in Contemporary Society at the University of Milano-Bicocca visiting the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, School of Political Science and Sociology.

Monica will be working closely with Dr Declan Coogan to deepen her understanding of the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) approach as applied to cases of child-to-parent violence and abuse (CPVA). Declan is the Director of the MA in Social Work Programme and is a Research Fellow of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the School of Political Science & Sociology, University of Galway. 

Building on Haim Omer’s original NVR framework, Declan Coogan adapted the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) model for responding to child to parent violence and abuse in Irish contexts, emphasizing parental empowerment, de-escalation, and the restoration of family relationships through non-violent action and social support. His research and practice guides (e.g., Child to Parent Violence and Abuse – Family Interventions with Non Violent Resistance, JKP 2018) demonstrate that NVR helps parents regain confidence, reduce fear, and re-establish a sense of authority without resorting to coercive or punitive measures. The model’s strengths lie in its structured, relational approach and its focus on building community support networks around parents. NVR offers a non-blaming, pragmatic, and compassionate framework that complements broader systemic and therapeutic interventions in cases of CPVA.
Parents and Carers can avail of Non Violent Resistance (NVR) as individuals/couples or through parent groups as they work with an NVR trained practitioner. Taking on a role similar to a mentor or coach, the trained NVR practitioner works with parent(s)/ carer(s) to responding differently to the challenging behaviour of the child, using strategies adapted from Non-Violent Resistance. These kinds of strategies are based on the work of Haim Omer, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and, in Ireland, Daniel O’ Connell and John Hume. Parents are supported to focus on deescalating the conflict, taking a strong position of resisting abusive, controlling or violent behaviour and inviting practice support from friends/ family. In conflict, relationships are often under stress. While parents are supported to deescalate difficult situations, they are also encouraged to increase their presence with their child – to move away from punishments and consequences towards a more supportive but anchored and resistant approach.

These changes can be difficult to make and an experienced NVR practitioner will advise and support parents in making these changes.  It can be helpful to view NVR as “a treatment for the interactions”   as described by Haim Omer. Rather than locating the problem in the child and viewing them to be in need of treatment, NVR focuses on the unhelpful habits or patterns of interactions that have developed between a parent and child. Essentially, the parent is supported to move away from and lead their child out of these patterns towards a new way to resolve conflict.

For more information and selected publications see:
 https://research.universityofgalway.ie/en/persons/declan-coogan  
& www.nvrireland.ie