Anger Management
Anger Management Counselling
Anger is a normal emotion, it lets us know that something doesn’t ‘feel alright’ with us and helps motivate us into finding solutions to our problems. Anger can become an issue when it is expressed in unhealthy ways towards ourselves or others, affecting our relationships, work and our health. Anger management counselling is a service that Kind Mind Psychology offers to adults who are dealing with these issues. Online therapy allows you a safe, private and professional place to talk about your experiences with anger. Your online psychologist will assist you in understanding why you feel this way, and healthy ways to cope with anger.
What is Anger?
Anger is an emotion which can range from mild annoyance through to intense rage which is a natural response to a threat. It allows us to defend ourselves when we are attacked and it helps us to survive in these situations. Anger causes biological changes in our body that get us ready to ‘fight off the danger’ like an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, tightness in the chest, as well as a release of stress hormones into our body. These changes can cause a person to shake, sweat, clench muscles and to feel out of control in some cases. Ideally, these signals can help us to identify what is upsetting us and to either communicate in a helpful way to others or to come up with solutions to the problem.
However, many people find this emotion takes over and cannot be expressed in a helpful way, causing them to become verbally or physically abusive. Often feeling guilt and remorse afterwards, leading to a cycle of anger. Both women and men can struggle with anger issues and if left untreated, these problems can take over your life destroying everything in its path.
How to know if you have anger management issues
Everyone feels angry at times but it’s how you express it that determines if you have anger management issues. If you think anger is a problem, answer the following questions:
Have you been really angry and regretted what you did?
Have you ever become violent or abusive when angered?
Do you sometimes have trouble controlling your behaviours when you are angry?
Has anger caused you problems in your relationship, at work, or with the law?
Have people called you out on your angry behaviours?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, it is likely you would benefit from anger management counselling. Book now to begin working on your anger with your online therapist at Kind Mind Psychology.
What are the causes of anger issues?
Anger is triggered in many ways and each person may differ in what sets them off. Some common reasons for people to feel angered is when they think something is unfair, or they feel someone has wronged them, embarrassed or humiliated them. Anger can also be the emotion displayed to mask feelings of sadness in order to protect someone from feeling vulnerable. Individuals experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health disorders may notice symptoms of anger so these could be underlying factors to your anger issues. Understanding the causes your anger is an important step in therapy to build awareness of what triggers your anger, process your emotions, and to learn strategies to overcome this problem. Book a session with your online therapist at Kind Mind Psychology now to begin understanding what your anger triggers are.
Does therapy help with anger issues?
It is never too late to get help with your anger, anger management counselling can not only improve your quality of life, but also improve your relationships. A psychologist trained in anger management will help you to understand the origins of your anger, effective ways to regulate your anger, and improve your skills in expressing and communicating your needs and feelings in productive ways to those around you. Book your online psychologist at Kind Mind Psychology who will tailor a treatment plan just for you.
Types of therapy for anger management
In accordance with the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Kind Mind Psychology has professional online psychologists who will tailor a treatment plan which includes a combination of evidence-based therapies delivered via telehealth to address anger management issues, these include:
Assessment and Psychoeducation involving a thorough clinical interview and other tests to assess your personal symptoms of anger, the history of these symptoms, and how you have coped with anger in the past. It also includes providing accurate, up-to-date education and feedback to the client on the impact their anger issues can have on their mental, social and physical wellbeing.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is used in anger therapy to identify and modify any unhelpful thoughts and behaviour patterns, and increase confidence for change through developing more positive coping skills. Your psychologist will assist you with practicing these to improve your ability to regulate your emotions and communicate more productively with others to improve your overall quality of life.
Schema Therapy can be part of anger therapy especially if this has been a chronic problem for you. The Schema Therapy approach identifies any unmet needs and core beliefs stemming from childhood which impact negatively on emotions, thoughts and patterns in your behaviours. Your Schema therapists can help you to meet any unmet core emotional needs and weaken unhelpful patterns of behaviour to more positive ways to cope.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapy approach that helps you to accept (not like or enjoy) what you are thinking and feeling but instead of fusing to, or struggling to change these thoughts, teaches you mindfulness strategies to be ‘curious’ about them, and learn ways to let these thoughts and feelings go. ACT is a core values-driven therapy approach that focuses on guiding you towards your own meaningful life goals.
Consequences of uncontrolled anger
If uncontrolled, chronic anger is not treated then the consequences can be devastating to your physical, mental and social wellbeing. Below are a list of common consequences to untreated unhelpful anger:
Chronic anger can be associated with chronic illnesses due to a lowering of your immune system over time. The release of stress hormones which are released during anger outbursts can weaken your bodily defences and has been linked to heart disease, obesity, and auto-immune disease.
Untreated anger can affect self-esteem and mental health and is linked to depression and anxiety disorders. Anger can be a symptom of these disorders and can also be a factor in the development of them if left long enough.
The inability to control one’s anger can quickly destroy relationships, through verbal and physical violence not to mention the legal ramifications associated with this violence.
Anger if left untreated, is linked to road rage incidents, or physical fights in the community which in extreme circumstances, can result in death or permanent disability to victims.
Is it vitally important to address uncontrollable anger as soon as possible to avoid anger from destroying your life. If you are needing support in this area, please reach out for help, It is never too late.
Anger Management FAQ
How much does anger management counselling cost?
Sessions cost $195 and rebates may apply if you have a mental health care plan or private health insurance.
Is anger management counselling covered by insurance or Medicare?
Yes, therapy to address anger is covered by insurance if you have adequate coverage for psychology. Counselling for anger is covered by Medicare also providing you have a mental health care plan from your GP or other medical specialist.
How often should you attend online anger management sessions?
It depends on each case and the level of support needed but It is recommended to attend therapy sessions weekly to start with then as treatment progresses these sessions can extend to fortnightly.