Classes, Groups & Workshops (See dates of upcoming classes below.) Anger Management Associates classes offer a class size format which provides opportunities for personalized learning. Participants have opportunities to identify the primary ways anger activates and escalates within their mind and body and then develop a personal plan that will be most effective in helping them stay cool, calm, and in control during stressful situations. Classes are led by an instructor with certified training through a national professional counseling association. Most classes are scheduled over multiple days with a week between meetings to allow participants to practice techniques, integrate them into their normal daily routines, and then return to receive feedback and additional help with problem areas. The 8-Hour Basic Level 1 Class provides easy-to-use exercises to help participants identify major issues, anger triggers, and beliefs that make them vulnerable to anger arousal and expression. Anger management techniques are introduced and practiced during class time and outside in real life settings. Techniques include ways to: calm physical arousal; restructure anger-inflaming thoughts and beliefs; manage emotional tension; improve communication with others; and appropriately release anger energy so it doesn't build up within the body. Also, explored are the effects of stress and diet choices as contributing factors to increased anger arousal and health disorders. The 16-Hour Level II Class begins by taking one of our 8-hour Level I classes.  The second 8-hour Level II portion then expands on the concepts learned in the basic Level I class. In addition, participants build their emotional intelligence skills by learning ways to: resolve conflict; enrich relationships; identify and release old core anger issues of the past; deal difficult people in family and workplace settings; and use the energy from anger to achieve positive outcomes. Focus is on helping participants develop confidence by mastering skills through problem-solving of their personal situations and issues. From Anger to Closeness: A Relationship Enrichment Class for Couples Do you ever wonder how the closeness you can have with your partner can sometimes change dramatically into hurt, resentment, and feeling totally disconnected?  Often when a relationship becomes distressed, couples fall into a painful pattern of relating -- negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors -- that take over their relationship.  Without consciously planning to, each partner triggers the other with self-protective blaming, defending, avoiding and withdrawing actions that escalate into frequent arguing, hurt feelings, and eventually both partners feeling disconnected.  Underneath their surface anger lie deeper feelings of anxiety, rejection, abandonment, and despair. Partners begin to feel vulnerable and no longer safe to engage emotionally with each other for fear of being hurt by their partner's negative responses -- leaving both partners with a deep sense of emotional aloneness. This class helps couples learn how to break free from the painful pattern of relating and work together to create a stronger, more loving and secure relationship bond.  They learn a sensitive style of communication that allows them to know that they matter to their partner and that their partner will respond in caring, sensitive ways to their feelings and needs.  During the four weeks, couples will learn how to:   put aside anger and blaming and work together toward positive change have confiding conversations that allows each partner to feel free to ask their for what they really want make bids for emotional connection that encourage their partner will respond in caring ways listen to each others feelings and needs so both feel heard, validated, and understood work together with a win-win style of resolving conflict that results in lasting solutions trust that their partner will value them and be there with comfort and support in crucial times of need. Compassionate Parenting Class:  Practical ideas for managing emotions, building caring behaviors, and strengthening your parent-child connection. This class provides tools for parents, step-parents, and grandparents build emotionally-healthy families. It allows you to have better relationships with your children by increasing cooperation, self-esteem, and self-discipline - while simultaneously reducing anger, anxiety, frustration, and resentment in both child and parent.  You will learn ways to strengthen your family connections, relax more, and enjoy your relationships with your children.  The class will focus on ways to help children learn to be loving, optimal-functioning human beings who can resolve life's changes in healthy ways.  It also helps parents feel supported in the important and deeply rewarding endeavor of child-rearing, both with it's many challenges and stressors, and it's joys and rewards. Week 1: Deepening your self-understanding as parent by assessing your motivations  Understand how the way you were parented affects how you parent. Become aware of how your children experience their world. Develop a healthy co-parenting relationship that "puts kids first" after divorce. Be a secure base for your children to develop resiliency and self-confidence when exploring the world outside of the family. Week 2: Skills for helping parents and children master their emotions Help children learn ways to understand and regulate their emotions and impulses. Learn the tools of "Stay Listening" and "Redirecting" to help children process emotional flooding. Learn the tools of "Emotion Coaching" and "Listening" to keep your parent-child connection open and strong. Manage parental anger with self-regulation tools and through emotional support from other parents. Week 3: Setting limits and teaching children how to problem-Solve Avoid anger and punishment by "Setting Limits" which helps children develop self-discipline. Teach "Consequential Thinking" to help children how to problem-solve and make good decisions. Healthy ways to repair communication breakdowns, misunderstandings and resolve conflict. Week 4: Creating a caring family based on acceptance, empathy, and core values Scheduling "Special Time" to maintain close relationships with your children. Model self-acceptance and inclusion of others through empathy and caring behaviors. Deepen emotional connections where family members help each other build optimism and hope. See class dates below.   To register for a class: call 425-736-6980 or email your name, street address, phone number and class title and date(s) to info@angermanagementassociates.com. August Classes and Workshops 8-Hour Anger Management Level I Class Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, Tuition: $95 Location: Bellevue 8-Hour Anger Management Level II Class  (Meets the requirements for 16-Hour AM Class when combined with our Level I Class) Saturday, August 29, 2009 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue September Classes and Workshops 4-Week, 8-hour Anger Management Level I Class 4 Wednesday evenings, September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2009 6:30 - 8:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue 8-Hour Anger Management Level II Class  (Meets the requirements for 16-Hour AM Class when combined with our Level I Class) Date-Time to be announced 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue October Classes and Workshops 4-Week, 8-hour Anger Management Level I Class 4 Monday evenings, October 5, 12, 19, 26, 2009 6:30 - 8:30 pm, $95 Location: Good Shepherd Community Center, Seattle 8-Hour Anger Management Level II Class  (Meets the requirements for 16-Hour AM Class when combined with our Level I Class) Saturday, October 31st, 2009 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue Compassionate Parenting Class:  Practical ideas for managing emotions, building caring behaviors, and strengthening parent-child connection. Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, $95 individual, $170 per couple Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue November Classes and Workshops 4-Week, 8-hour Anger Management Level I Class 4 Wednesday evenings, November 4, 9, 18, 25, 2009 6:30 - 8:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue 8-Hour Anger Management Level II Class  (Meets the requirements for 16-Hour AM Class when combined with our Level I Class) Date-Time to be announced 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, $95 Location: AMA Classroom, Bellevue December Classes and Workshops 4-Week, 8-hour Anger Management Level I Class 2 Saturday mornings, December 5 and 12, 2009 9:00 am - 1:00 pm both days, $95 Location: Good Shepherd Community Center, Seattle 8-Hour Anger Management Level II Class  (Meets the requirements for 16-Hour AM Class when combined with our Level I Class) Date-Time to be announced 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, $95   Private Classes Available We will provide a private 8 or 16 hour class for two or more participants. Classes can be scheduled during the week or on weekends. Call Lou Orsan at 425-736-6980 for more information or to be put on a class wait list. To register for a class online, send your name, address and phone number by clicking on the email link below.  We will then send you a registration confirmation by reply email. Click here to register online for a class, group or workshop. Private Individual or Couples Counseling is available. Click on "Private Counseling" button at left or call 425-736-6980 for more information.