I think this will create quite a stir. As you know I am always interested in thought provoking stories regarding anger management. This is a story I found on Fox News and am interested in your thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea? A Florida state Senator proposed a bill Saturday that would require an individual to take anger management classes before being allowed to buy ammunition. Democrat state Sen. Audrey Gibson tried to explain her ludicrous thinking that an individual should have to complete anger management classes every 10 years in order to buy ammunition to Fox News: “This is not about guns. This is about ammunition and not only for the safety of the general community, but also for the safety of law enforcement,” Gibson said, adding, “It’s about getting people to think, really, about how much ammunition they need.” According to Fox News, the bill, which would be a second-degree misdemeanor to violate, reads: It is unlawful to: A) Sell ammunition to another person who does not present certification that he or she has successfully completed an anger-management program consisting of at least 2 hours of online or face-to-face instruction in anger-management techniques. The certification must be renewed every 10 years. B) Purchase or otherwise obtain ammunition by fraud, false pretense, or false representation. Critics of the bill called it exactly what it is, “absolutely ridiculous,” and some suggested Gibson “take a course on the U.S. Constitution,” the article said. Sean Caranna, executive director of a pro second amendment Fla. nonprofit, told Fox News, “When I first saw it, I thought it had to be a joke.” Orlando attorney Jon Gutmacher called the bill an “insult” to all the state’s gun owners and slammed Gibson for even proposing it: It’s absurd on its face. And anyone who proposes that legislation is in my mind unfit for the legislature because it shows a basic problem with their thinking process, aside from their lack of understanding of what the Constitution is all about. That’s the kind of bill that doesn’t even get past committee.

Happy Holidays

I want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a Happy, Healthy, Holiday Season. I also want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be of service to you. I have been online for a little over 10 years now offering services such as anger management, therapy, counseling, parenting classes and I have have enjoyed every moment working with you. If you are thinking about making some changes in your life, 2013 seems like a good year to start. Everything is possible when you are determined to make change. If I can help you in that process come to or visit Make 2013 the year of change! Happy Holidays, Kathy

Is online anger management just as effective as face to face anger management classes?

Anger management classes online are just as effective as face to face anger management classes. What is important to understand is that you are doing the work in the class. The anger management class is not working for you, you are working the program. You can go to face to face anger management classes and not put much effort into making changes just as you can take an online anger management class and just skim by to get a certificate. The real question to be answered is; are you ready to work and make changes in your life? If the answer is yes, then you need to decide what type of "learner" you are. Do you like to have face to face interaction with someone or do learn better on your own going through the material that is important to you? Most people have told me that they like the online approach because they can spend time on the areas where they need the help and speed through areas of the program that aren't as important to them. Many have also told me that they like the online anger management class because they can go through the material when they are relaxed and able to concentrate. There are no parking issues, no loss of work or school. Whatever you decide, you need to be ready to make changes and then take whichever approach you choose seriously. Anger Management Classes

What do you mean that anger is a secondary emotion?

Most of us do not walk around feeling angry for no reason. Usually something happens in our day that causes us to have an emotion and if we don't take care of that emotion or put some meaning on the emotion, it can turn to anger very quickly. So what can we do about having run away emotions, thoughts or anger? If you feel as though you are having anger for no reason it is time to start paying attention to your feelings, thoughts and emotions. Tune in to yourself and monitor your feelings and thoughts. Journal. Write down your thoughts. When you sense some discomfort because of a feeling, try to trace it back to where it started and put some meaning on it. It is easier to trace if you have a journal to refer back to. For example: You wake up on Monday morning and start the normal routine to get ready for work. You start to think about how nice the weekend was and how much you really hate your job. You also start to think about your lazy co-worker who seems to pile all of his work on your desk. Then your thoughts turn toward how you are not where you want to be in life yet and you should be further ahead by this age. You should be running the company instead of your boss! You then sit down and get interested in an article in the newspaper and before you realize it you are now running 15 minutes late for work. You rush to the car without your lunch or your paperwork for the day and start racing to work. You find yourself in a traffic jam and now you realize you are going to be really late. You get to work over an hour late and sitting on your desk is a pile of work that should have been done by your co-worker yesterday, but today he has called off sick. You hit tilt and start throwing things and every time someone comes up to you that day becomes an irritant to you. You are nasty and short with your co-workers and they decide to stay far away from you today. You are just boiing over with anger and contempt for your co-worker. Are you really angry? Did you wake up angry? Are you an angry person? Let's trace this back. Take out a piece of paper and let's write down some thoughts and feelings: it is Monday (a hard day to get back into the grind for most), weekend fun is over, hate my job, lazy co-workers, too much work, should be further ahead in my life. Those are negative thoughts that are forming. If you were paying attention you might talk to yourself at this point to calm down the negative thoughts: I don't like my work, but I have a job and in this economy that is a lucky break. My co-worker is lazy, but basically he is a good guy. I will do my work and if I feel like he is taking advantage I plan to confront him and let him know how I feel. I might not be exactly where I thought I would be right now, but I am working on my goals. I have a roof over my head and I am making ends meet. I will continue to strive for my goals. This really isn't so bad. That is rationalizing your thoughts and keeping yourself in the truth and the facts. You are not allowing yourself to advance into the secondary emotion of anger. You are still having the feelings, but you are not allowing them to snowball and turn toward anger. If you would like to have more help with your emotions or how to handle anger, visit us at

How can I get a jump start on learning about my anger?

The first thing about starting anger management is you have to be ready to make some changes. You are the most important element in changing your life and your behavior. One thing that I offer for those who want to get a jump start on learning about their anger is an anger evalution. By taking the anger evaluation, you will learn how you handle your anger, what angers you, if you are chronically angry or if you are situationally angry and much more. By obtaining that information we can make an anger management treatment plan specifically for you and your needs. http://www.angermanagementonline.com http://www.angerevaluation.com

What if anger management doesn't work for me?

I get this question a lot and I always want to turn it around and ask, "what if you don't work in anger management"? Like anything else in life, you reap rewards according to what you put in and how hard you work at something.

Every human being, at one time or another, has mishandled their anger. Everyone has behaved in a way that they are not proud of and wished they handled things differently. That is all part of being human.

The key to human behavior is to look at it and learn from it. In every situation is a learning experience. Most people come to anger management for a reason. Many people are sentenced by the legal system and some are given an ulitmatum by family members or spouses. I always tell my clients that it doesn't matter what brings you to anger management, what matters is where you go from here.

You have a choice with your anger and behavior. You have a choice to learn and grow every day if you are willing. Anger management gets a bad rap because most people expect anger management to "work for them" and put very little effort into their own life. You need to work anger management or it won't work for you.

Get into a good anger management class. Or, consider anger management through a counselor or therapist. Then it is up to you to get active in changing your life. A counselor doesn't change your life. A class won't change your life. You change your life. I get many people at angermanagemnetonline.com who when finished with the program send me emails of thanks and tell me how great the class was for them. Of course I am always happy to hear of good experiences in my anger management class, but the truth is the client is the one who changes his life. A class or counselor can be a catalyst, but the client is the one who works the class and I am quick to give the credit right back to them.

Anger management does work, but you have to work anger management. Get motivated to make changes in your life. Get excited to implement new techniques and new challenges in your life. The investment in anger management gives you many good, worthwhile returns.

My child is required to take an aggression evaluation. What is involved?

Hello,

The aggression evaluation is set up for children 9-18 who are showing signs of aggression either at home or school. Some children only seem to display aggression at school and are perfectly fine at home. Others tend to be more aggressive at home than school.

The point of finding out where that aggression is taking place is to better understand and get to the deeper root of the problem. If the aggression is happening at school there could be a learning disability, problems with other children such as bullying, etc. If it is happening at home there could be friction in the home with siblings or between parents, unstructured home life etc.

The aggression evaluation that I use requires the teacher to fill out a portion of the evaluation and a parent to fill out a portion of the evaluation. With information from the school and parent I am able to determine where the aggression is happening and then work together with you to figure out a solution. Go to aggressionevaluation.com for more information.