Despite decades of attention, intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a major issue with serious health and social and economic consequences for victims and society. In addition to establishing important services for women and children, there is also an ongoing need to change male batterer's behavior. The effectiveness of male batterer programs has been reviewed and found limited. Programs are based on two main models: one focused on reprogramming attitudes about gender and the other on cognitive-behavioral therapy. We review existing data and recommend an evolution of approaches to men's programming that would include gender-transformative and trauma-informed approaches. These approaches would recognize the patriarchal system's contribution to IPV, as well as alleviate numerous coexisting or previous issues that men experience, such as trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health or substance use issues. Establishing and funding efforts to care for women survivors and their children remain paramount, but given the central role of men in IPV, programs aimed at changing male perpetrators' behavior need more focused attention to reduce IPV.
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