Anger management & assertiveness training (conflict inoculation training)
Most anger management training relies on techniques
for consciously over-riding or redirecting emotion. Conflict inoculation
training is a therapy that deals with the unconscious source of the problem
instead.
Ironically, the origin of uncontrollable rage as well as anger phobia and
paralysis in conflict are usually the same. In both, the person is usually
trying to avoid feeling a shame-based emotional state within themselves. The
strategy of defense is different but the underlying deficits are the same.
Conflict inoculation training is a way of conditioning in new emotions to
"mellow" out the anxiety and allow the person to think and behave in a more
balanced way during conflict.
The early steps in conflict inoculation training are the same as for hedonic
disinhibition work. Positive emotions from the person's best memories about
themselves are used to wire together a memory network of very positive feelings.
These positive feelings are then used to build metaphorical images of self-parts
with which the client can interact in scripted hypnotic fantasies. These
metaphorical self-parts are referred to as "resources."
Once a person's resources are consolidated, then the person is taught to
practice using them against worst case target memories involving conflict.
Certain "eidetic" cognitive techniques are used so that the client's unconscious
shame-based emotional state is activated while he/she calms through the help of
their resources. After enough practice in the office, the client can often
continue the majority of their remaining practice sessions at home. When the
treatment is complete, the person's emotions during conflict are greatly
changed. Clients often report that they no longer feel the "need" to rage or be
violent. They often report that it's as if "the button is no longer connected."
For clients who have been conflict phobic, they "discover" that they naturally
speak out their mind instead of hiding their thoughts because of fearing
potential conflict.
The training regimen is highly structured but may vary somewhat from individual
to individual.
The average course of training looks like the following:
Sessions 1 - 2: Initial evaluation and review of social history
Sessions 3 - 6: Consolidation of positive emotional resources from positive
memories and meditation training
Sessions 7 - 10: Strengthening of positive resources via hypnotic techniques and
interactive imagery
Sessions 11 - 17: In - session practice using positive resources to recondition
emotions in worst-case imagined scenarios
Sessions 18 - 23: At home practice exercises with review of practice logs in
session
Session 24: Final review and closure session
The above outlined course of training requires a fair amount of repetition, much
like training to play a musical instrument. Performance training cannot occur
like educational learning. If you want anger management "classes" in order to
merely satisfy a court requirement with minimal effort, then this training is
not for you. It does require a fair amount of work, it is more expensive
(because of the individual attention required), and will require more personal
discomfort in practicing because of more intense emotion. However, if you truly
want to improve your interpersonal relationships for the rest of your life, this
training regimen is one of the best investments you can make.
For a more in-depth theoretical and scientific discussion of the treatment protocol, Click Here.
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