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Anger Management
Though anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences,
some people have problems with the amount, intensity, or the expression
of their anger.
The following information, provided by the clinical staff
of Seguin Family Institute, addresses some of the most frequently asked
questions about anger management and violence prevention treatment.
Anger - what is it?
Anger, a normal emotion, can range from feelings of mild irritation to
those of blinding rage. Some people may experience constant irritation.
Even minor events such as a change of schedule may lead to feelings of
upset. They may notice they are raising their voices more, saying or doing
things they may later regret. Statements such as "they make me so
mad" may often be uttered. These individuals would benefit from learning
to identify what triggers their anger. They must also learn that they
are the ones in control of their emotions. It is imperative that individuals
take back their personal power and "own" their feelings.
In response to the large number of individuals who have requested an
educational format for learning more assertive, healthier techniques of
anger management, the Seguin Family Institute now offers…
Managing Anger Daily Program
(M.A.D.)
The M.A.D. program is a twelve-week cognitive-behavioral program that
focuses on the anger many individuals experience. The program, though
primarily educational, utilizes some group processing to offer support,
direction, and feedback from peers who are experiencing similar issues.
This format allows the necessary re-direction of the irrational thinking,
feeling, or behaving that many individuals indulge in.
The goal of the M.A.D. program is to assist group members in identifying
their dysfunctional thought-feeling-behavior chains, and replacing these
problematic components with rational alternatives. This program teaches
the skills that are necessary for motivated individuals to then practice
the new chains, on their own, until healthier, happier habits are in place.
Group members are taught to analyze the consequences of their actions,
and to implement assertive responses in many areas of their lives.
The fee for the M.A.D. program is $15.00 per group session. Group members
attend treatment groups that meet for 1 hour each week. At the successful
completion of all required proficiency demonstrations, the participant
receives a certificate of completion. It is important to remember that
the successful completion of this or any anger education program does
not guarantee that future anger will not occur.
What if a short, educational program is just
not enough?
For some individuals, anger has escalated past the point of minor irritation,
and other individuals have been hurt. Legal consequences may have also
ensued. Anger and violence have become habitual for these individuals.
They may have begun to convince themselves that their angry actions are
justified. These individuals will require a longer, more intensive, program
to help them break this chain of abusive thinking. People who have reached
this point in their lives are often not happy with their behaviors. They
often feel a sense of incompetence and powerlessness in their personal
lives. They feel "chained" to continue their actions, because
they do not know how to behave differently and still have their needs
met. Counseling programs assist them in learning to talk about their feelings,
assertively express what they need, and respect the rights of others.
Violence is not an easy issue to address. It is not a gentle
behavior, and it does not have a "pretty" outcome for society's
victims. Violence, both within and outside the family, affects all of
us in society. At Seguin Family Institute, we believe that one of the
most effective methods of responding to violence is by incorporating a
cognitive-behavioral treatment program into the offender's treatment plan.
In this way, offenders identify dysfunctional patterns, replace them with
rational alternatives, and practice assertive cycles, as opposed to aggressive
ones. These methods increase self-esteem, encourage better relationships,
and complement healthy ways of living.
So, chronic rage, losing control of one's behaviors because of this extreme
anger, or causing harm to another individual or the property of someone
else because of this anger indicates a problem that should be addressed
in a more intensive, lengthier treatment program. THE APOLLO PROJECT (Violence
Prevention Program) is dedicated to addressing the problem of violence,
both within and outside the offender's familial system.
THE APOLLO PROJECT
(Violence Prevention Program)
THE APOLLO PROJECT (Violence Prevention Program) consists
of individual evaluation and enrollment in group therapy. The program
length is determined largely by the individual's progress. The minimum
number of group sessions is 40. If all criteria for change have
been met, at that time, the member may graduate. If not, the member
must continue until s/he has accomplished all of the demonstrations
of adequate change. Group sessions consist of 8 to 10 members, meeting
weekly. The fee for the program is $20 per session.
THE APOLLO PROJECT (Violence Prevention Program) is a cognitive-behavioral
treatment program designed to target the thinking errors that many violent
offenders utilize in many parts of their lives. These thinking errors
"allow" the offender to keep from taking responsibility for
his hurtful actions. These methods of thinking are deeply engrained habits
that must be identified, replaced with healthy modes of thinking, and
practiced until new habits are created. These thinking errors encompass
past beliefs, current relationship roles and rules, and future cycles
of behaving for themselves and their children. Violence cycles must be
identified and broken, or the cycle of violence will continue for generations.
So, violence prevention treatment is not an easy task. The verbal and
written assignments focus on finding and changing the individual's deviant
thinking-feeling-behaving chains. The member is expected to be honest
and to work hard in the treatment setting. S/he is even polygraphed, to
help determine if s/he is remaining violence-free and is honestly trying
to adopt the newer thinking, feeling, and behaving styles that are being
taught. S/he must follow safety rules that are often strict and sometimes
confusing. S/he is not allowed to remain in a victim stance, because it
prevents him or her from claiming the healthy responsibility and opportunity
to change for the better. Violence prevention treatment can result in
many positive changes for the offender and everyone else. It requires
teamwork, and it requires dedication.
Seguin Family Institute offers an Aftercare program for clients who have
completed THE APOLLO PROJECT (Violence Prevention Program). The Aftercare
program is intended to offer support to the member after leaving the group
setting. It also helps the therapist to monitor the member's progress
and determine if s/he has internalized what was learned in group. Following
graduation from the program, the graduate member will be scheduled for
individual follow-up appointments, at monthly intervals, to check on progress
and assess any possible needs of the graduate member or the member's family.
These individual follow-up sessions will be scheduled for three consecutive
months and then quarterly, for the next three quarters. There is no charge
for these follow-up sessions. Also, if the graduate member has not re-offended
and feels s/he is at risk for violence, s/he may re-enter the group at
any time, at no charge.
Are there other programs at Seguin Family
Institute that aim to reduce the risk of violence?
Yes. The Seguin Family Institute offers several package programs to companies
and agencies in the community. One of the newest programs is…
THE SHIELD:
Between the workplace and the violence
The Shield is a program that is designed to offer companies
some protection from the violent outbursts that some individuals may be
prone to unleashing in the workplace. The program consists of three main
components or stages. These components include the interview/hiring stage,
the routine or maintenance stage, and the crisis situation stage. Each
component is a vital part of the overall program that, together, comprises
a very powerful system most companies can definitely benefit from.
Why is The Shield so effective?
Employers understand that happy employees produce
more, while unhappy employees slow production and sour the attitudes
of everyone they come into contact with. Employees generally want
to feel appreciated, personally fulfilled, and productive. Employees
who are polled most often respond positively toward management techniques
that empower them to be heard and understood and those that work
to reduce negative or harmful employment practices. Managers and
employers know that training employees takes time and money. Training
once and utilizing a training that empowers employees to realize
job satisfaction through their accomplishments makes sense in today's
market. The Shield integrates the goals of both management and the
employees. This represents a "win-win" for companies everywhere.
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