Aggression Replacement Training: Pilot

If you patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.

-Chinese Proverb

Aggression Replacement Training: Pilot test at BTC

by Mr. Patrick Fearon

Basseterre, St. Kittis-April 20th - 24th. Twenty-four (24) representatives from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) were trained and certified as Group Facilitators in the highly esteemed cognitive-behavioral program—the Aggression Replacement Training® (ART). The training was made possible through the sponsorship of the regional body’s Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP). Dr. Barry Glick, who co-founded the ART® program with the late Dr. Arnold P. Goldstein over a quarter century ago, was the chief facilitator for this training. His wife, Joan Glick, was the co-facilitator. Dr. Glick and his wife were ably assisted administratively by Velita Heholt of the OECS Commission in the capacity of Administrative Assistant of the JJRP. Her tireless work (most of it behind the scenes), ensured the smooth running of the training. Numerically, the trained group facilitators of the ART program represent six member states as follows: Antigua & Barbuda (4), Commonwealth of Dominica (4), Grenada (3), St. Kitts & Nevis (5), Saint Lucia (5), St. Vincent & The Grenadines (3). Members of the Saint Lucia contingent who will now serve as local group facilitators of ART® are Patrick Fearon (Boys Training Centre), Shahini Gravillis (Family Court), Marian Modest (Upton Garden Girls’ Centre), Maria Flavien (New Beginnings Transit Home) and Alina Auguste (Department of Probation and Parole Services). In a specific sense, ART® seeks to teach skills that clients never previously acquired (Habilitation), as opposed to attempting to reinstate previously learned skills, qualities or behaviours that have gone into disuse (Rehabiliation). ART® is recognized as a very effective intervention for juveniles at risk who display aggressive behaviour, as well as for adults. ART® is described as a cognitive-behavioural, multimodal curriculum that is composed of three interdependent components: 1. Social Skills

(Behavioural), which teaches clients what to do in anger-producing situations. Teaching this component includes the use of the tools of Modeling and Role Playing. 2. Anger Control Training (Affective), which seeks to diminish the occurrence of anger arousal in chronically aggressive clients. Essentially, clients become equipped with the means to acquire self-control to deal effectively with an impulse whenever anger is aroused. In Anger Control Training, persons effectively learn what not to do when angry. 3. Moral Reasoning (Cognitive) is based on Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Stages (specifically the first four stages, namely, Power, Making of Deals, Mutuality and Systems. The Moral Reasoning component is facilitated through the use of Problem Scenarios in which choices, which typically range from Immature Moralities through Mature Moralities, are made by peers in the group. Consequently, particular emphasis is placed on the role of peers throughout the Moral Reasoning component of the program. In order to maintain the fidelity and integrity of the ART® program, certain factors must be adhered to throughout its implementation. An ART® group should comprise twelve (12) clients (minimum 10) and should run for a period of ten (10) weeks—a total of thirty (30) group hours. Group sessions should take place three times per week at regular intervals, for example, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The sessions each week follow a particular order, namely, the first session of the week is Social Skills, the second is Anger Control Training, while the third is Moral Reasoning. Physical resources such as Flip Charts, Note Cards, Home Work Assignments, Projector, etc., are essential. It is imperative that ART® group facilitators be afforded a minimum of six hours per week for program preparation and actual group facilitation in order to run the program effectively. Two trained facilitators are normally needed to conduct each session.