Anger management therapy is a form of therapy designed to help people deal with the emotional and psychological aspects of anger. Certainly, anger is a common emotion in everyday life in response to specific circumstances or events. But anger management therapy only becomes necessary when anger becomes pervasive, all-encompassing, and dominant in a person’s life. This is particularly true for people who cannot change the circumstances that may be triggering the anger but for which anger is not a healthy or productive response. Contact AssuraSource by filling out our online contact form or calling 972.233.1010 to learn more about our behavioral health therapy programs.
Anger Management Therapy Options
Anger management therapy is designed to:
- Minimize stress
- Improve self-control
- Aid people in healthy emotional expression
- Help people avoid or better learn to cope with anger-inducing scenarios
Anger management therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses many different tactical therapeutic interventions. Some of the most common therapies used to address anger problems are cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, family therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are both behavioral therapies that look at common triggers and help people forge coping mechanisms and habits of behavior that support proper anger responses.
Family therapy is a particularly effective option for situations where anger is directed at other family members or someone else in response to broken family dynamics. When used in a family setting, anger management therapy programs work to improve lines of communication and resolve unaddressed issues. Meanwhile, psychodynamic therapy targets the root psychological causes of a person’s anger. After elevating the root causes, therapists guide their patients by building healthier response patterns to things that trigger anger and related intense emotions.
Anger Management Program Techniques
No matter which therapy is used in anger management therapy, programs like the ones offered by AssuraSource in Dallas, Texas, share similar core techniques. These techniques are rooted in:
- Identifying anger triggers and current responses
- Developing strategies to alleviate anger and defuse high-stress situations
- Changing attitudes and self-beliefs to foster better mental health
First, anger management therapy is built on helping people understand their anger, where it comes from, and why they respond to triggering stimuli in the way they do. One example could be a person who regularly yells at close family members during a disagreement because they observed that behavior in their parents and have come to believe it is an appropriate response when having a disagreement.
Once people understand their behaviors, therapy is able to equip them with strategies to avoid anger or channel it in healthier ways. In the case of behavioral therapies, this often looks like examining common unhelpful patterns of thought that trap people in their anger. Moreover, healthy emotional expressions like compassion, forgiveness, and vulnerable communication may be encouraged. Other tactical interventions can include taking up frequent meditation, engaging in stress-reducing breathing exercises, or even figuring out how to lessen the frequency of being in anger-inducing situations.
Benefits of Anger Management Therapy
Anger management therapy can bring untold benefits to people who have long struggled with anger and find their relationships and career damaged as a result. Anger is not officially considered a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression. However, treatment can improve mental health, physical health, relationships, and even career prospects.
In addition, anger management therapy programs often improve a person’s overall functioning in ways that go beyond just the anger problem. For instance, anger management therapy can improve communication skills, alter modes of thinking in ways that support healthy habits, and support better problem-solving skills when faced with stress or triggering situations.
Choose AssuraSource for Anger Management Therapy in Dallas, Texas
AssuraSource offers high-quality anger management therapy programs in Dallas, Texas. Our AssuraSource team believes accessibility and ease are paramount for delivering mental health and behavioral health services. That’s why all services, including anger management therapy programs, are offered virtually through telehealth or in-home. We accept Medicaid and Medicare insurance, and our team is standing by to help with the insurance verification process. Contact us by calling 972.233.1010 or completing our online form to learn more about how anger management therapy could improve your life.