Sue Parker Hall author of 'Anger, Rage and Relationship: An Empathic Approach to Anger Management' (2008, Routledge) welcomes you to the Empathic Anger Management website.

I offer CPD training, practitioner supervision, organisational educational consultancy and one-to-one therapy in a fresh, empathic approach to anger management. My models have evolved as a critique of mainstream approaches to this issue which tend to frame anger difficulties as either an entirely personal problem or as a gender problem of male domination.

I do acknowledge that common interventions have some benefits

• deep breathing, counting to ten, reassuring self-talk and relaxation exercises do have a temporary calming effect
• reframing the way a situation is perceived is effective until a person experiences stress
• expressive techniques like cushion pounding or primal screaming deliver a short-lived 'feel good' sensation
• feminist inspired interventions for domestic violence focus on issues of male power and control do challenge patriarchal attitudes and hold participants accountable

However, in my opinion, these approaches have significant shortcomings. They rely on willpower, 'do-it-yourself' cognitive techniques or raw expression which may not be sustainable over time; Probation Service and Prison Service interventions identify one cause only - male domination of women and one solution only - challenging male domination;  ignoring an individual's personal history, unique relationship dynamics, any mental health diagnosis or alcohol or substance misuse; such explanations cannot explain female on male violence or same sex violence.  Such interventions may unintentionally shame individuals and most crucially, are blind to the deeper, often multiple, underlying emotional issues for which rage is a coping strategy.

Empathic-Anger-Management (E-A-M) is not gender specific and encompasses a respectful approach which addresses underlying issues. Consequently, E-A-M can reach the emotional parts that other anger management programmes may not reach!

You may also like to look at www.sueparkerhall.co.uk