As the world continues to take advantage of the ease and convenience of the internet, we tend to regard in-person services and brick-and-mortar companies as more of a luxury. In terms of affordability, some online services are not only more accessible but also more affordable. The main difference between the two typical types of services offered is:
- Legitimacy in success rates for interactive programs with a live facilitator.
- The ease and often less effective anger management online services that rely on self-learning through several video courses and quizzes in lieu of a more comprehensive program.
Online anger management services that offer interactive sessions hold the same efficacy for many people when those programs offer a similar curriculum as in-person services and a live counselor to guide you through the process. Outside of written exercises in a workbook, a facilitator can help ensure a person understands the material. This involves role-play scenarios carefully designed to mimic real-world situations, followed by conversations on how the learned skills were implemented throughout the process.
Some people are not aware of what assertive, and therefore non-aggressive, communication entails. Thus, merely relying on autodidactic learning through videos and reading materials can limit a person’s grasp of the concepts of anger management that actually enable behavioral change. For example, if a participant reads about skills for assertive communication, tries them with their partner, and realizes it did not work, they will not know why or how their attempt at that conversation escalated. When working with an anger management counselor, they are guided to identify the tone or words they used that weakened their attempts to communicate effectively.
So, what exactly are the options for affordable online anger management services? In a previous blog, we discussed various digital tools that support the anger management journey. Here, we will discuss taking it a step further and actually benefiting from an online anger management service. Below is a breakdown of the details of some online anger management services available to the public at a low cost.
There are courses offered online without any guidance, which may not even fulfill court or probation orders; nonetheless, a person seeking self-improvement that involves serious commitment to change. Time is another downfall of many of these “drive-thru” versions of anger management courses that primarily focus on the speed of service without the quality of the product, and time is the very thing that allows concrete change to occur. The human brain needs time to practice and learn from experience, recognizing what works and what does not. The goal of anger management is behavioral modification and not harming folks around them. How is that met in an online course without a live facilitator? One has to be very motivated, actually doing the work, and have a lot of insight to achieve this without a professional.
Although most court-ordered cases specify a certain number of courses to be taken, many volunteers do not know how many hours they need to complete. Programs that offer structured coursework often recommend a set number of courses spanning 12-36 weeks to promote proper understanding of the material, whereas fast-paced courses that do not involve any live services or facilitation do not require the same level of patience. Those who simply want to dip their toes into the proverbial pond of online anger management services could benefit from this resource, but for long-term change, more thorough coursework and class attendance are needed.
Anger Management 818 (AM818) is one of the programs on the California Association of Anger Management Providers (CAAMP) list of programs often accepted for court-ordered classes. AM 818 is also listed on the National Anger Management Association (NAMA) directory. These are legitimate, CAAMP-approved programs. CAAMP seeks to standardize anger management training and programs and provides this list to help the public easily find these approved courses. This standardization allows consumers to be assured of quality of service when mental health is involved when seeking anger management. AM818 often receives calls from disgruntled customers of non-interactive, and often non-compliant, online anger management services seeking resolution through our program.
Although a set of courses with pre-made videos can be more affordable at times, programs like Anger Management 818 provide a key element for improving anger: practice and accountability upheld by each course’s anger management facilitator.
For individuals who volunteer to improve their emotional regulation skills or are court-ordered to complete anger management, Anger Management 818 stands out because it combines clinical credibility, court familiarity, accessibility, and customized programming in ways that many generic online certificate programs do not. Unlike self-paced, “click-through” courses that primarily focus on issuing completion certificates, Anger Management 818 offers live group sessions and individualized support grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is one of the most evidence-supported approaches to anger management treatment.
Moreover, Anger Management 818 has a team of specially selected counselors who can empathize and connect with each person, whether in a group or one-on-one, to create lasting change. The ability to sit down with a supportive group of individuals with similar experiences or with an experienced facilitator is immensely beneficial for any person’s wellness journey.
AM818 also accommodates a wide range of participants, meeting each person’s needs. There is a teen program, as well as women-only and men-only groups. The Spanish program on Friday mornings allows Spanish-speaking folks across the nation to join the live class every week, conducted entirely in Spanish. As a way to give back to the community, veterans receive a 50% discount for participating in AM818’s program.
Ultimately, in terms of affordability and return on investment, Anger Management 818 is the ideal choice, whether you are volunteering for self-improvement or court-ordered. Long-term change comes from the repetition of the standards learned in class, with the practice of following those standards every week while reviewing them with a trained facilitator.
Annette Semerdjian is the Client Experience & Marketing Coordinator at Anger Management 818. She is a multi-media journalist and administrative professional who spends her free time volunteering at animal shelters and writing poetry.
