1st Edition

Reducing Anger and Violence in Schools An Evidence-Based Approach

By William Ketterer Copyright 2020
    158 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    158 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    William Ketterer is the winner of the APA 2021 Distinguished Contributions of Applications of Psychology to Education and Training Award

    This book provides school teachers, counselors, administrators, therapists, and parents an accessible and evidence-based approach to reduce violence in schools. The work outlines how self-esteem controls emotions and helps regulate expression of aggressive and violent feelings and behavior.

    The work demonstrates in three distinct parts how faculty can reduce and prevent violence in their schools by using the student-teacher relationship: theory, case studies, and learning activities. Anger and violence are reduced through increasing children’s self-esteem, which is developed through important relationships with adults.

    The book invites teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and other school administrators to rethink their relationships with children and to incorporate the relational ingredients needed to increase children’s self-esteem by adopting features of evidence-based psychotherapy and demonstrating how such approaches can be applied in schools.

    Introduction; 1: The Healing the Self Model; 2: Idealization; 3: Empathy; 4: Belonging; 5: Understanding Anger and Aggression; 6: When in Crisis; 7: Understanding High Self-esteem; 8: The Healing the Self Model – An Evidence-based Practice; 9: Healing the Self in the School; 10: Healing the Self in the Home; 11: Healing the Self in Psychotherapy; 12: Vignettes and Learning Activities; Conclusion

    Biography

    William Ketterer, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist. Currently, his focus is on psychological consultation and assisting schools in developing healing, relationship-based programming for troubled youth. He has a private practice in New Hampshire, USA.

    "This very readable and pragmatic book for helping children restore their self-esteem and trust in relationships is a welcome alternative to the use of psychiatric medications for emotional disturbances in children. Dr. Ketterer makes accessible the concepts and skills in this book, and he demonstrates precisely how these improve, and even save, children’s lives. This book is an invaluable guide to reaching and helping the apparently unreachable child who simply wants to be seen and known as a valid human being by a trustworthy adult who is truly paying attention."

    Polly Young-Eisendrath, PhD; Author, The Self-Esteem Trap and Love Between Equals

    "This book really is a marvelous translation of clinical psychology into useful, meaningful, and practical tools for educators and others in their work with kids.  Dr. Ketterer captures beautifully the essence of the theory without being pedantic or talking down to non-therapists, and I suspect his descriptions and suggested activities probably empower them in their work with kids. Dr. Ketterer has really achieved a major milestone."

    Richard Geist, EdD, Harvard Medical School

    "I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Ketterer for the past six years.  As a building principal I have witnessed him work with students, families, and teachers with great success.  His methods and approach through relationship building has guided my practice and proven to be successful in many schools.  This text, which was Dr. Ketterer’s first edition many years ago, served as a model for our staff to use as a tier one approach that benefits all students.  It is my hope to bring Dr. Ketterer’s most recent edition to my new district as the Superintendent of Rivendell Interstate School District."  

    Barrett Williams, Superintendent, Rivendell Interstate School District

    "An Evidence-Based Approach to Reducing Anger and Violence in Schools provides a framework for understanding the social, emotional needs of students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. It teaches teachers how to empathetically reach traumatized students and develop the positive relationships that all children need. When students develop a positive relationship with their teacher and genuinely feel a sense of belonging, then all schools become safer."

    Deborah Matthews, special education director, White River Valley Supervisory Union

    "William Ketterer has developed an important and timely manual to help with the prevention of anger, violence and isolation in our schools. Teaching the relational ingredients needed to build healthy self-esteem, William provides a valuable framework for adults to help kids feel less angry. Clearly written with effective learning activities and illustrative examples, his Healing the Self model is an essential resource for teachers, therapists and school counselors. I highly recommend this manual for anyone working with children."

    Anna Stothart, PsyD