Although anger is a normal human emotion, for many people is causes problems in their lives and relationships. Some people end up in legal trouble, others find themselves losing jobs, friendships, or romantic relationships. When anger is occurring with regular frequency and resulting in consequences, it is time to do something about it. Anger issues left unaddressed do not get better on their own. It is wise to get evaluated by a psychologist or counselor to see if your anger issues may be stemming from other issues such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse problems. In those instances, dealing with the underlying issue often resolves the anger problems. For others, anger may be a long-standing issue that is not new or driven by other problems.
Group Counseling
We find that some people believe their anger is justified and are generally not remorseful. Lacking insight into the impact of their anger on others and themselves, these people are often not motivated to get help on their own. In many cases, it may be the court system that is mandating anger counseling. Not unlike the denial experienced by many people with addictions, the first step in treatment is helping them break through their own denial and realize they have a problem. For people not seeing their anger as a problem, group counseling is often recommended. Often a group of peers can have a tremendous impact in helping break through a person’s denial about their anger problems. Once that occurs, they are much more receptive to learning about the tools to manage their anger. Anger management groups often run for 10-20 sessions in length.
Individual Therapy
Many people with anger issues realize that their anger is in fact a problem and are concerned about it and actively seeking help to work on it. These people often find that their anger is reactive to a triggering event (not pre-meditated), often feel great remorse and guilt, and realize that they were out of line. Not needing a group to help them realize their problem, these people are better candidates for individual therapy. They are eager to learn tools and are looking for very specific and individualized strategies for their anger issues. Often, they learn relaxation techniques, behavioral tools for managing anger, and cognitive restructuring to examine their own thinking, beliefs, and conclusions, which are often off base or distorted. In many cases, once they are perceiving things more accurately, anger is not manifesting in the same way anymore. Individual therapy can differ in length, but many people average between 8-15 sessions to achieve the results they are looking for.
If you want to work on your anger issues in individual therapy, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule a consultation with one of our psychologists so we can help discuss treatment options. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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