Example alternative therapies dissertation topic 7:

Anger management and yoga: Towards a more holistic approach to offender managing.

Yoga has been shown, through numerous studies, to calm and relax the body. Soothing the spirit it involves a serenity that is antithesis to anger. However, despite this, yoga is not presently used in the offender treatment programmes advanced by the Probation Service with regards to the reconfiguring of its clients attitudes who suffer from anger management issues. This dissertation initially evaluates the present 12 week anger management course offered by Northamptonshire Probation services and interviews both professionals and clients with regards to the effects that role playing and spider-diagrams (both used in present treatment) have upon the behaviour patterns. With the co-operation of the clients and the service, the dissertation then, at the end of that course, introduces the offenders to a four-week intensive programme of yoga. During this, their attitudes are noted and thereafter evaluated. Hoping that the dissertation study will show that there is a positive correlation between the embracing of yoga and the reduction of violence (above that achieved through the present course) this study aims to make a valuable contribution to the future shaping of probation services dealing with anger management throughout the UK.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Derezotes, D. (2000). ‘Evaluation of yoga and meditation trainings with adolescent sex offenders’. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, vol. 17(2), pp. 97-113.
• Granath, J., Ingvarsson, S., von Thiele, U. and Lundberg, U. (2006). ‘Stress management: A randomized study of cognitive behavioural therapy and yoga’. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, vol. 35(1), pp. 3-10.
• Harris, D.A. and Fitton, M.L. (2010). ‘The art of yoga project: A gender-responsive yoga and creative arts curriculum for girls in the California juvenile justice system’. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, vol. 1(1), pp. 110-118.