A Course in Anger Transformation: Facilitator’s Group Process Handbook with Lesson-By-Lesson Instructions

By Jose M. Baltazar Ph.D.

A facilitator manual for the mind-body anger transformation group program described in the self-help book titled A Course in Anger Transformation: A Course on Anger Management Techniques Based on Mind-Body Medicine and Accelerated Learning. This manual is intended for coaches, social workers, counselors, and other professionals who facilitate groups in behavioral change. It is a step-by-step guide on how to conduct each meeting session, including instructions on how to conduct each mind-body and accelerated learning techniques included in each session to assist participants in their resolution of anger issues. It is strongly recommended that participants purchase the book A course in Anger Transformation as reference to review the material covered in each group session.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664185531

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Jose M. Baltazar, PhD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/19/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

809790

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

Session 1     Creating a Supportive and Safe Group Environment for Change

Session 2     Overview of Mind-Body Medicine and Mind-Body Skills and Set the Vision for Change

Session 3     Using Imagery to Set the Vision for Change in Your Mind

Session 4     Increasing Your Motivation and Commitment to Change and Transform Angry Behaviors

Session 5     Transforming Anger into Peace with Autogenics

Session 6     Level 2 Autogenics: Transforming Anger into Desired Behaviors

Session 7     Developing New Behaviors to Transform Anger into Peace

Session 8     Using Mindfulness Meditation to Make the Sixteen Anger-Busting Behaviors Part of Your Behavior

Session 9     Believe You Can Transform Anger into Peace and Change Becomes Easy

Session 10   Nutrition, Movement, and Exercise to Strengthen the Mind-Body Connection

Session 11   Continuing the Journey: Drawings and Closing Ritual

Session 12   Closing Ritual, Post-Assessments, Evaluations, and Award Certificates

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

References

FOREWORD

Welcome to the course in anger transformation. This is a unique program. I developed it with the goal of creating change in participants quickly and effectively. What makes the program unique and different than most programs available is its hybrid approach to working with anger.

I had experienced anger programs and workshops before because I needed solutions to be able to control my reactions when I was faced with certain situations. As a matter of fact, my anger issues contributed significantly to losing my first marriage. I wanted to exercise more control over myself and could not find an effective approach for me.

I am trained in mind-body medicine, accelerated learning, and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). It was when I became familiar with Dr. James Gordon’s mind-body skills groups that I decided to create this course. I got certified in facilitating mind-body skills groups and found them to be effective for resolving different types of mind, body, and spiritual issues.

I had been working for a while with clients using some of these techniques. I started seeing clients with anger and other emotional issues and noticed the combination of these techniques worked effectively and quickly. Many of my clients were resolving their anger issues after I saw them three or four times.

I started offering mind-body anger transformation groups (MBATGs) in 2016 and, in 2017, decided to write and publish my book Anger Transformation to share the group process and techniques with people needing assistance with their anger and with professionals so they can integrate these techniques into their practice or offer the program to their clients.

Although my book includes all the activities (interventions) that need to be performed, I have developed this manual for greater convenience for facilitating the groups. The group process can be conducted in eight, ten, or twelve weeks; and the facilitator can decide which interventions to include as long as the first four interventions are included.

It is recommended that the students purchase the book to use it along with the program. They can read the chapters for more detailed information and can have the written instructions for the activities to be performed. In addition, I have developed audio recordings with guided instructions of each mind-body activity to be performed. These guided audio recordings can be helpful for deeper learning and easier performance of the mind-body meditations. These materials can be ordered from my website JoseBaltazar.com. The PDF copy of the book and the audio recordings sell for $39.99.

Thank you for your interest in A Course on Anger Transformation. Intending the best of success for you.

You can reach me at JoseBaltazar.com or [e-mail] or 1-915-694-6109.

Jose M. Baltazar, PhD

INTRODUCTION

Transforming Anger: A Mind-Body Medicine–Based Approach to Learn to Redirect the Power of Anger

Have you ever experienced anger? Of course, you have. Everyone experiences this emotion. The degree to which one can control himself and the reactionary behaviors caused by the emotion of anger determine whether one is free from or captive to this emotion. Another reality is that almost every individual at one point or another has lost emotional and behavioral control to anger, thus everyone can benefit from the learning of additional anger-coping skills. This is the principle under which I have written this book. This process can benefit everyone because everyone experiences uncontrolled anger at some points in their lives. In addition, everyone who reads this book will see how the techniques can be applied at working with and managing any other negative emotion.

What Is Anger?

Most traditional anger management programs view anger as a disease and treat it as a dysfunction or an addiction. As a result, most cognitive approaches—such as answering questionnaires, keeping a record of what triggers anger episodes, etc.—while helpful, create minimum permanent change.

Anger is an emotion that everyone experiences. Anger is a conditioned, learned response. When anger is triggered in a person, the person will react according to the learning in his brain/mind. This learning is recorded deeply in the subconscious of the person by the conditioning experiences he has lived. Approaches of teaching and techniques for learning must intentionally target change to take place deep at the subconscious level. Mind-body medicine and the techniques used to promote sound mental, physical, and spiritual health achieve deeper learning and greater permanent change.

What is Mind-Body Medicine?

Everyone experiences impatience and anger in different degrees. The degree of anger a person experiences is caused by the conditioning that has taken place due to high levels of stress in the environment and eventually becomes part of the lifestyle of the person.

Mind-body medicine promotes a culture and lifestyle of health and wellness and uses strategies and techniques that work at the subconscious level of the mind to promote deeper and more permanent change. Mind-body medicine skills naturally work at the conscious and subconscious level. The connection between mind and body and the ways in which physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual factors can interact and directly affect mental, physical, and spiritual health is the core of mind-body medicine. Dr. James Gordon, founder and director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC, states, Self-care is the true health care and Health promotion is a way of life. He advises health-care professionals and clients to embrace a holistic individualized approach to mental and physical health and draw upon the wisdom of ancient medical traditions.

What Is a Mind-Body Anger Transformation Group (MBATG)?

By participating in this group and practicing the different techniques learned in it, you will learn skills to help you deal with anger or other negative emotions more effectively. The techniques included in this course are based on mind-body medicine research and help individuals deal with anger quickly and effectively. These groups are called mind-body anger transformation groups (MBATGs). You have accepted the opportunity to participate, and I congratulate you and strongly encourage your full participation. Participating in a group has the added benefits of learning from and sharing with others. In addition, participating in an MBATG promotes regular practice of the techniques and newly learned behaviors, helping you improve and change faster.

A mind-body anger transformation group is a combination of effective mind-body techniques to help individuals deal with