Anger is a vital emotion and marker of our boundaries, however, when the reactionary response to this natural defense mechanism spirals out of control, it can have severe impacts on our relationships, and work, and even long-lasting legal consequences. Those who end up in legal trouble due to an anger-fueled event may find themselves referred or mandated to attend an anger management program.
What is Mandated Anger Management?
Mandated anger management is a court-ordered service created to aid individuals in the process of learning how to acknowledge and regulate their struggles with anger. This type of program is commonly required after a legal case where there were transgressions rooted in the expression of anger, aggression, or rage. From road rage, and workplace disagreements, to family tensions, mandated anger management intends to provide skills to allow those who have been overcome by intense anger to learn how to manage and decrease the likelihood of another legally troubling and binding incident of anger.
What to look for in an Anger Management Program?
- Do they have an intake process? It is important to find a program that takes the time for an initial assessment with an anger management counselor, where one’s specific triggers, current coping skills, and underlying issues to their anger are explored. These assessments are important as they allow the counselors to tailor the program to support and address the unique needs of the anger management participants.
- Is there ample opportunity to learn through psychoeducation? It is vital that the anger management program offers the participants a chance to learn about the underlying physiological and psychological aspects of anger. Building awareness and language around one’s anger cues and triggers is a necessary process for developing new ways of managing anger.
- Will you be leaving the classes with tangible skills? Proper anger management helps teach participants day-to-day techniques for navigating frustration with intention. These tools range from relaxation skills, direct communication breakdowns, cognitive behavioral techniques, and strategies for de-escalating.
- Is the program set up to increase perspective-taking? Anger management typically includes psychoeducation, the development of empathy, and the ability to consider others’ perspectives. Empathy can be an effective tool for preventing the escalation of an argument as it helps one to consider alternative ways of engaging with others that reduce the intensity and structure of conflict.
- Does the program offer support and check-ins? Anger management participants are encouraged to find spaces that will hold them accountable for their engagement, and reflect their growth throughout the process. Finding a space that offers acknowledgment of the past, and creates room to address the impacts of shifts moving forward can be immensely helpful in both individual and group settings. The ongoing support and stability of anger management help with the implementation of the skills and reflective aspects of the work.
Conclusion
Mandated anger management programs with a clear educational and compassionate approach to addressing the underlying causes of anger are valuable systems for the development of more intentional and healthier coping mechanisms. These programs offer skills training, community building, and a reliable system of support to empower individuals to stop their cycles of destructive anger and contribute to safer and more connected communities. The goal of these programs is not to do away with anger, but to change the aggressive behavior and the role it plays in one’s life. Creating more space and intention around one’s values and how to navigate the inevitable stressors of life in ways that allow the participants to respond with assertive presence.
Carly Rose Schwan is a Certified Anger Management Counselor and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Avedian Counseling Centers under the licensed supervision of Chrys Gkotsi, LMFT #113638. Offering individual and couples therapy in Glendale and Los Angeles, Carly Rose specializes in helping empower individuals to face their vulnerability and work toward acceptance instead of struggling with anger and low self-esteem.
Carly Rose Schwan is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Avedian Counseling Centers with offices in Glendale and Sherman Oaks. She is trained in fields such as Anger Management and Couples Therapy. She currently works under the licensed supervision of Chrys Gkotsi, LMFT #113638.
