Anger Management Therapy

Anger on its own is a natural emotional response, and it shouldn’t be considered inherently negative. Problems arise when anger significantly impacts our ability to interact with others personally and professionally, and it is especially problematic when uncontrolled anger leads to violence. There are many situations where anger management therapy can be beneficial, and there are many team members at Stokes Counseling Services who work with kids, teens, and adults who are struggling to manage their anger responses – both internally and externally. If you’ve been mandated to receive anger management therapy or you want to take steps to decrease or manager anger, we can offer therapy services in our Naugatuck office, virtually using our telehealth software, and in the home for participants in our FAM Program.

Anger management therapy may be court-ordered or voluntary. It is a therapeutic process by which an individual works with a professional to understand the triggers of their anger, plan for controlling emotional and physical response, and start taking positive steps toward reducing overall levels of anger. The goals of anger management are to decrease anger generally, reduce emotional and physical responses for the individual struggling with anger, and prevent loss of control that can lead to violence and other unsafe behaviors.

In order to successfully make progress during anger management therapy, a person needs to be willing to admit that he or she has issue with anger. If you recognize that you’re struggling to manage your anger, you’ve experienced negative or adverse effects related to anger, and you’re ready to start making changes, you may want to consider anger management therapy. Some of the reasons people seek anger management counseling include all of the following:

• If you have been convicted of assault, battery, disturbance of the peace, destruction of public or private property, or domestic violence, you may receive a court order to receive anger management therapy
• To improve your ability to manage your anger responses
• To begin making changes to the behaviors you exhibit when you’re angry including violence, bullying, and shouting
• To help those who have cognitive differences that impede their natural ability to control anger responses

Anger management counseling begins as a guided exploration of the causes of an individual’s anger as well as the effects anger has on individuals and those around them. This includes discussing internal and external triggers, the impact of angry thoughts and negative thinking, and the role that anger plays in an individual’s behaviors. When a person is open to making change, anger management therapy can be extremely rewarding and beneficial. Many people struggle to admit they have anger management problems, and this can limit their chances for successful progress.