Synopses & Reviews
Although men and women can articulate anger in very different ways, books on managing problem anger tend to focus on men and their tendency toward more violent anger expression. The Anger Workbook for Women addresses the unique concerns of women with anger problems. Rigid social patterning, the book argues, conditions many women to stifle or deny their anger, and this repression can cause a range of other psychological problems. Others experience violent, outwardly focused anger. Whichever pattern your anger follows, you'll learn healthier ways to express your anger from this workbook.
Building on women's tendency to be more relational than men, this book advocates interactive techniques as a primary method of anger management intervention. It integrates elements of narrative, art, and music therapy into a powerful set of anger management tools. Cognitive behavioral and attitude adjustment exercises help you limit the power of anger-triggering situations. Worksheets and assessments guide you in an examination of family-of-origin issues that might contribute to your problems with anger. Sections of the workbook explore the connection between anger and substance abuse, mood disorders, and spirituality, as well as the issue of domestic violence in lesbian households.
Review
“Finally, a comprehensive anger workbook for women—thoughtful and informative, this book is a must for any woman who struggles with constructively expressing anger. Petracek has created a thoughtful and informative guide that offers insight into the specific difficulties women have with anger. This workbook is full of examples and exercises that will help the reader identify how she currently manages her anger, how stress and self-esteem relate to anger, and ways to appropriately express anger and improve relationships. This exceptional book will help women stop destructive patterns of anger, whether they lash out or hold it in, and have healthier, happier lives and relationships. I am thrilled to have such a great resource for my clients.”
—Vallerie E. Coleman, Ph.D., psychologist and adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Loyola Marymount University
Review
“Petracek uses a commonsense, realistic approach to helping women deal with their anger. I found a wealth of information on the pages of this book; it is an excellent tool for women whether they have mild or major challenges with rage. Petracek takes the mind, body, and spirit into account when teaching women how to channel their anger in a healthy way.”
—Jan Brown, executive director of the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men
Review
“A much-needed book. The problem of women’s anger is often minimized in our society, but not by Petracek who, thankfully, takes this subject seriously. Having worked for many years with angry and aggressive women, she offers some practical and innovative solutions. I especially enjoyed her sections on anger-ins vs. anger-outs and the chapter on parenting.”
—John Hamel, LCSW, author of High Conflict to Battering and director of John Hamel & Associates, a counseling firm in San Raphael, CA
Review
"A much-needed, long-awaited book on the subject."
—Ruth Gottstein, publisher of Volcano Press
Synopsis
The author offers the first CBT anger management workbook to specifically help women whose lives are negatively impacted by their anger.
Synopsis
Books on anger, by and large, have been written by men for men who express their anger in an outward and explosive way. But women usually express anger through a range of behaviors, from explosive outbursts to quiet seething rage. If you’re a woman struggling with anger, this workbook is designed to help you develop skills and strategies for expressing your anger in constructive ways.
No matter what your style of anger is, this workbook can help you identify what triggers your anger. Then, through a series of interactive, relational exercises, you’ll learn ways to cope with angry feelings.
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Discover the things that might contribute to your anger with engaging worksheets and assessments
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Explore the connection between anger and substance abuse, mood disorders, and domestic violence
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Integrate elements of narrative, art, and music therapy into a powerful set of anger management tools
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Take the power out of certain anger provoking situations with cognitive behavioral and attitude adjustment exercises
About the Author
Laura J. Petracek, Ph.D., is assistant professor of clinical psychology at National University in Sacramento, CA. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco and is a certified treatment provider for the San Francisco Department of Probation. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors, and the Nation Association of Social Workers.
Foreword writer Sandra Thomas, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, is director of the doctoral program at the University of Tennessee College of Nursing in Knoxville, TN. She has studied women's anger since 1989. Initial findings from her women's anger study—the first large-scale investigation of the emotion in American women—were published in the 1993 book Women and Anger, which received extensive coverage from national press and television programs.
Table of Contents