Anger Management
Seeking Enduring Change In Violence
By I. Wilson, I. Glenn and L. Wilson.
Mar 28, 2008

In the instant world in which we live, our effectiveness as helping organisations is measured more and more by strictly regimented budgets, time-lines and programming. Guaranteed outcomes are required to obtain funding for social change programs. Sadly because of the restrictions imposed, we have noticed that many programs are significantly less effective than predicted, often becoming revolving doors for clients in crisis rather than agents for long-term change.

Family violence programs have similarly suffered. In response to this trend we have developed a different program. Ongoing Change had its beginnings in Victorian prisons more than ten years ago. Rather than directing group outcomes, we, the leaders, respected the participants' ability to take charge of their own growth. Over time, trust and openness grew within the group and genuine change was evident. On obtaining their freedom, a significant number of participants maintain contact, reporting that they have chosen not to return to their old way of life.

Now operating in the general community, we believe that Ongoing Change continues to be effective. Participants are still permitted to determine their own rates of growth and continue to demonstrate long ­term change. The approach adopted runs counter to most community and professional approaches in that the facilitators give almost all responsibility to members.

These are the central concepts that guide our work:

- All violence is regarded as affecting most acutely those who are in an intimate relationship with the enactor of violence, so any distinctions such as "family violence" are unnecessary.

- The members of groups are respected, and alerted to their sole responsibility for change. Leaders have no role as police in that change.

- Contact from partners and other family members is welcomed, because all are partners in achieving change, not partisans in conflict.

- Everyone is entitled to the confidentiality of normal counselling practice. Only then is real self-exploration possible.

During discussions, leaders and participants have consistently agreed that:

- Real change cannot be enforced but occurs as participants discover their own valid reasons for change.

- Change only occurs if participants feel safe. Directive programs may address the overt signs and symptoms of violence but often fail to recognise the underlying abuses suffered by the offenders themselves. Further perceived abuses by "the system" may reinforce their anger rather than resolve it.

- Change is more likely when an individual feels respected. Most participants in violence programs already feel "bad" and suffer low self-esteem.

- Directive programs may reinforce their perceived failures rather than encouraging them to see their potential for growth.

During the past three and a half years we have been running a number of Ongoing Change groups for men in East Melbourne, Frankston and, more recently, Castlemaine & East Burwood, in Victoria, Australia. Recognising that it is not only men who have difficulty with anger, plans are also in motion to commence groups for women.