Anger, Boundaries & Safety

The boundaried, safe and responsible expression of anger can help you stand forward on your own behalf and create the life and relationships you want.

Few emotions are more feared than anger, largely because anger is so often confused with violence. A central theme of this program is that anger and violence are different. It is sadly true, of course, that anger is frequently expressed violently – physically, verbally and emotionally. However, this is the unsafe, unboundaried expression of anger, used to harm and control. The good news is that anger is a natural feeling that exists in all of us, and when expressed in a safe and boundaried manner – non-violently – it can be passionate, life enhancing, and good for relationships.

This program offers participants opportunities to both express and witness the safe and boundaried expression of anger. This is helpful for people who have previously expressed their anger violently and no longer want to do this. It is also crucial for people who say they never get angry or, perhaps because of early experiences of violence, avoid any hint of anger today. For both these groups of people, emotional, physical and relationship dysfunction may have resulted. This program will open up exciting new possibilities for you, whatever experiences of anger and/or violence you have had until now.

Initially developed by the late Joann Peterson, the program follows a progression. To begin with, participants explore their beliefs about anger; next, there is discussion of the origins of anger and its varied spectrum of expression; and then participants are invited to gradually begin exploring their personal energetic patterns and trying out a range of individual and relational tools for anger expression.

This program will benefit you if:

• You’re always trying to avoid confrontations and/or disagreements
• You’ve been told you’re an angry person
• You are holding on to anger and resentment connected with past events
• You feel repressed, depressed, or emotionally numb
• You want to get angry but are scared of what might happen
• You experience stiffness, headaches, stomach discomfort or other physical ailments that may be associated with unexpressed or violently expressed anger

You can also read about a personal experience at Anger, Boundaries and Safety in the Shen Blog.