MSW Solutions offers anger management workshop

MSW Solutions is offering Switching Gears, an intensive six-week anger management workshop for men, conducted in two 90- minute sessions per week, with one weekend make-up date for any missed sessions.

The group is facilitated by Sheila Mayse, MSW. LISW-S and Elicia Brooks, MSW, LSW.

The program is based on the curriculum provided in The Anger Control Workbook: Simple, Innovative Techniques for Managing Anger and Developing Healthier Ways of Relating by Mathew McKay, PhD and Peter Rogers, PhD.

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, including The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, Self-Esteem, Thoughts and Feelings, When Anger Hurts, and ACT on Life Not on Anger. His books combined have sold more than 2.5 million copies. McKay received his PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. In private practice, he specializes in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and depression. Peter Rogers, PhD, was the administrative director of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services.

Participants will actively engage in learning to identify patterns of behavior, the anger response cycle, and strategies for changing the response and improving interpersonal interactions for more effective functioning.

Program components include the following topics: Defining Anger: Utility of anger/ Costs of anger; Understanding Anger: Anger payoffs/ The process of getting angry/ Monitoring anger; Learning to Manage Anger: Relaxation Imagery/ Breathing/ Cue Controlled Relaxation; Trigger Thoughts: Sensory input versus assumptions/ Recognizing trigger thoughts/ Trigger thoughts and helplessness/ Common Distortions/ Correcting Distortions; Coping: Learning to cope with arousal/ Coping thoughts and anger distortions/ Coping plan; Anger inoculation: The act of anger inoculation/ Addressing high anger situations/Creation of extreme anger scenes/ Coping thoughts; Problem-Solving Communication: Coping styles/ Assertive statements/ Consequences/Negotiation/ Setting limits/ Dealing with criticism; Plan for Real-Life Coping: Best Coping Thoughts/ Best Coping Behaviors/ Blocks to Real-Life Coping.

Upon satisfactory completion of the 12 session program, each participant will receive a certificate of completion.

Total Cost is $300, $25 per session, $50 weekly. In some cases, insurance may cover the cost. If so, the participant will be responsible for the fees and will be reimbursed upon receipt of insurance payment.

Participants must complete an intake before group participation. Intakes must be completed no later than seven days before the start of the workshop.

The next workshop begins on Oct. 4, 2021 (Mondays and Thursdays 6-7:30 p.m.). Intakes must be completed by Monday, Sept. 27.

For more information or to schedule an intake, call MSW Solutions at 740-502-3047.