Amanda D. Zelechoski

• J.D., Ph.D., ABPP
• Professor (Assistant) at Valparaiso University

Youth who have histories of trauma exposure face unique barriers and needs in navigating the juvenile justice system. Accordingly, reliance on recidivism as the primary “success” metric falls short for trauma-impacted youth and may actually prolong their justice involvement. Caregivers and juvenile justice professionals (i.e., judges, attorneys, de...

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 6 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls will discuss the different triggers of anger and how they can avoid them. The participants identify their own hot persons, hot places, and hot things. The chapter also provides examples of situ...

This chapter covers Session 9 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn how pausing for a brief period rather than acting on their anger immediately can be a useful coping tool for dealing with their anger. The group facilitators emphasize to the participants the importance of...

This chapter covers Session 11 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn about the steps involved in solving a problem. The girls put together all the anger management skills they have learned so far and practice using them in a calm situation or situations where they feel ange...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 10 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn how to communicate their feelings to improve their relationships and to calm down. The best way to tell someone how one feels is to use “I” statements. The participant feedback form allo...

This chapter provides the participant material for Session 13 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn ways to repair damaged relationships. These include saying “I’m sorry” or writing an apology letter. It is important to learn how to communicate with “I” statements, accept responsibility...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 8 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on using self-talk as a method to keep oneself calm. The participants are expected to think of different things they can say to themselves when they think they might lose their temper so that they c...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 12 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on the options and consequences of participants’ actions and reactions. The facilitators teach the girls about the different tools they can use to handle difficult situations. The participants lear...

This chapter covers Session 10 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn about the importance of communication. This chapter provides the materials, preparations, and script to help the facilitators teach the girls about effectively communicating their feelings when they are up...

This chapter covers Session 13 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on the ways that group participants can repair damaged relationships. Many of the girls in the group are likely to have a history of reacting to anger in ways they regret, which results in damaged relationships with friends and f...

This chapter contains the participant materials for Session 1 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. It examines whether anger is normal. The session begins with an icebreaker before identifying positive quality words. The chapter then outlines anger facts, group goals, and group rules. Anger facts describe how everyon...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 2 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on the consequences of anger and the different kinds of anger. A template for goal sheets is provided; each session the girls will set goals that they can work towards. The session’s participant fee...

This chapter contains the facilitator materials for Session 2 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the participants learn about the consequences of anger and the significance of setting goals. The catch phrase for the session is “Take control by setting a goal.” The facilitators will help the girls to...

This chapter contains the facilitator materials needed for Session 6 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session revolves around triggers of anger. The facilitators will teach the girls how people, places, and things can trigger anger and will encourage the girls to identify the triggers in their lives. The Ses...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 11 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on methods for problem-solving. The facilitators help the participants put together all of the tools and skills they have learned so far to solve a problem. The girls practice using the tools and s...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 15 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the participants plan a play that they will perform in the next session. The play will allow the girls to showcase what they have learned and practiced in a creative way. The participants will need to f...

This chapter covers the first session of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this psychoeducational session the facilitators will present the purpose and structure of the group and the roles of the facilitators and group members. The session activities include an icebreaker, introduction, getting acquainted, role-pl...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 5 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on recognizing anger. In particular, it teaches participants to identify body signs (“hot spots”) and pay attention to their body’s reactions to anger. One’s tone of voice, body language, and facial...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 8 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls will learn to use self-talk to stay calm when they are angry. The material begins with three role-playing scripts. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on examples of si...

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 15 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls will review catch phrases and visuals, as well as the goal sheet from the previous session. The session also allows participants to think about and set goals. The point of this session is to p...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 10 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on communication skills. Facilitators teach the participants how to talk to other people without ruining their relationships. The girls also learn how to be good listeners. “I” statements are prefe...

This chapter covers Session 8 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants continue thinking of tools that they can use to cope with anger. The chapter focuses on the specific coping mechanism of self-talk, which can have an impact on a person’s feelings and reactions to certain situati...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 9 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session teaches the girls how to delay a reaction to anger. Girls are taught the difference between reacting to an anger-provoking situation right away and taking time to calm down before reacting. The Session 9 ca...

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 12 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn to identify options and consequences of different reactions to anger. The material reviews the tools for solving problems. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 7 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session teaches the participants about the different tools they can use to keep their temper at bay. Because it is difficult to remain calm when feeling tested and angry, the facilitators encourage the participants...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 4 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on the ability to see things from different points of view and to think of different reasons why a person did something. Having more information about a situation should help one understand the situ...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 13 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on repairing damaged relationships. The facilitators explain how relationships can become damaged but can be fixed by apologizing. The facilitators teach the girls how to give a true apology and en...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 16, the final session of the JJAM Treatment. During the first part of this session, the participants will review the previous session’s goal sheets and then will discuss the lessons they learned in each previous session. Then the girls will hold a dress rehearsal of the problem-solving pla...

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 9 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn to take time to calm down before reacting to anger. One powerful tool is to count to 10 and think about one’s reactions and the corresponding consequences. The participant feedback form a...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 14 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn how to prepare plans for the future. This includes the process of figuring out how to tell important people about the anger management tools they learned and how to ask for help. Plannin...

This chapter covers Session 7 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn about the significance of having self-control. The session’s materials, activities, and script all help participants identify tools that they can use to control their anger. The group facilitators work with...

This chapter introduces the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls, an anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks and comprises 16 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral grou...

This chapter covers Session 2 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. The facilitators assure the participants that it is fine to feel anger. The session’s activities primarily revolve around different responses to anger and the consequences of those responses. As adolescents, the girls will be more motivated by self-in...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 14 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session emphasizes the importance of asking for help. The girls will discuss their support systems and how the important people in their lives can help them stay out of trouble. The facilitators will help the part...

This chapter covers the final session of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the participants rehearse and then perform their play in front of a live audience. The purpose of the play is to provide the girls with a creative outlet to practice using the coping skills they have learned and to make these s...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 5 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session is about recognizing anger. The session primarily aims to teach the girls about the different physical reactions people have when they get angry. The girls are encouraged to think about how their bodies rea...

This chapter covers Session 6 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn to identify the people, places, and things that might trigger their anger. The group facilitators explain to the girls that they can prevent anger and its consequences simply by avoiding those triggers. The...

This chapter covers Session 5 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session participants learn about the role of anger in social problems. The physiological aspects of anger are identified. Girls learn that their body can serve as a warning sign or indicator that they are angry and need to mobilize strategies...

This chapter covers Session 3 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session introduces the concept of social aggression. The facilitators discuss the price the girls might pay when they are the aggressor in a situation, such as losing a friendship or losing support. The participants learn that social aggression c...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 11 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session provides an introduction to the concept of problem-solving. The material teaches participants to think through problems when they are angry and to figure out the best option. Making the best choice means t...

This chapter contains the facilitator materials for Session 1 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on the introduction, getting to know each other, and developing trust among the participants. The catch phrase for the session is “Building trust is a must.” Goal sheets will be distributed to the g...

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 7 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session teaches the girls to practice self-control when they are angry. It is hard to think when one is angry, but tools can help one stay calm and deal with one’s anger without getting into trouble. One tool is to...

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 3 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session offers an introduction to social aggression and its effects. Physical aggression and social aggression are differentiated. Social aggression can include spreading rumors, leaving someone out, talking behind...

This chapter provides the facilitator materials needed for Session 4 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session primarily involves learning about how people have different perspectives. The session’s catch phrase is “Instead of thinking of the worst, seek other explanations first.” In line with their goal shee...

This chapter covers Session 15 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the participants create an anger management play. The play’s purpose is to provide the girls with a creative outlet to practice using the coping skills they have learned and to make these skills more memorable and accessible in the fu...

This chapter covers Session 12 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants practice applying the coping tools they have learned in prior sessions. They learn to evaluate possible actions they could take in an anger-provoking situation so they can choose their best option. The participa...

This chapter covers Session 4 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session participants learn that situations can be viewed from different perspectives, and the way that each girl sees the situation may influence the way she thinks and feels about it. The session activities include reviewing the previous sess...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials presents a manualized anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed for adolescent girls and young women placed in residential juvenile justice facilities. The treatment program lasts for eight weeks with 16 90-minute sessions of...

The number of juvenile justice-involved youth with histories of traumatic exposure is disproportionately high and increasingly concerning. Deeper understanding of the link between trauma and delinquency can be facilitated by more comprehensive methods of trauma assessment, especially given the vast underreporting trends in this vulnerable populatio...

This chapter reviews existing literature on best practices in conducting forensic psychological evaluations in family law matters through a trauma-informed lens. In addition, the connection between exposure to family conflict and engaging in delinquent behavior is explored as a basis for the argument that a thorough family assessment can serve as a...

This study examined the efficacy of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls, an anger management and aggression reduction treatment designed to meet the unique needs of adolescent girls in residential juvenile justice facilities. This randomized controlled trial of JJAM compared changes in levels of anger and aggression amo...

Given the recent proliferation of undergraduate psychology and law courses, there is an increased need to empirically evaluate effective methods of teaching psycholegal material. The current study used a between- and within-subject design across four higher education institutions (N = 291 students) to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating exp...

The number of incarcerated individuals with a history of traumatic exposure is disproportionately high and increasingly concerning, given the associated consequences. The relationship between trauma exposure and chronic and severe negative outcomes is well established and includes physical problems (D’Andrea, Sharma, Zelechoski, & Spinazzola, 2011)...

High rates of child maltreatment and neglect by parents continues to be a significant problem worldwide, underscoring the importance of adequate systemic assessment of substantiated cases of parental incapacity. Given the complexity of determining a parent’s ability to meet a child’s needs, psychological evaluations of the family are being increasi...

Children and adolescents with histories of traumatic exposure comprise a substantial portion of youth in residential treatment programs. However, until recently, little has been known about this specific population. Given the well-documented unique treatment considerations for traumatized youth, it is important to understand how the distinct needs...

Female juvenile offenders exhibit high levels of anger, relational aggression, and physical aggression, but the population has long been ignored in research and practice. No anger management treatments have been developed specifically for this population, and no established anger management treatments are empirically supported for use with delinque...

Evaluation for child custody is one of the most criticized areas of forensic mental health assessment due to the perceived lack of standardization in evaluation methods. However, the field of child custody evaluation has made significant progress in the last two decades with respect to empirical research, professional resources available to evaluat...

Research has established that chronic stress, including traumatic events, leads to adverse health outcomes. The literature has primarily used two approaches: examining the effect of acute stress in a laboratory setting and examining the link between chronic stress and negative health outcomes. However, the potential health impact of a single or acu...

This study investigated whether defendants' ages and levels of psychosocial maturity would affect judges' ratings of juveniles' adjudicative competence in juvenile and criminal court. Three hundred forty two judges reviewed a forensic psychological report about a hypothetical defendant; only the defendant's age (12-17) and maturity level (mature, i...

In recent years, while the violent crime arrest rate has decreased for boys, it has increased for girls. Anger-related behaviors, such as physical and relational aggression, account for a significant proportion of the crimes for which these Youth are arrested. Nevertheless, there exists no empirically evaluated anger management intervention designe...

The process of conducting child custody evaluations is one of the most frequently debated issues in the field of forensic mental health assessment. Numerous resources have been published regarding the appropriate way to conduct child custody evaluations. However, it is unclear whether these resources have had any effect on the methods used by child...

Includes abstract. Thesis (M.S.)--Drexel University, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-57).