Options to Anger is a powerful interactive multimedia program that opens troubled youth's eyes and hearts to the big picture about their anger. Perhaps for the first time in their lives, students learn how they may be stuck in a vicious cycle of reacting, and how each of them has the courage and power to change that. Based on years of research and best-practice models, this extensive training program mixes interactive animated stories, live group sessions led by a trained facilitator, and online exercises to empower youth to make real, long-lasting change in their lives.
It's done through a careful process of first discovering how the Anger Cycle exists in their lives. From there they learn it that even though it takes courage, they can try something different. That something is actually a host of wonderful options -- options like learning to identify the rich feelings that are covered over by anger, listening to warning signs that anger is approaching, learning to relax, to take space, to communicate what you feel and what you want through "I statements," and rethinking your behavior choices by putting things into perspective in your own mind.
The Options training is not abstract. It's not a recipe. It's a way -- a simple but very challenging way -- for youth to find and claim their power. The curriculum was developed from years of extensive use in the juvenile justice system. It includes 16 group meetings with additional meetings for extended practice sessions. Each meeting is launched with an animated story segment of a virtual group going through the training. The segment sets up the concepts and skills to be learned by the real youth. After each group session, youth individually use a website to review the story, go over what they learned, and put it into practice by journaling and through interactive exercises. It's very, very cool!
Northwest Media, Options producers, performed an evaluation study on the curriculum with a group of Job Corps students and staff. The study showed that youth improved their understandings and control of anger, and students and staff could see positive results even after the first few weeks of meetings. The findings of the study are available at Northwest Media's Web site, at www.northwestmedia.com/research/jj-i.pdf.
To get a first-hand view of how this program can really help youth, we spoke with a participant who took the course, and the trainer who facilitated the class, several months after the study was completed. Their interviews speak for themselves.
--Caesar Pacifici, PhD and Susan Larson, Northwest Media Inc.
- Options to Anger DVD & Curriculum Guide
- $495 (bleeped version and unbleeped version available)
- Supplemental web-based activities available on www.Vstreet.com
- Call for information and pricing on Vstreet subscriptions.
- Options to Anger Trainer Certification available.
- Call for details, pricing, and scheduling.
- Contact: Northwest Media, 800-777-6636; nwm@northwestmedia.com
Options to Anger Interview with Kurtis
Kurtis, who has been a student at Job Corps for about a year and studies welding:
Q: So, tell me why did you sign up for a course on anger?
A: I figured it would help me to work with other students
better, and because I'm a leader.
Q: Did you think you had a problem with anger?
A: Yes. Like, at a certain point I would get very angry and not know
how to deal with it.
Q: Has it always been that way for you?
A: Oh yeah.
Q: What would happen when you get angry?
A: Well, like, I'd get home, get angry at my brother and beat the
crap out of him.
Q: So, what did you expect from the course?
A: I felt a little hesitant 'cause I didn't know what was gonna
happen. But... it was pretty laid back . . . you could speak your mind
openly, not worry about it.
Q: What were the most important things you learned about anger from
Options?
A: Probably, how to control it without, like, just unleashing on
somebody; and how to make it to where I could learn to
deal with problems in a non-violent, non-angry
way.
Q: Tell me a technique you learned.
A: Um, I learned how to use "I statements."
Q: How did that feel?
A: It was kind of confusing. I didn't see how I could use it a
situation until I actually had to.
Q: Did the group help you think of real-life examples so that you
could put it into practice?
A: They kinda gave us examples, or asked us daily if we
encountered something like that. But most of us could
think of something. So, yeah, we had our fair share of
things that happened to us.
Q: How about the stories that the teens on the DVD told, were
they believable?
A: I would say yes because that kind of stuff happens
here.
Q: Anything else you learned that you put into practice later?
A: The whole thing about "taking space." Like with my brother –
he's 16 – I just walk away now when he gets
irritating.
Q: And how does he respond?
A: For sure, it irritates him pretty good because he likes to
argue.
Q: How did the course help you understand your own anger
cycle?
A: I think the course did help me understand it by kinda making
me realize what I was doing before I'd actually do it . . . yeah,
the invitations.
Q: Were there other situations where you tried using the skills?
A: I work in a shop right now and there are some people down
there that I've learned to stay away from.
Q: You mentioned that you are in a leadership role. Has the
course helped you with that?
A: Yeah, I took several classes that the Center provides. I've
been holding three leadership positions in the last 10
months. I don't get frustrated quite as easily. Some people
listen, and some of them choose to go about their angry
aways.
Q: What were the things you liked best about the course?
A: It was kinda like you just go to the group; kinda lay out what
you're feeling and people would tell you what you can do or
should've done to solve the problem and make it a lot easier
to deal with. I'd say that, in the end, I just liked what I
gained and could accept responsibility. Between us group
members, we would talk to each other even after the
class, to see if we could help each other out, or whatever. We
still talk about things whenever problems
arise.
Q: What were the things you like least about it?
A: Um . . . nothing.
Q: Do you think the things you learned in Options will stay with
you? Why?
A: Yes, definitely. Because they helped me get to where I am
now, and that's a great thing. I like where I'm sitting at. And
I can come back to any of these people or instructors and
can talk to them whenever I need to, and I know how to deal
with problems, so even after I leave this place, it should help
me forever. Because of how it helped me, it should help
others, too.
Q: Cool!
Options to Anger Interview with Leanne
Leanne, Job Corps trainer and facilitator for the Options to Anger
group:
Q: Why is anger management an important subject for Job Corps
youth?
A: Our focus is to take students, help them learn to be
successful; to become a well- rounded person that has a
trade, is able to go out there and be employable and to be a
productive citizen. We can teach them a trade and the
educational part, but when we miss out on how to live
successfully in a community, help them with their
relationships, help them in job situations, especially when it
comes to anger, we miss out on the most important part:
making them a whole person. Some of our students come
from very challenging backgrounds. I think we need to help
them understand and take out the mystery of Anger
"Options" is a wonderful word. So many students come with
the preconceived idea that anger is something they have to
do; they have to go that way. But they don't. Once they
really see the diagram of the Anger Cycle they can see that
they have a choice. They don't have to go that way. And once
they understand what their feelings are, it's much easier for
them to slow down and look at the big picture.
Q: What were your first impressions of Options?
A: I was very impressed. I was so excited because I saw this as a
different program thatcould be successful especially because of the
focus on feelings. But I saw it as a whole program; I didn;t see any
parts left out.
Q: What were the highlights of teaching this course for you?
A: I got to know the students individually. They were free to
speak openly about the problems that were bothering them
because we really considered confidentiality as very
important. And the curriculum support was there, too. The
DVD, for example, was excellent. The characters in the stories
were very realistic. It was really great that the kids could see
that these characters – even though they were animated –
that there really were other people in the world that had the
same kinds of things going on in their lives.
Q: What were the difficulties with the program?
A: Well, I have to say, it was not difficult to facilitate at all. The
materials were complete and well-explained. But, it would
have been great for me to have more time to explore things
with the kids. When we got to the last session, the students
were like, "We're not done!" They wanted the group to
continue. Right now, we just don't have the staff to do it. It's
too bad because some of the students are just begging to
have the program continue.
Q: How do you think youth responded to the course? Why?
A: As I said, they were very excited about it. There were a
couple of times, for example, where some things came up and we
weren't able to meet as a group that day, and they were just, "No,
we have to have group!" This was a diverse group, so some were
quieter. They shared when they finally felt comfortable, or had
something important for them to give. But, I must say, we had 100%
positive feedback.
Q: Can you give some examples of how youth were putting the
skills they learned to use on Center?
A: Sure. I was over at the girls' dorm and one of the student
leaders was having a problem with her roommate. She was
frustrated and didn't know what to do. Well, I invited one of
the kids who was in the Options training to come by and see
if she could help with an "I statement." She was able to rattle
off an "I statement" for the dorm leader and be very
supportive. So I'm really pleased with the way most of the
students here have started remembering and gathering this
information, and internalizing it.
Q: What made this program different for you?
A: Well, from the feedback students gave us, they first
thought "Oh well this is just like anger management." But then they
learned that the words were different. And that it was basically
different because it wasn't about trying to control anger, but seeing
that they had options to anger. They didn't have to choose anger.
And they didn't have to control it. They didn't even have to go
there.
Q: Do you think Options will have a long-lasting effect on the
youth? Why?
A: Yes. The ones who decided to put it to use, are obviously
seeing it in their own life with being in leadership, with
dealing with roommates, with their personal relationships.
They come back and say, you know, I dealt with this issue
with my boyfriend or girlfriend and this is how I handled it.
Maybe not all of them will put it to good use right away, but
it's there. I know they will remember it.
Another thing: the group dynamic was really important to
these kids. They were like, "We really like our group." They
became very close. It really helped them relate to each other.
The ones that have left, after a few weeks you can start to
see that they began experiencing some problems. So it is vital
that they continue the learning process.
Q: What place do you think Options should have in Job Corps?
A: It should rank right up there with education – everyone has
to take it. They should get a crash course right at the beginning, kind
of an overview. Then midway get really deep into it – when they
have to start dealing with living situations, instructors, etc.
Q: Any other comments?
A: I think this was an absolutely awesome program!! I'd love to
see it become a curriculum in every Job Corps.
I also think it's important to be prepared to teach it by watching the DVD. You know, get comfortable with it. Really, anyone should be able to pick it up and teach it if they have a mindset of a teacher or counselor. The key is to be 100% real with students, including about yourself, so that they can see that you're real, too.
