Experiencing difficulties with anger can feel overwhelming and isolating. Anger management issues often impact many aspects of our lives, both personally and professionally, and can lead to feelings like guilt, shame, and helplessness. In the heat of anger, you might find yourself acting in ways that are not in line with your values, like shouting, saying hurtful things, and acting out physically. You might also find that you have a tendency to become angry quite quickly, or that you “cover up” more vulnerable emotions, like hurt or disappointment, with anger. Although anger might feel like a uniquely destructive or out-of-control emotion, it is actually a very normal and useful part of the human experience - you might just need some extra help managing it.

When working with clients who have trouble regulating their anger, the goal is not to make the anger “go away,” but rather to change the way they respond to it. This typically involves (1) identifying common triggers of anger, (2) learning to recognize early warning signs of anger, and (3) developing coping strategies for managing anger in the moment. It is also often helpful to explore beliefs about anger, including the origins of the client’s tendency toward anger, in order to alleviate some of the confusion and shame that can come from anger dysregulation. Through creating a safe and nonjudgmental space to explore and understand anger, I ultimately help clients to develop healthier ways to express and manage this very normal emotion.

Treatment approaches typically used: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness