Anger Management for Doctors

One of the first questions posed by physicians inquiring about resources for abusive physicians is “Do I have to undergo a psychiatric assessment”. This question is extremely important to any practicing physician as it will almost certainly affect his or her entire career if there is anything in any file suggesting impairment or even an assessment. Therefore, if the goal of a program is to help abusive physicians who are not addicted to drugs/alcohol or psychiatrically disturbed, it must not include a mandatory psychiatric assessment.

— Carlos Todd, Anger Hurts blog

Since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders (DSM-IVtr) does not classify anger as a mental disorder (other than Impulsive Explosive Disorder, which is not common anger), a psychiatric evaluation is not indicated for physicians, police officers, executives, or anybody else who has an anger problem.

It is important to screen for other mental disorders. Doing anger management with a person suffering from untreated schizophrenia or bipolar disorder will rarely work until the underlying disorder has been treated. Frequently, screenings reveal dysthymia, depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which had previously gone undetected. This, however, is not a psychiatric assessment, but a mental health screening which can be done by any licensed and qualified psychotherapist. It need not become a part of anybody's record.

Anger management classes or executive coaching sessions are psycho-educational. They are interventions to train the recipients in skills to help recognize, contain, and defuse anger, to help prevent aggressive or hostile situations for ever occurring, to develop emotional intelligence, to gain skills in stress management and stress prevention, and to communicate in assertive, rather than pathological manners.

None of these fall under the province of psychiatric or psychological treatment. While some cognitive behavioral interventions are taught to anger management students, this is not cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants are students, not patients.

Often, physicians, attorneys, executives, and other professionals need discretion. They fear taking an anger management class where others will know about their shortcomings. Additionally, law-enforcement officers who need anger management training fear both the stigma of an "anger management" label as well as being in a group with those whom they may have to police.

The solution for these reservations is to offer one-on-one executive coaching or professional development. Additionally, a "Law Enforcement Interaction Skills" group may be the perfect venue for helping police officers who cannot afford to pay for one-on-one sessions.

Executive coaching is inevitably more costly than tuition for an anger management class, but professionals should be able to afford this. Anderson & Anderson offers training and certification in the additional skills needed for executive coaching, above and beyond what are required for teaching anger management classes.

An interesting suggestion for anger management facilitators is to offer Law Enforcement classes at a drastically reduced rate ... nearly free! Why? Because the people who are required to take these classes put their lives on the line every day to promote civil order. This is one way of showing gratitude to police officers for their thankless job. A weekly class for police officers only may not generate much income, but it will generate good will, and can be used to generate favorable publicity.

A Day of Executive Coaching

The Anderson & Anderson model of anger management is the most effective and widely-recognized curriculum in the world. This model, which has been featured in Los Angeles Times Magazine, focuses on enhancing emotional intelligence and assertive communication while introducing behavior strategies for identifying and managing anger and stress. Our certification training and approved provider list are the industry standards and dominate the internet.

The Third day of Training is Executive Coaching. This training will include a demonstration of the contents and presentation of a ten hour Executive Coaching class along with assessment and Post Test.

I've had the pleasure of knowing and being mentored by George Anderson for over four years. Today I got to attend his famous executive coaching training. Executive coaching provides business and community leaders; professionals, such as lawyers and doctors; and law enforcement and criminal justice personnel with skills to avoid outrageous outbursts, to communicate more effectively and assertively, to manage their stress, and to increase their emotional intelligence and overall effectiveness.

Often executives are referred for coaching because of an angry outburst that creates a hostile work environment. Human resources departments frequently refer problem employees for anger management, but open classes are rarely appropriate for executives and managers with the same difficulties. Even professional partners in law firms and medical practices have been required to receive anger management.

Executive coaching allows this training to be done at a one to one level. It begins with an in-depth assessment procedure, using validated assessment tools, such as the Connover instrument and the EQ-Map. An individualized strategy is then mapped out with the client based on the results of the assessment. The client is expected to complete various practical assignments to help them strengthen personal deficits. This work is done one-on-one. After 10 to 20 hours of contact, a post-test is used to evaluate progress along with the client's anectdotal reporting.

This model has proven extremely effective for talent agents, corporate executives, physicians, judges, police officers, and even psychotherapists. I was very enriched by George's careful explanation of the material and getting the opportunity to see how the material is broken down for individual clients.

I look forward to beginning this work in my own practice.