NCJ Number
240921
Date Published
2013
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This manual provides counselors with tools for teaching anger management techniques in a group setting to clients with substance abuse problems or mental illness.
Abstract
This manual was designed for use by qualified substance abuse and mental health clinicians who work with substance abuse and mental health clients with concurrent anger problems. This manual uses cognitive behavioral therapy to address the anger cycle, conflict resolution, assertiveness skills, and anger-control plans. Despite the connection of anger and violence to substance abuse, few treatments have previously been developed to address anger and violence problems among people who abuse substances. The manual describes a 12-week cognitive behavioral anger management group treatment. Each of the 12 90-minute weekly sessions is described in detail with specific instructions for group leaders, tables and figures illustrate the key conceptual components of the treatment, and homework assignments for the group participants. This manual is divided into 12 sessions: overview of group anger management treatment; events and cues, a conceptual framework for understanding anger; anger control plans; how to change the aggression cycle; cognitive restructuring the A-B-C-D Model and thought stopping; reinforcing learned concepts; assertiveness training and the Conflict Resolution Model alternatives for expressing anger (two sessions); anger and the family; how past learning can influence present behavior (two sessions); reinforcing learned concepts; and closing and graduation. A participant workbook is also included.