Fast, Easy, Cheap and Worthless

Anger Management Training

August 03, 2006
By Gregory Kyles

Fast, Easy, Cheap and Worthless

The American association of Anger Management Providers and legitimate anger management facilitators are attempting to establish and advocate for strict standards and experience requirements for anger management facilitators. It is very likely that legislation in California will be introduced in the next session of the legislature to protect consumers from unscrupulous entrepreneurs. One new, heavily advertised provider is offering “anger management professional certification” in 8 hours of training. This 8 hour training claims to equip the participant with skills and curricula in anger management for adults and adolescence. In addition, it claims that those completing this training will be able to offer organizational development and on-site training to business and industry.

A survey of related, comparable service providers include approved domestic violence providers for victims or perpetrators of family violence. The law, Penal Code 1203.098 in California calls for 40 hours of training for all approved facilitators. In addition, providers must complete 102 hours of supervised experience in probation approved program. Following this training and experience, 16 hours of continuing education is required on a yearly basis. The Los Angeles branch of the California Superior Court clearly supports comparable training for anger management providers. In fact, the Los Angeles County Courts currently refer only to providers who show proof of 40 hours of training and yearly continuing education. Anyone can visit any Los Angeles Court and request a copy of the list which is used in all courts. There are no 8 hour providers on this list.

Anyone who has or is contemplating enrolling in this 8 hour training should first contact your closest court and specifically ask if the court supports providers with only 8 hours of training. In addition, the City Attorney’s office as well as the District Attorney’s office can be contacted regarding the probability of anyone being competent to provide anger management classes with only 8 hours of training. The silence of those of us who support legitimacy in anger management services is unacceptable.

Residents of Texas are asked to contact the Commission on Juvenile and Adult Probation to alert them to this organizations’ attempt to offer this training in Texas.

Gregory A. Kyles, LPC, CAMF
Executive Director
Anger Management Institute of Texas
http://www.ami-tx.com/