Jeff Peterson – Transforming Anger

Develop the skills & confidence to defuse and transform angry clients

Anger is the single most destructive element in life…

It has the power to destroy relationships both personal and professional.

Prolonged anger poisons our bodies and can lead to depression and violence.

Virtually all clients who pursue therapy are intensely angry with one or more people in their lives.

Unfortunately, most clinicians are not trained to deal with anger directly. We’re taught that if we help clients resolve their problems, the anger will disappear. Unfortunately, this approach often results in prolonged therapy with uncertain results.

To successfully work with those needing help for anger management, you must understand anger…

…And know how to use each individual’s unique background, family system, and other factors to untangle their complex relationships with anger.

In this online certification training course, you’ll get proven strategies and dozens of helpful resources to help you transform anger into something your clients can use to become calmer and happier.

To your great success,

Dr. Jeff Peterson, Ph.D., LCPC, LPC, NCC, PCC

Following this course, you will:

• Be a certified anger management expert so you can grow your client load and build your practice
• Understand the neurobiology of anger and why we are all so different when it comes to processing and expressing this emotion
• Confidently engage clients who are resistant or even hostile in session as you do your part to help reduce aggression and violence within our communities
• Learn how to reduce the body’s anger response with mindfulness, breathing techniques, and progressive muscle relaxation — tools you can take with you and use with all your clients…
• And SO much more!

What You’ll Learn In Transforming Anger

Module 1: Introduction to Anger Management

Module 2: The Neuroscience of the Angry Brain

• Anger systems in the brain
• The fight-flight-freeze response of anger
• Connections between the frontal and temporoparietal region
• How breathing affects the survival brain

Why fighting/hiding anger doesn’t work

Module 3: Anger and Co-Occurring Disorders: Trauma, Addiction, Depression and More

• The relationship between anger and addiction
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• ODD
• Bipolar Disorder
• When anxiety presents as anger
• The role of anger in depression
• Anger after trauma

Module 4: Shame, Fear, Guilt and the Underlying Causes of Anger

• Avoidance, shame, fear and guilt
• The connection between anger and grief
• The cycle of anger
• How anger styles inform your clinical approach
• Masked anger
• Explosive anger
• Chronic anger
• Passive aggressive

Module 5: The Intersection of Anger and Abuse

• Assessment of violence potential
• Is domestic abuse an anger management problem?
• Controlling others

Module 6: Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning

• Create a safe therapeutic environment
• Build emotional vocabulary
• Establish short-term and long-term goals
• Strategies for working with groups

Module 7: Teach Clients to Identify Anger Triggers

• How to use anger logs with clients
• Monitoring physiological sensations of anger
• Identify words and actions that escalate
• Practical goals and commitment to change
• Assessing for client strengths

Module 8: Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques to Derail Anger in the Moment

• Reset anger with breath work
• Progressive muscle relaxation techniques to maintain control
• Mindful anger techniques and choice awareness
• Guided imagery to put clients in charge of anger
• The Lifesaver Technique

Module 9: Cognitive Approaches to Challenge the Dysfunctional Thoughts Behind Anger

• CBT exercises to reduce negative self-talk
• Cognitive restructuring and defusing judgmental thoughts
• Problem-solving and hypothetical situation training
• Creative thought stopping tools for emotional regulation
• Distraction and disengagement strategies

Module 10: Therapeutic Strategies to Release Old Anger and Lingering Resentments

• Anger and identity
• The cost of avoidance
• Why forgiveness (and self-forgiveness) is never easy
• Prerequisites to letting go of the past
• How to conduct a cost-benefit analysis intervention
• Forgiveness interventions to “turn off” resentment

Module 11: Teach Clients to Constructively Communicate Anger

• Assertiveness training techniques
• Communicate anger effectively with “I” statements
• The active role of acceptance
• Mindfully respond to anger in interpersonal relationships
• Defuse anger with humor and other conflict resolution strategies

Module 12: Anger Management Strategies for Kids and Adolescents

• How anger escalates in kids
• Normalizing anger as a healthy emotion
• Communication skills to alleviate frustration
• Coping skills for stress and anxiety
• Feelings thermometer – connect feelings to coping skills

Module 13: Anger Management for Relationships

• When mundane resentments spiral out of control
• Interventions to overcome the blame habit
• Teach clients active listening skills
• Strategies to build emotional intelligence in couples

Module 14: Risks and Limitations of Anger Management Therapy