(The following is an actual email conversation between Newton Hightower, Director of The Center for Anger Resolution, Inc., and "Betty" the girlfriend of a rageaholic.)
Betty: I am a 35-year-old single woman who has been dating a man for three years who verbally and emotionally abuses me. I am called ALL kinds of names..."you're a F-ing B, you're stupid, F-ing crazy psycho, F-ing whore, F- you..." things of that nature. He is in counseling and has been for about three months. My question is can he truly change?
Newton: The answer is yes, absolutely! BUT, the prognosis doesn't look good.
Let me disqualify myself here. First of all, I do not work with women in your position because it is like me trying to work with someone from a different planet...I just don't get it at all. I used to be how your boyfriend is.
I would refer you to a female therapist who could teach you to put the PRESSURE ON YOUR MAN.
Then I would work with your boyfriend when he comes crying and begging, 'Please, help me! I am about to lose the love of my life. She won't talk to me. How can I get her back? She says I have to see you 3 times before she will talk to me.'
Putting the PRESSURE ON is pre-therapy.
When you do the pre-therapy, then I will do the therapy on him.
*DO YOU RECOMMEND LEAVING HIM?*
Generally, I would recommend you stay and learn how to stand up to him.
Staying with a jerk like that for three years means you probably cannot get out even if you wanted to.
Recommending that women leave usually doesn't work. I have seen couples where the man has shot several times at the wife and missed, and vice versa. In neither case did they leave each other; they just left the therapy when I hit the ceiling.
*PRE-THERAPY INTERVENTION: 911*
Last week I suggested to a couple the pre-therapy change number (911). The girlfriend arrived a little early and reported things had gotten violent again. I suggested that she report the incident and call the police every time it happens.
She said, "I won't tell him what you said." I replied, "Don't worry. I will tell him when he gets here."
My colleagues often question the wisdom of this intervention of advising wives or girlfriends to have their men arrested, when they are together in my office.
Most men are trying to save the marriage or relationship when they come to see me. I tell their girlfriends, "Most of us men would rather go to jail than get divorced again...at least I would."
I also do not challenge the men, but compliment them: "I know you are 30 years younger than me and could kill me with a single blow, so I hope you don't take this the wrong way."
"I can see that you are really committed to this relationship that you come here every week and pay a lot of money for me to recommend that she have you arrested."
*FROM BETTY TO HER BOYFRIEND: A ST. PATRICK'S DAY GIFT!*
Okay Betty, you said it took him two weeks to give a half- hearted apology. Send him a St. Patrick's Day Card that tells him it is his lucky day. You are going to give him a chance to make up for being a total jerk for three years.
1. First you will need a spoken apology that will bring tears to your eyes. You know, heart-felt with specific examples.
2. Then you can use a line my wife used to use: "That's nice. Now what are you going to do to make it up to me? No, I don't mean promises, but diamonds, vacations, things like that."
AFTER YOU HAVE GOTTEN ONE AND TWO WRITE ME...BUT DON'T SEE HIM UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE DIAMONDS IN YOUR HAND OR ON YOUR FINGER.
3. Then you need to find out what he is going to do if he does this again.
4. Betty, if you need a telephone coach, there are lots of therapists out there who receive my newsletter, and will read this conversation. Maybe one of them could spare you two or three thirty-minute telephone calls. If you paid for the phone calls, they might donate their time.
About The Author
Newton Hightower is the Director of The Center for Anger Resolution, Inc. in Houston, Texas, and author of the new book "Anger Busting 101: New ABCs for Angry Men and the Women Who Love Them." Visit Newton's website for more anger- busting ideas and a free email newsletter filled with guest articles and tips for husbands, wives, and therapists. http://www.angerbusters.com
Publishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a copy of the publication in which the article appears to: newton@angerbusters.com Word wrap to 60, (724 words)
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareFor the twelve hundred hostages, most especially Timur Kasumova.It's a... Read More
A Yale University study a few years ago revealed that... Read More
I get emails and questions from people all the time... Read More
One of the first things that I work on with... Read More
Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More
Good morning I love you.This is a basic exercise, which... Read More
Remember Des'ree? She had a great song out in 1994,... Read More
Ever had the sense that there is more to life... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
Yea, I know........I hear you saying "that's easy for you... Read More
So people will reject us no matter how good we... Read More
"It really works!" "Well, I'll be?!"BJ like so many others... Read More
Once we understand the difference our attitude makes in our... Read More
That strange, gut-wrenching feeling you have is not the sushi... Read More
(The following is an actual email conversation between Newton Hightower,... Read More
I will never forget an evening in 2003, when I... Read More
There are very many methods for achieving improvement to our... Read More
I was playing tennis today with one of my tennis... Read More
"If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing... Read More
Do you really believe that there is anything in this... Read More
An Attitude of Gratitude. How important is this to you... Read More
Problems, disappointments and trouble; the three skunks that sometimes think... Read More
The language we use programs our brains. Mastering our language... Read More
I need your help. I did a good deed recently,... Read More
When someone thinks of a person with self-esteem most people... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..Thousands of dollars will be yours, just by using your... Read More
One Friday in November, I began a journey from New... Read More
Whether it's the other kids making fun of you at... Read More
The only constant is change. If theres one thing we... Read More
Philippians 4:6-do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,... Read More
Human nature is created so that you can choose your... Read More
This week's wisdom is on the power of living in... Read More
Ever had a problem with doubts? Ever felt that nagging... Read More
The easiest, most exciting adventure in consciousness follows the lamplit... Read More
I'm lucky.When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor... Read More
The other day I bought an unusual piece of software:... Read More
"The other night I ate at a real family restaurant.... Read More
There are always explanations for why things to you or... Read More
Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Do you ever... Read More
A rager, or rageaholic, is a person who is addicted... Read More
HOW YOUR OUTLOOK INFLUENCES HEALTH AND ABILITY TO CONTROL ANGERJane... Read More
Let's say you're ready to change some aspect of your... Read More
"You can't always get what you want . . ."... Read More
Most of us start the day like we're trying to... Read More
So how do we find meaning? The first step is... Read More
If your life is difficult--if it's challenging, exasperating, and vexatious--... Read More
During these times of uncertainty in the outside world, look... Read More
So what is a limiting belief?Don't you love the current... Read More
"A person is limited only by the thoughts that he... Read More
I once heard the story of a grown bear that... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |