Anger Management

Anger Management in Clondalkin, Online and by Phone

Anger management is a key feature of the work in Prevail. It is common for people, both men and women, to feel frustrated, under pressure re work and family commitments.

It seems that modern life has expectations of what we should be able to do, how long it should take, and standards that we should attain.
There is a drive for perfection in how our social media life should look, holidays, children, and home decor.

I always point out that anger, in itself, is not wrong. Anger can motivate you to do the right thing in a bad situation. Anger is problematic when it transfers into aggression or rage.

What Approaches are used in Anger Management Therapy

The first step is to acknowledge the problematic behaviour. To accept that problematic anger hurts your emotional and physical health, your relationships and your work.

If the anger is causing an immediate risk, we will look at anger reduction first. This involves assessing the moment when anger is being triggered.
What can the person do to lessen the impact of that trigger?
Is it appropriate to simply remove yourself from the situation?
What thought changes could be used to change how you are perceiving the event?
Could you take a moment to regain your breathing and other aspects of self-control? This can help you regain perspective and identify alternative reactions. Mindfulness is a general term for this.

Solution-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are suited to the management of aggressive anger.
Learn more about Solution-Focused work by clicking here.
Learn more about Cognitive Behavioural work by clicking here.

Ultimately, the solution to problematic anger is to work through the underlying causes. Early family or school life where we felt denied respect or our needs can result in resentment in later years.
Forgiveness of those who hurt you and of yourself for being unable to prevent being hurt is significant in coming to terms with the pain of the past.

The skills from Person Centred Therapy are useful for this work.
Learn more about Person Centred work by clicking here.

How can Counselling help Manage Aggressive Anger?

Anger outbursts can make the client feel isolated, as their behaviour may alienate others. They may have problems being accepted by others. Damaged relationships where trust has broken down on both sides make healing difficult. Building a therapeutic relationship with a counsellor is in itself a step towards leaving problematic anger behind.

Challenging long-held beliefs and practices as part of your aggressive behaviour is difficult. Counselling therapy provides a safe place for the client to discuss these issues and practice the behaviours that can change it.

Specific Aspects of Anger Management

There are some stereotypes of what anger management can be.
Unlike its media portrayal, working with aggression is relatively normal therapeutic work. Having it presented as a joke in the media perhaps makes it more difficult for people to engage with it. This perception may have to be overcome in the initial sessions.

Working through the practical management of aggressive anger involves a lot of homework between sessions, which some clients experience as difficult.

Prevail Blog Related to Anger

Anger and men. This blog asks the question, are men inherently more aggressive than women?
The effects of testosterone and social role learning and expectations are examined.

Frequently asked questions about anger management

  • When you believe your emotional frustration is resulting in behaviour that is a risk to yourself or others.

    If possible it would be good to intervene before your frustration becomes a risk.
    When you have previous experience with aggressive behaviour you should be able to know the signs that your anger is erupting again.

  • Don’t expect it to be easy.
    You will be dealing with hard emotions that are embedded by long held beliefs and behaviours.

    This work is done through personal examination of beliefs about yourself and others.
    Also practical changes in attitude and behaviour through mindfulness is encouraged in-between sessions.

    It is possible to do this work and to enjoy more positive relationships and self esteem.

  • “How long is a piece of string?”

    Anger is a hard emotion to budge.
    First you have to manage any acute risk. Then you start working through the layers of personal history to move forward from it.

Book with Prevail for Anger Management

To book an anger management session with James, click here:

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