Anger Management/Emotional Intelligence Coaching is a Useful Adjunct to Divorce Mediation

In many states, psychological evaluations are required for divorcing couples with children. These evaluations are used to determine child custody issues.

Mediation requires that all parties who are the principles in a conflict to take part in the mediation process. If one party refuses to be a part of the mediation or conflict resolution, no resolutions are likely to occur. In contrast, either party can gain from emotional intelligence coaching making it possible to influence others in working towards behaviors that may be in the best interest of both parties as well as the children.

One Judge from the Los Angeles Family Law Court permitted my firm, Anderson & Anderson, APC to provide Emotional Intelligence Assessments and Coaching for ten divorcing couples on a voluntary basis. A similar pilot in Emotional Intelligence Coaching was conducted for couples from the Family Law Court in Huntsville, Alabama with positive outcomes. In this program, it was determined that pervasive anger was more common than psychopathology in divorcing couples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs9Rx_AKDgY

Case Example 1

Two Physicians

Two physicians who are both surgeons attempted divorce mediation without success because of the irrational anger and paranoia of one party. With six-months of Anger management/Emotional intelligence Coaching, this physician was able to see the financial and emotional advantages of resolving the divorce through mediation rather than risk the horrendous cost of litigation.

Case Example 2

Attorney and Celebrity Wife

A prominent attorney was ordered by the court to seek anger management based on the recommendation of the psychologist who evaluated each parent and the two children regarding child custody. He was able to make enough objective progress that the court ultimately granted joint custody for both parents. In this case, mediation had failed based on the clients’ low scale scores relative to emotional intelligence competencies. Low scores in emotional self-awareness, assertive communication, empathy, social awareness and impulse control tends to derail mediation. With skill enhancement in these areas, he was able to demonstrate his ability to work cooperatively with former wife relative to alimony child support and co-parenting.

https://andersonservices.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Jane_Doe_EQi2_Sample_Report_Client.pdf

In summary, anger, rage, poor impulse control, lack of empathy or aggressive behavior can derail mediation in family law cases. Anger Management/Emotional Intelligence Coaching is proving to be far more effective than counseling, psychotherapy or mediation in cases in which intense anger is problematic. Emotional Intelligence Coaching is trending nationwide.

George Anderson, MSW, LCSW, CAMF, BCD

How Grab The Wheel Can Help Children With Autism

“Grab The Wheel”, is A Comprehensive Anger Management Curriculum for Young Children.

Bryan Anderson, MSW, LCSW, CAMF

As I made Grab The Wheel, many people asked me something like "So is it for kids with Autism?  Or for kids in general?"  Let me first make the point that children with Autism and children without Autism have more in common than they have different.  Young children are young children.  There may be differences in learning styles, or specific needs that require extra attention, but the challenges faced, and the social and emotional developmental goals of a 4, 5, and 6 year old are largely the same.

This is not to say that their experiences are the same, but it is to say that at a basic level, every young child needs practice learning about their emotions, coping with not getting their way, coping with frustration, and learning how to be a good friend.  For all children, these skills help them achieve academic success, have more success making friends, and feel happy in school.

Grab The Wheel was created with high-functioning children with Autism in mind. Particularly, it was geared to meet the needs of 4, 5, and 6 year olds who were high functioning academically, but had severe behavioral problems, poor coping skills, and social deficits.  

Why?  Because these are the children that so frequently fall through the cracks of our educational and mental health system.  Schools and teachers may not recognize the social and emotional needs of high functioning children with Autism, and may not be equipped to help them navigate the classroom and interact with their peers appropriately.

Here are the areas where children with HFASD, or any child who is struggling, may require the most support:

1 Emotion Recognition

2 Emotional Expression

3 Coping Skills and Distress Tolerance

4 Social Problem Solving

Grab The Wheel is specifically designed to help children in these areas.  The use of shadows, speech therapists, ABA therapists, and other support staff has increased as awareness about Autism has increased.  However, there is still a lack of clear and comprehensive social and emotional skill building intervention to help teachers, parents, and children navigate the challenges of day-to-day life.  

Though curriculums do exist that support developing social skills, managing anger, or learning about emotions, few can address all of these topics.  Even fewer are accessible for children ages 4-6.  If we know early intervention is the most effective--why not start sooner?  Grab The Wheel aims to give children a "head start" on the social and emotional challenges of Kindergarten and First Grade.  Grab The Wheel can also be adapted to help 2nd and 3rd graders adapt to new and more complex social challenges.

Grab The Wheel is crafted to target common behavioral challenges that may be especially relatable for children with Autism.  Frustration Tolerance, Rigidity, Anxiety, Communicating Emotions, Self-Soothing, Social Skills, and Play Skills are highlighted and specifically targeted.

Since all children and children with Autism are diverse in their needs and behavioral challenges, lessons are designed to be specific, yet general.  This allows lessons to be flexible enough for teachers and parents to adapt to a variety of children.  The skills are concrete, structured, and accompanied by highly visual supports that emphasize emotional expression.

As I prepare to launch this book and social group to the world, I can sum up my mission with one quote:

"I know why I do most of the things I do, but nobody has ever told me what to do about it."

Well, now I can tell people what my Dad told him--Grab The Wheel!

http://www.grabthewheelkids.com/blog/2015/10/26/how-grab-the-wheel-can-help-children-with-autism

George Anderson, MSW, LCSW, CAMF