How To Find An Anger Management Therapist
Anger is a natural human emotion that most people will experience from time to time. However, frequent or uncontrollable anger may create challenges for a person and those around them. In order to address this kind of anger, it may be necessary to see a mental healthcare provider who specializes in anger management. Here, we’ll cover how to find an anger management therapist, plus what anger management is and how anger can relate to mental health.
What is anger management therapy?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anger management is a form of therapy designed to “reduce both your emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes.” While anger management therapy can’t eliminate the situations that may trigger anger, it can often help individuals learn to control how they react to negative feelings that specific situations may elicit. This can include strategies like watching for the signs that anger is rising, identifying situations that are likely to cause anger, and learning how to reframe negative thoughts.
How effective is anger management at addressing anger issues?
Although each individual is unique, research suggests that anger management may be effective at addressing struggles with anger. In a 2024 meta-analysis, for example, researchers compared data from 154 studies involving 10,189 participants focusing on the use of various anger management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. The findings suggest that these anger management skills produced robust results, decreasing aggression and anger in participants. The effects of these techniques were reported to be stable for participants of a variety of demographics.
How to recognize when you may be struggling with anger
While it can look different for each individual, there are some warning signs that could indicate you may be struggling with anger issues. Some of these include:
- Frequent irritation
- Getting easily frustrated
- Experiencing angry outbursts
- Reacting with a level of emotion that’s out of proportion to the situation
- People feeling nervous to be around you for fear of triggering an outburst
- Physical signs of stress due to chronic angry feelings, such as muscle tension, grinding teeth, or headaches
If you suspect you may have trouble with anger issues, you might benefit from reaching out for mental health support.
How can anger affect your physical and mental health?
Anger can have a number of physical health effects because it triggers the fight-or-flight response, or the stress response. Some of these can include:
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Anger can also affect one’s mind, making a person feel easily irritated, overwhelmed, or out of control. Over time, chronic anger could also lead to health problems like heart disease and stroke. Finally, angry outbursts can harm relationships as well, which could lead to social isolation, loneliness, and the health challenges that can result.
When anger issues may be a sign of a mental health condition
Problematic anger can have a number of underlying causes, from chronic stress to past trauma to a lack of healthy coping skills. In some cases, it may also be linked to an underlying mental health condition. In these cases, getting treatment for the underlying illness will often be key to getting the anger problems under control.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
Which mental health conditions can manifest as anger?
A variety of mental health conditions can make a person feel angry as a clinical symptom. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), five mental health disorders include anger as a key criterion. These are:
- Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMMD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Other mental health conditions can also cause feelings of anger in some individuals, though anger is not a key criterion for diagnosing these disorders. For example, anxiety disorders can cause the fight-or-flight response to be chronically engaged, which can sometimes lead a person to lash out angrily. Depression can also manifest as irritability in some cases.
Treating anger issues through cognitive behavioral therapy
Some form of talk therapy is usually the first-line approach to treating anger issues on their own or as part of a mental health condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely practiced types. It’s often used to treat mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders. Research suggests that CBT can improve quality of life and functioning in many cases.
How can cognitive behavioral therapy address anger issues?
CBT and related techniques may be used in an anger management class or individual anger management therapy. This approach helps individuals learn to recognize and shift distorted thought patterns that can cause difficult emotions or problematic behaviors. It can also involve helping the individual develop coping skills, which may include deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring.
Other types of therapy for anger
In individual therapy or anger management classes, other approaches besides CBT may also be used. Some examples include family therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. In order to determine which type of therapy may be right for you, speak with a mental health professional. They can evaluate your symptoms, provide a diagnosis, if applicable, and establish a treatment plan that may effectively address your anger.
Family therapy
Family therapy may help address one potential underlying cause of anger: family dynamics. Miscommunication and family conflict can cause frustration, which may exacerbate anger. Family therapy can teach techniques to improve communication skills and show family members how to resolve conflicts more peacefully.
Dialectical behavior therapy
Although dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was originally designed to treat borderline personality disorder, it may also help those experiencing difficulties with anger. Various DBT techniques could be effective at treating anger-related challenges, including those that relate to emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships. A DBT therapist may be able to help you learn how to control your emotions and avoid confrontations with loved ones.
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on emotional reactions and the ways in which a person’s past can influence how certain situations impact them. For a person struggling with anger, this type of therapy may help them understand how their previous experiences can contribute to their current struggles.
How to find an anger management therapist
How you find an anger management therapist can depend on a variety of factors, including whether you have health insurance and how you prefer to meet with a therapist. One place to start is to contact your primary care physician (PCP) and let them know you need a referral. Your PCP will likely provide a list of mental health professionals that could help you address your anger. You could also contact your health insurance company for a list of in-network mental health care providers.
Using the National Register of Health Service Psychologists may also be helpful. Their Find a Psychologist service allows you to search through a database of licensed psychologists by entering your zip code or city and state. You could also look for psychologists in your local area in other ways. For example, you could use online search engines to find mental health professionals near you who specialize in anger management and then read reviews and schedule consultations. You may also ask friends and family if they have any recommendations.
Online therapy for anger management
For those who prefer online therapy, services like BetterHelp can offer a more streamlined process for finding a provider. You can simply fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist in as little as 48 hours. You can then meet with them remotely from anywhere you have an internet connection, using phone calls, video calls, and/or in-app messaging.
In addition to added convenience, online therapy may offer similar efficacy levels to in-person therapy in many cases. In a 2022 study on the topic, for example, researchers found no significant differences in efficacy between these types of treatment when measured by a variety of outcomes. These outcomes included working alliance, client satisfaction, function, symptom severity, and overall improvement.
Takeaway
Anger management is a form of therapy that may help individuals recognize the situations that can trigger their anger and find ways to react in a more positive manner. In addition to treating anger itself, anger management may also be beneficial for those experiencing anger-related mental health conditions such as intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder. To find an anger management therapist, you can ask your doctor for a referral, get a list of covered providers from your insurance company, or get matched with a provider using an online therapy service.
Frequently asked questions
What type of therapist is best for anger management?
A therapist who practices cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be best for anger management. Some therapists may practice specific CBT techniques like stress inoculation, which typically involves exposure to imaginary situations that are similar to those that induce anger. This allows individuals to practice relaxation techniques and coping strategies to prepare for real-life exposure to such events. Other types of therapy that may help with anger include family therapy and psychodynamic therapy. Psychodynamic therapy may help people explore the psychological roots of their anger.
Which doctor is best for anger management?
For anger issues stemming from a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, it may be best to speak with a psychiatrist, who may prescribe medication and/or therapy. A psychologist or licensed therapist may also be able to help with understanding anger, regardless of whether a person has a mental illness. Therapy may help people reduce the intensity of their anger and find ways to remain calm during tense moments.
Is anger management therapy a thing?
Anger management therapy can take place individually or in a group setting. Often based on CBT, anger management therapy may help people identify signs of rising anger and learn strategies for coping with anger during moments of conflict. Anger management therapists may also help people identify triggers so that they can avoid situations that lead to negative thought patterns and outbursts.
What emotion is behind anger?
Anger can be a natural emotion that arises as a result of several other emotions, especially shame and fear. Rejection can also lead to anger, possibly because it can make people feel like things are out of their control. A licensed therapist may be able to help people explore the psychological roots of their anger.
Are anger issues a mental illness?
Anger issues are not an official mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, anger can be a symptom of several mental disorders, including explosive intermittent disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
Can anger issues be fixed?
Anger issues can be treated, often through anger management support groups or talk therapy. Therapy sessions may use CBT to help people recognize and challenge negative or inaccurate thoughts related to their anger. Therapy may also help people learn to express anger in healthy ways, which may reduce aggression and violent behavior.
What medication is good for anger issues?
Not everyone experiencing challenges with anger is prescribed medication. Those who receive medication may be living with a mental illness, such as intermittent explosive disorder (IED) or bipolar disorder. For example, doctors may prescribe a young adult with IED antidepressants, mood regulators, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, or antianxiety medications. For bipolar disorder, people may be prescribed mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or atypical antipsychotics.
How can I stop being so angry?
Anger can be a normal human emotion when a person faces a threat or is treated unfairly in some way. However, if anger is frequent or chronic, it can significantly affect relationships and mental health. It can also affect physical health by leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Those who experience this type of anger may benefit from speaking with a therapist, who may be able to help them identify the cause of their anger, such as negative events from the past or a mental health condition.
Why do I get angry so easily?
A tendency to become angry easily could have multiple causes, including a mental health condition. This tendency could also be related to unresolved conflict from past external events, such as trauma or abuse. Regardless of the cause of anger, there are treatments available through support groups and therapy—both in person and online.
Can a person with anger issues change?
People living with chronic anger issues can learn to address uncontrolled anger through assistance from a support group or a trained mental health professional. Aside from seeking support, people who experience an anger problem may benefit from implementing self-care strategies, such as self-compassion, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, and regular exercise to release endorphins. These practical skills might not resolve all anger, but they may increase self-reflection and help people experience less anger toward their romantic partner, friends, and coworkers.
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