While UNM students don't often resort to physical violence, verbal abuse is frequent, said Harry Linneman, director of Counseling and Therapy Services.
Student Health and Counseling is offering an anger-management workshop today from 3 to 5 p.m. to help students anticipate those problems, Linneman said.
"We mostly go through calming techniques, how to re-frame their cognition - that is, their thoughts on what is happening - and to sometimes review within themselves the consequences of losing control in a situation when that's not really necessary to defend themselves," he said.
Students can attend the workshop without a reservation or call ahead to ensure they have a seat.
Student Rudy Lee said this workshop could be good for many students, including those who don't have an anger problem.
"I think everyone has varying levels of anger, whether it's hitting things or just yelling at the top of your lungs, but everyone could use a few pointers on how to learn healthy ways to deal with their anger," he said.
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Linneman said students lash out because they've seen family members do it, or because they don't know another way to express their emotions.
Most often students realize their anger gets out of control when a close friend points it out, he said. Linneman said others usually think the student is overreacting to a situation.
"Occasionally, a student kind of thinks about it for themselves and says, 'Oh, yeah, I've got a problem because I don't feel like myself when I'm like that,'" he said.
Anger is triggered by frustration that doesn't allow students to accomplish what they want, he said. Depression is also closely related to anger issues, Linneman said. Students can identify themselves as candidates for the anger-management workshops, or they might be referred by the Dean of Students Office because of incidents on campus.
Rob Burford, student judicial affairs specialist, said the Dean of Students Office refers two to three students to the anger-management workshop per semester.
Linneman said the students referred to the workshop rarely have repeat incidents.
"The Dean of Students Office gives us positive data that it seems to help with the problems, because people don't have repeat problems with anger, although many people, if they have a really serious problem with anger, may need more work than that, than the workshop," he said.
If students need further counseling or therapy services, the workshop can provide them with additional information on where they can receive those services, Linneman said.
"It's a workshop, not a therapy group, so it doesn't go through each person's concerns and so forth, but kind of talks about anger and some of the general points," he said.
To find out more about the workshop or to reserve a seat, contact Student Health and Counseling at 277-4537.
Anger-management workshop
Today, 3-5 p.m.
SHAC Room 234
