What Happens in Anger Management Classes?

Anger management classes are taken by someone who has issues with controlling their anger in an appropriate manner. In these classes there are a number of activities geared towards helping students learn how to express their anger in a productive way. If you are interested in anger management classes, or must take them as a requirement, learning what happens in them can give you an idea of what to expect.

Relaxation

• Relaxation exercises are common in anger management courses. These exercises show a person certain tools they can use to squelch rising anger when it occurs. Exercises can include deep breathing, visualization, chanting and counting, as well as poses like stretching or yoga to relieve anger.

Discussion Groups

• Discussion periods or groups are also common activities in anger management classes. For example, in a group someone might begin by describing a recent incident where he felt his anger getting out of control. By discussing this with the group he might get advice from others on where the anger originated or what he can do next time to control it.

Workbook Activities

• Another thing you can expect from many anger management courses is workbook activities, which are done at home then discussed during class. These activities can include worksheets on constructive and destructive words, writing down your feelings on certain topics, and comparing situations where anger is controlled and not controlled.

Role Playing

• Role-playing activities in anger management courses prepare you for situations where you'll need to keep anger controlled. For example, one person might play the role of an unhelpful server while the other person has to communicate with this problematic person without resorting to angry outbursts. The class watches these scenarios and gets hands on experience dealing with anger inducing situations.