What Is Aggression Replacement Training (ART)?

Aggression replacement training (ART) is an evidence-based, proven way to work with angry and aggressive youths between ages 12 and 17. The ART program was developed by Doctors Barry Glick and John Gibbs, and has been successfully used for decades across the country and throughout the world in various public settings.

What does the ART program involve?

The ART program focuses on three areas: (1) social skills, (2) anger control, and (3) moral reasoning. Together, these training components teach participants how to break and replace antisocial behavioral patterns, respond in a nonaggressive way when angry, and put greater emphasis on fairness, justice, and others’ rights. The ART program utilizes a four-stage process of modeling the desired skill, role-playing, giving feedback, and assigning out-of-session training. Participants are encouraged to identify their anger triggers, along with techniques that work to control anger. Weekly meetings at our Ohio addiction recovery center aim to help youths to cultivate moral maturity through group discussion and problem-solving – each session builds on previously-learned lessons.

How does the ART program help individuals with substance use disorders?

Individuals who have gone through the ART program have been able to reduce impulsive behavior while also increasing their level of moral reasoning. Participants learn practical ways to control anger, build pro-social skills, and take others’ perspectives into account. They end the program able to view their world in a more balanced, equitable, and less aggressive way. If they have already had run-ins with the authorities, program participants are far less likely to become repeat offenders in the judicial system.

Finding healthy ways to express emotions and cope with anger resulting from past trauma gives patients a way to control what may otherwise feel uncontrollable. It is often the combination of a lack of control and unhandled trauma that can lead a minor to find unhealthy ways to deal with troubling emotions. This is where substance use can start. Though instead of treating the root problem, substance use can worsen and reinforce anger problems, leading to heightened levels of both anger and addiction. So by helping patients to better understand their negative emotions and work on controlling anger, the ART program can also help patients to form a mindset that aids them in recovery and breaks the cycle of anger and addiction.

How long does the ART program last?

The ART intervention program works with participants over the course of 10 weeks, two times a week, for a total of 30 hours. Group sessions are held on Wednesday and Friday from 4PM-5:30PM.

Work With Lake Area Recovery Center

At Lake Area Recovery Center, we understand that overcoming deeply ingrained behaviors and habits can be difficult. But we also know that recovery and growth are possible for everyone. Used in tandem with other addiction treatment efforts, ART can get to the root cause of the anger that is fueling addiction, give minors healthy coping mechanisms, and get them on track to recovery.

If a minor in your life is dealing with a substance use disorder and has found themselves in conflict with legal authorities, or if they seem to be on track to reoffend, reach out to our team to learn more about aggression replacement training (ART), or to get more information about our addiction treatment center and drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Ohio.