Anger Management Workbook

Anger Busting Workbook

Page 195

GROUP SESSION 1:

Going over the rules….

1. Introduce yourself and welcome them to the class. Ignore all the initial sarcastic remarks and questions.

2. Go over the rules. Make them crystal clear and never bend them in the slightest way for any reason…no matter what! Otherwise, I promise you chaos.

3. Rules must fit the setting you are in, and have consequences. In a therapeutic community, the rules of the community will still apply. Whatever the consequences are for throwing chairs and screaming should be applied.

4. Here are rules that work well with Court Ordered Outpatient Domestic Violence Offenders Groups (ongoing: meaning people came in and out after they finished their required number of sessions in the required time).

• This group will meet every Tuesday night from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm.
• You must attend ten sessions out of the next twelve to get your letter of completion for your probation officer.
• If you are more than ten minutes late, your attendance is not counted. That is by my watch. Feel free to synchronize your watch with mine. You are free to come late. You will not be charged, but it won’t count toward your 10 session in 12 weeks.
• If you leave before 7:30 pm, your attendance will not be counted…that means by my watch.
• You must pay all your fees before I will send a letter of verification of any kind to your probation officer. Some of your POs will want verification every week. I will provide that as long as your fees are paid. No money? No letter.
• The only things the letter will say is that you came, were cooperative, applied the techniques we discussed and successfully completed the anger management course.
• Some of you may want me to evaluate whether you are better or worse. I will not put one single word of evaluation in the letter. This is a class for people with anger problems. I know how to teach people to get over that problem, but I don’t know how to predict the future.
• Most POs will be happy with that kind of letter, but if they want an evaluation, then show them this list of rules.
• No cold beer before you come here. No drugs or alcohol of any kind before you come. If you show up even the slightest bit intoxicated, then I will ask you to leave and I will report it to your PO. If you don’t leave when I ask you to, I will call the police.