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Background: This presentation discusses the treatments of anger symptoms, and the use of assessment to develop case conceptualizations and treatment plans. The different types of anger problems will be presented with their treatment implications. The use of motivational strategies, cognitive restructuring, conflict resolution, exposure interventions, and behavioral rehearsal will be presented.
A review of the research on anger will provide the basis for understanding how anger can be dysfunctional; Strategies for assessed and treating dysfunctional will be reviewed. New strategies for intervention will be proposed based on what we know about dysfunctional anger.
The term “anger management” appears frequently as the term for treating individuals with anger problems. Most anger management programs are offered as courses and follow a syllabus or fixed manualized format. People who seek help for anger problems frequently refer to their programs as classes and not as therapy. This leaves the impression that all people who enroll in such anger treatments receive the same interventions. All of the anger treatments that uncovered use the same treatment manuals for all participants. They fail to identify different types of anger problems that may require different interventions. Such models do not suggest that clinicians need to assess important aspects of the anger experience, use their assessment to construct a case conceptualization of the client, and use the case conceptualization to individualize treatments. The one-size fits all model seems to exist because of a lack of discussion concerning what symptoms and dimensions characterize anger disorders. A discussion of the characteristics of anger disorders should lead to models of assessment that help clinicians build case conceptualizations and individual treatment plans.
This presentation will review the different cognitive models of anger and aggression and strategies to assess which cognitions are active in particular clients. Strategies to intervene in clients cognitions that mediate their anger will be presented. Many anger clients fail to have conflict resolution strategies. Teaching different strategies to resolve conflict will be presented. The importance of imaginal and in session rehearsal will be discussed. Difference between anger and anxiety will be highlights and the implications for exposure interventions will be presented. Many anger clients have long-term resentment about past trauma or poor treatment. How and when to intervene with these distal anger triggers will be discussed.
This presentation discusses the treatments of anger symptoms, and the use of assessment to develop case conceptualizations and treatment plans. The different types of anger problems will be presented with their treatment implications. The use of motivational strategies, cognitive restructuring, conflict resolution, exposure interventions, and behavioral rehearsal will be presented.
Ray received his BA in Psychology from Villanova University in 1971 and his PhD in Psychology from Hofstra University in 1975. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Albert Ellis. He is presently Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at St. John’s University in New York City. He served as past president of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and is currently president –elect of the Division of Psychotherapy of the American Psychological Association. His research interests focus on the assessment and treatment of anger problems.
