Anger Management

What is Anger?

People often wrongly consider anger to be a "bad" thing. It is not in any way a bad emotion or feeling. As with all emotions it is an informative sign of something effecting you. Anger indicates a strong discomfort with a situation, issue, person, place etc. 

Anger becomes a problem when either it is suppressed, or if it is acted apron in a inappropriate way. Suppression of anger leads to long term health issues and the likelihood of an expression of anger in a disproportionate way in the future. This is often described as "bottling up anger". Bottling up anger or any other repressed emotion is harmful psychologically and can produce a range of mental health and physical symptoms. When the "bottle" is eventually opened, it tends to explode. This can be as a result of a minor irritation, yet the response will be dramatic since the response will be to all the previous incidents that have been bottled up!

It is very important to respond appropriately at the time of the incident (incident being whatever winds you up!). There is no such thing as an anger reaction which is never appropriate. If your life were in danger dramatic physical response might be quite appropriate. However the trick is matching the response to the incident.

We are all quite aware of some of the side effects of anger getting out of control, some of which are: Abuse, Domestic violence, Battered spouse, Road Rage, Fighting, Violence with alcohol, Verbal abuse, Self-harm, Cruelty to children or animals, self-loathing, depression, anxiety, relationship issues. Latest studies show that there is a far higher incidence of violence from female partners towards their partners than previously acknowledged. Violence and abusive behaviour generally is common with all models of relationship, heterosexual, same sex or casual. A very high level of confidentiality is provided to clients to enable them to make changes in a "safe environment". Confidentiality is always fully discussed before any therapy commences.

 What is Anger Management training / therapy/ counselling?

Anger management training should always be customised. There are plenty of anger management books out there, all of which provide useful techniques. However we all get angry for different reasons. People with an anger problem have developed that over time as a result of their own experiences, which are unique to that person.

Anger management therapy therefore addresses the following:

1. Underlying issues that cause aggressive or disproportionate response. This might involve psychotherapy, looking at Trauma, Abuse, Addictions and other life issues that have occurred. This can lead to life coaching and or spiritual advice where appropriate.

2. Environments and situations are identified that interact and cause more angry or tense reactions. These are then analysed and either diffused or reactions changed.

3. Triggers are identified and reactions reprogrammed using Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnotherapy, Self-Hypnosis and other psychotherapy techniques.

The number of sessions vary considerably between clients, depending on the causes identified. It is very common for anger problems to be long term ingrained issues in the person's life. Therefore it can take a number of sessions spread over time to genuinely change things. Short term "Quick Fixes" are dangerous since they tend to repress anger and lead to a form of repression and denial, saving up trouble for the future.

Typically clients will have two or three initial sessions over three to five weeks. After the process is initiated, sessions are usually then spaced out at fortnightly intervals. This is important since the client needs time between sessions to make changes and discover information, "homework" if you like. In some locations the initial sessions are combined into a day of work, and following sessions are monthly instead.

The award winning "Stress Pack" is used as a training tool with anger management clients. It is a personal analysis and development tool that helps clients to maintain progress between sessions and discover valuable information about themselves for their own reference and for discussion in sessions.