(From the Second Edition of Peace: The Other Side of Anger)
There are various methods of helping adolescents calm down or de-escalate their anger. One such tool is through the use of photos or images.
A picture vividly utilizing the senses – sight, sound, smell or touch. For example: A beach in which the teen may describe the sound of the ocean and waves, the sight of the sun and the feel of the warmth of the sand. This scene may also be viewed in a photograph or another calm setting.
Pictures of a special person in a teen’s life: girlfriend/boyfriend, sibling, parents, or pet
An illustration of what anger may look like. Examples taken from teen participants in anger management workshops included a bomb exploding, a building consumed by fire, or an animated action figure. Here again, the more vivid the description, the more effective it becomes. Youngsters used this image as a deterrent, preventing them from becoming what this scene or character depicted.
