New Anger Management Classes for Facilitators

In order to be competent as a psychotherapist or counselor, it is a requirement that each clinician has an exposure to counseling or psychotherapist as a patient or client. This requirement is designed to assist each provider in resolving personal issues in his or her own life relating to interpersonal and intrapsychic conflicts.

During recent trainings in Santa Monica, San Jose, and Oakland, California, when participants were asked for feedback and/or recommendations regarding the Anderson & Anderson Anger Management Certification, the following suggestions were made:

1. All future and present providers should complete the Conover Assessment and a minimum of 8 hours of anger management intervention in an approved anger management program. This recommendation has been accepted and is already being implemented. Gino Inesi, an Anderson & Anderson provider for San Francisco is the first provider to include a new facilitator in one of his groups. George Anderson will conduct a three hour accelerated class for interested providers on November 12 in our Brentwood office. The cost to participants will be discounted and will serve as 8 of the required 16 hours of the yearly continuing education requirement for 2006.

2. A second recommendation was made for new Executive Coaches to pair with another provider for a ten hour experience as a recipient and provider of Coaching. The EQ Map and the Conover Assessment as well as the accompanying intervention material will be used in this experience training. New coaches who wish to have Anderson & Anderson faculty provide this experience can do so by contacting our Brentwood office.

Q&A Regarding Anger Management

Q. Is there a difference between anger management and domestic violence classes?

A. Yes, there is a difference. According to both federal and state law, domestic violence is defined as violence that occurs in an intimate relationship. Anger management is a course for persons who have been involved in an aggressive action towards someone else or destruction of property.

Q. Can the Anderson & Anderson batterers’ intervention program be substituted for anger management?

A. No. It is only designed to address violence that, by law, must relate to intimate relationships.

Q. If a court orders anger management classes and it is clear that the problem was domestic violence, what should we do?

A. It is not the responsibility of the provider of either batterers’ intervention or anger management to question a legal order of the court.

Q. Can a certified anger management facilitator offer batterers’ intervention classes?

A. No. In California, Penal Code 1203.091 determines the standard for all batterers’ programs in the state. It establishes the probation department in each county as the agency responsible for approving and monitoring all batterers’ programs.

Q. If I take the Certification Course in anger management, can I certify other providers?

A. No. You are only certified to provide executive coaching or anger management to adults and adolescents.

Q. How can I get my program listed on the Anderson & Anderson website?

A. You must first complete the 40 hour training, then purchase the Conover Assessment and a minimum of twenty workbooks. You must then send in your listing information in an e-mail attachment.

Q. Is the Anderson & Anderson 40 hour Anger Management Facilitator Certification accepted in my state?

A. There are no state laws in any state regarding standards for anger management. To date, the Anderson & Anderson model has never been rejected anywhere. Please visit www.andersonservices.com to see the states where we already have providers.

Q. Can providers place articles from the Anderson & Anderson website on their site?

A. Yes. As long as there are no changes in the content or authorship, you are free to place any of our articles on your site.

Q. How can a provider sell the Anderson & Anderson products on their site?

A. Any provider or non provider with a functional website can purchase products from Anderson & Anderson at a 40% discount and sell these articles on their site. No returns are accepted.

Q. Does Anderson & Anderson recommend any particular webmaster to use for website design and maintenance?

A. Yes. We recommend Joe Angerella at www.angarella.com. He maintains our site as well as the website for the American Association of Anger Management Providers.

Q. How do I get on the Batterers’ Intervention providers list?

A. Contact the probation department in the county in which you intend to provide service.

Strategies for Stress Management

Here is a checklist to get your day started right!

We found this posting on a Internet news group. It was posted by Cathy R., who runs a New Jersey-based support group called People Helping Others Become Independent. She said it was fine to share it with you! Isn't the internet a wonderful place?

* Find supportive, understanding and encouraging friends.
* Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today.
* Leave the past behind.
* Take care of yourself, physically.
* Avoid the impossible dream.
* Know your value, strengths and weaknesses.
* Don’t say yes when you mean no.
* Get mad, vent anger in a positive way.
* Talk, talk and talk. Find a support group.
* Visualize methods of coping if things go wrong.
* Avoid stressful situations.
* Laugh
* Be polite, you’ll like yourself better.
* Be well groomed, you’ll feel better.
* Be flexible, adapt to change.
* Communication, don’t shut it off.
* Take responsibility.
* Relax, yoga, meditation and massage.
* Slow down.
* One step at a time.
* Spirituality, go to church.
* Manage your time.
* Organize your life.
* Be spontaneous, 24 hours a day.
* Contribution: People Helping Others Become Independent

Frank Morales Presents

Gulf Shores, Alabama-

On May 19th, Frank Morales of Family Services Center gave a presentation at the EAPA (Employee Assistance Program of Alabama) conference. Eighty-five program coordinators and providers sat in on his presentation covering Anger in the Divorce Process.

Utilizing components of the Anderson and Anderson curriculum, Mr. Morales has developed a Conflict Resolution Program to deal with couples going through an adversarial divorce. Far to frequently after a divorce, former couples who have children are unable to co-parent due to anger and resentment carried over from the divorce process. By lowering their anger, they are able to co-parent, stop using their children as messengers, and end any attempts to alienate the child from one of the parents. The Conover assessment is utilized as a pre and post test to measure the effectiveness of the program. The court system has stated that there has been a significant drop in cases needing to be heard before the court

- Frank Morales M.S., CAMF

Cool Downs/Time-Outs in Anger Management

Anger management is a course that teaches skills in recognizing and managing anger, stress, emotional intelligence, and assertive communication. In many ways, learning the skills to manage anger is like learning to play basketball. Regardless of your knowledge of basketball, it is highly unlikely that you can play basketball without actually practicing.

When you're faced with conflict, it's OK to feel angry. Remember that you have control over how you display and handle your anger. If you begin to feel out of control, it is wise to take a time-out to cool down and think about the situation and your actions. Also keep the following suggestions in mind:

Recognize when your anger is escalating to a problematic level. It may help to recognize where you feel the anger. For example, where does your body tense when you get angry? Use this as a signal to yourself to step back. Anger must be talked out -- not acted out physically.

Think positively. Positive thoughts may help you calm down. Begin a dialogue with yourself. Question the reasonableness of your anger.

Decide to take a break. Let the other person know that you need to step away from the situation. Remember to use "I" statements, such as, "I need to cool off," rather than "you" statements, such as, "You need to cool off."

Use time-outs carefully. Remember that time-outs should not be used as a way to run away or avoid problems in intimate relationships, nor should they be used to punish the other person by your withdrawal. When you need a time-out, let the other person know you intend to return to the issues at hand in a specified amount of time. Say, "I'll be back in 20 minutes, and then we can talk about this more calmly." By letting the other person know you'll be back, you can avoid triggering any fears of abandonment. Of course, make sure you do return to the issues at hand. Or, if you decide you're ready to talk right then, explicitly signal to your partner that you're willing to resume discussion.

Think about your actions. Will acting out your anger really serve your long-range plans? Is it really what you want to do and say? How you decide to act on your anger will affect your life -- either positively or negatively.

Consider joining an anger management course.

George Anderson, BCD, MSW, CAMF