In their main argument, the authors contend that in order for violent offenders to successfully engage and benefit from anger treatment, they must be able to: (1) access their emotional states; (2) express their emotional states; and (3) be willing to do this in a therapeutic session. The authors further argue that violent offenders who are unable to achieve any of the three tasks of emotional engagement are unlikely to benefit meaningfully from the treatment. Previous research has illustrated the role of strong emotions in violent and sexual offending for some offenders. Moreover, clinicians have long linked the diagnosis of psychopathy to a deficit in affect (emotions, moods, feelings). The authors show how an individual’s emotional reaction to their offense is an important factor influencing both the decision to change and the decision to fully engage with treatment. Indeed, one of the most important components of anger treatment hinges on the offenders’ ability to access and experience their emotions in order to understand their pathways to offending. Factors that moderate an individual’s ability to access their emotional state are discussed and include gender and gender role stereotypes as well as cultural values regarding the expression of emotion. Recent research on models of emotional regulation is reviewed to illustrate the ways in which affect may influence treatment engagement. The research sheds light on the need for rehabilitation program providers to assess and work with the affective states of their clients in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment. Suggestions are made for improving clients’ readiness for treatment by increasing their access to and awareness of their emotional states. Figure, references