As a leading authority on anger management classes and courses, we would like to explain how these programs work and what is entailed to complete a program. Anger management is an educational program aimed at teaching skills to improve ones thinking and behaviors. It is not a mental health program and it is not considered "counseling" or psychotherapy. Anger management classes teach a very specific set of skills to clients in the hope that they can practice these skills and modify their behaviors.
These courses are not a magic bullet and will not "cure" an anger problem. These programs are aimed at equipping the participant with new information and tools so that they can approach people and situations in a more healthy manner.
Anger management classes can be taken in several formats. Some prefer weekly anger management classes, while others prefer online anger management classes. Weekly anger management classes are typically taken once a week on a specified day and time, such as Tuesdays at 6pm. Classes are generally one to two hours and meet over a period of about 10 weeks. Some clients may be required to take a class and the number of sessions is determined by the court order. In this case, classes duration can range all the way up to 52 class sessions.
Anger management classes will typically teach a new skill in each class session or hour of instruction. Skills may include topics like improving communication and listen skills, stress management, empathy, improving judgement and impulse control, forgiveness, and changing self-talk.
Most anger management programs will use a structured curriculum, such as "Anger Management in the Twenty-first Century". In a structured program, the temptation to become a group therapy session is eliminated and the program becomes educational for all. While group sessions may include some role play exercises, in general, there is very little cross talking and sharing. Remember, anger management is a skill that must be learned, assimilated and practiced. Sharing experiences, while helpful in venting, is not productive in an anger management class.
Skills can also be learned in an online format. Online anger management classes must be presented from a provider who also has a physical class and understands the principals of anger management instruction. There are a lot of programs that can be found on the Internet, but are completely useless. An online course should also use a structured curriculum and offer the same number of hours or sessions as their live counterpart.