Small Group Counseling Theme: Anger Management

Grade Level(s): High School

Small Group Counseling Description:

The anger management small group I envision will provide students who are experiencing anger
issues with safe and healthy strategies for dealing with frustrating situations. Diving into
hobbies, talents, goals, and areas they accel at to use as a relief from anger. I would advertise it
within the school, as well as through internal emails. Students who will benefit from small groups
may be recognized through observations from me, self-referral, or referral by teachers. I would screen
them to ensure I felt they would respect others, the norms we set up and would not hinder their learning
from a missed class. If they did not meet these criteria, I would give them the material to read and
potentially do some one on one if they wanted too. I would then gather the data about each’s anger related
issue, whether it has been a pattern and how long or an isolated issue and what may have caused it.
Whichever had more students would be where I would fill the group from.

Looking at the mindset and behaviors, I would tie in M1, 2, and 6 as mindsets will be (hopefully)
evolving into healthy behaviors, self-confidence and a positive attitude, vs the anger and negativity that is
dwelling within. Learning strategies will include LS 7 and 9 as goals and different perspectives can help
see issues and solutions a lot more clearly. All ten Self-Management and Social skills would be used
throughout the group, as each of the 10 from both may have an impact from anger. Process data would be
the evolution of their source of anger through recognizing and solving problems, making decisions and
acting responsible, and communicating effectively. Perception data would be the pre and post surveys.
Results would be following up with them and their teachers to see if anything has changed, improved or
stagnated.

I like using visuals and activities and then sharing. I would have a laminated poster board for
norms that the group could come up with together and sign each time we have class. There will
be chart paper in the room for activities as well as handouts. I found a great Anger myth or not
quiz that I would use to start the 1st session with, after an ice breaker where they would talk
about something that makes them angry and how they handled it. Something I used before was a
tracker. I would have them write what the source of their anger was, what triggered it and how
their body reacted. I would have them track that as sessions happen and at the last session, have
each share how they progressed (or did not). Middle sessions will have managing anger
activities, communication styles, role playing counter point of views and discussions throughout.
The session that I will do in class will be the 1st session. I will do my intro then ask ‘Who
controls your anger’, pause for answers and that will lead into the Ice breaker. We would then do
class norms. I would pass out the self-management assessment form and have them work on that
and then have a discussion why they want to be in the group. Let other reflect on answers and
add if it follows the norms. On chart pack paper, I will have them write down the last time they
were angry and why and do some reflection. They would then use the anger tracking sheet to
write that in and track how they handle it throughout the following sessions. I would conclude
the session with positive re-enforcement, each thanking others for sharing and reminding not talk
about what others shared, with anyone outside the group.

I used samples from the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance & Counseling Program, which
grants permission to use in non-commercial purposes, and incorporated their forms into my
lessons until I have the experience to come up with my own.
http://www.missouricareereducation.org/project/smallgroup

Small Group Counseling Description:

The anger management group will provide students who are experiencing anger issues with safe
and healthy strategies for dealing with frustrating situations.

Number of Sessions in Group: Introduction, 5 Sessions, and Optional Follow-Up Session

Session Titles/Materials: (Note: Posters, Resource Pages & Handouts are attached to each
session)

Introduction: Establishing Group Norms

Establishing norms is important to the group process. This introduction should be used prior to
presenting Session #1

Session # 1: What is True About Anger?

Session # 2: What Trips Your Trigger?

Session# 3: What is Your Emotional Thermometer?

Session # 4: What Are Healthy Ways To Express Your Anger?

Session #5: How Can I Stay Cool?

Optional Follow-up Session (to be held 4-6 weeks after last group session)
 Anger Management Self-Assessment
Session 1 (pre-assessment)

Name: __________________ ___________________ Date: ____________________

1 2 3 4 5
Never Sometimes Frequently Almost All the
Always Time
I handle my anger
well.

I stay out of trouble

when I am angry.

I know what causes

me to become
angry.
When I am angry, I
express my feelings
in a healthy way.
When I am angry, I
stay in control.

When I am angry, I
talk about it.

When I am angry, I
take it out
responsibly.
When I get angry, I
know how to calm
myself down.

My goals for myself by the end of the group:

1.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
 TRACKING AND TAMING MY ANGER
A Record of My Anger

STUDENTS: Each day, think about situations in which you experienced feelings of anger. Keep
a record of the source of your trigger (e.g., a person, an event), what triggered your anger and
how your body reacted. Write honestly about your experiences so that you can learn more
about what you need to do to REALLY be in charge of you! Next week we will talk about your
experiences.

Source of my trigger What triggered my anger How my body reacted

Date of experience ____________________

Comments (e.g., What was going on in my life that affected my response?)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Date of experience ____________________

Comments___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Date of experience ____________________

Comments___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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