Often clients are referred for anger management through the forensic process: most notably when they are going through a difficult divorce and inappropriately acting out frustration which could lead to an order by the Court to seek anger management. Other times, their poor impulse control or lack of judgment leads to boundary crossing and then having to answer for their behavior in a criminal court of law. I prefer to help people manage their anger in the context of individual therapy. I do not believe that anger management “classes” offer any real solutions to problems, as raising the intellect does nothing to change behavior, manage conflicts, express feelings, or make prudent choices.
However, examining one’s life in the context of individual psychotherapy assists clients an opportunity to strategically deconstruct their anger, and learn to harness their power differently, in a way that will complement, versus frustrate, their ability to fulfill their own needs.
