Anger Management - Anger Toolkit

Theory and Practice
An Overview of Dr. Ingram's Anger Management Model for Mental Health Professionals

This unique and in-depth certification training is now being offered on both a group agency or individual basis. To check on available dates for your group, or for individual training, please contact us immediately at 773-343-8538.

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Anger. Everybody experiences it and everybody expresses it. Only some (1 in 5) people do it the "right way". But most people, however,do it the "wrong" way. The problem is not anger, per se. The "problem" is the mismanagement of anger. Anger is a natural and healthy human emotion when managed appropriately. But it can become the source of all kinds of various physical, mental, emotional, social and "legal" problems when not managed effectively. It is often a problem in one of these areas that brings a client in for counseling, either on a voluntary or a mandated basis. As counselors and mental health professionals, there are numerous and varied options for intervention. And, there are numerous and varied aspects that must be considered before selecting an appropriate intervention and treatment model.

Defining Anger
Needless to say, there are many different views from which to consider the construct of anger. First, there is an anger-eliciting stimulus (trigger), typically an easily identifiable "external" source (e.g., somebody did - or didn't do - something to me) or the etiology of the anger is internal and "subjective" (e.g., emotional wounds and imbalances). Second, there is a "pre-anger" state, which includes one's cognitive, emotional and physical state at the time of provocation; one's enduring (and underlying) psychological pattern and disposition and the "cultural" messages internalized about anger and the ways sanctioned for expressing it. Third, there is the client's evaluation (and perception) of the anger-eliciting stimulus and his or her ability to cope with the stimulus. All three of these basic ingredients interact to create a state of "being angry".

There are basically four related domains in which anger exists and impacts each individual. First, there is the physical domain. Anger is associated with adrenal release, increased blood pressure and heart palpitations, increased body temperature and sweating, erratic breathing, increased muscle tension, increase activation of the sympathetic nervous system and a whole host of neuro-biological effects. Second, there is the emotional and "experiential" domain. Anger is a "feeling" state ranging in intensity form mild annoyance to full blown rage and fury. Third, there is the cognitive domain. Anger is associated with the bias processing of information and is based on the "spin" we put on objective experiences (e.g., our attitudes, self-talk, expectations, etc.). Fourth, there is the "spiritual" domain which involve our capacity to love, to feel compassion, and other higher spiritual qualities. In terms of negative behavior (e.g., violence, hyper aggression, addiction, criminality, etc.), anger is a sign of a lack of tolerance, patience and empathy and is rooted in egoity (self-possession).

Investigating the Source and Nature of Anger
What is the source of your Anger? Is it intense and situation-specific or chronic and generalized? What is the extent of the anger? Does it easily pass and subside or does it quickly evolve into deep feelings of resentment and victimization? Is it coupled with intense aggression or explosiveness? Has it become completely uncontrollable? What is the anger "hiding." Is it an egoic cover up for some weakness, imperfection, shortcoming or fault? Is the anger rooted in fear and is being used to "protect" yourself from a perceived threat by others? Is it shame based, survival based, impotence based or related to fear of abandonment? The key to working with anger is to investigate the nature of the anger. Your anger says something about "you". It is a part of your own psycho-biography.

Expressing Anger
The expression of anger can (and does in fact) take many forms. Some of the most common (destructive and counter productive) means by which people seek relief from their anger include denial and repression, venting and verbally acting out (tantrums), resisting and suppression, seeking revenge, blaming and complaining, avoidance and withdrawing from the source of anger, sensual indulgence to the point of addiction, physical violence and so on. In our modern western culture, people are taught that while expressing other difficult emotions and feelings (e.g., anxiety, depression, confusion, etc.) is "acceptable", expressing anger is not. Hence, the nearly culture wide absence of the emotional skill (and intelligence) to effectively control our anger. As a nation, we are the most angry (and thus, violent) culture in the world. The destructive expressions and defensive expression of anger projects and rigidly fortifies one's egoic disposition and creates a false sense of security and "power".

Providing client's with the emotional and cognitive skills needed to constructively express their anger affirms and acknowledges their integrity and enables them to set boundaries without intention to threaten or harm another person. Although much of the work going on in anger management today focuses on helping people understand what triggers their anger and on learning a healthier response or expression of that anger, the debate continues regarding a standard model for doing so. Few formal assessments exist to quantifiably measure the level of one's anger. However, there are numerous qualitative indicators. Is the anger chronic and long lasting? Is it too frequent and intense? Does the client exhibit frequent loss of temper at the slightest provocation (intermittent explosive disorder)? Does the client exhibits passive-aggressive behavior, a cynical or hostile personality? Does the client exhibit low self-esteem and self-respect? What anger based physical symptoms are they presenting? Is the client withdrawing socially from friends and family? Of course, many, many more such observation can (and should be made) when working with a client before choosing an intervention strategy.

Managing Anger
It is the process of managing anger "appropriately" (in a non-violent and psychologically healthy way) that is the primary goal of counseling people with an anger problem. The goal is not the elimination of anger. Anger is a natural and normal emotion. After a client acknowledges he or she is angry, the counselor can then help the client learn how to reduce the emotional and physiological impulses that anger generates and "control" its negative effects on his self and others. To be most effective, before choosing interventions for the client, practitioners should attempt to understand the extent and various forms (emotional style) of client's expression of anger, the specific problems resulting from the anger, the "hidden" function the anger is serving and it's underlying source and the effect (damage) occurring in each of the client's domains of being (e.g., physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual).

The goal of the workshop will be to explore and address all of the above counseling issues (and others) related to anger management therapy (and more) drawing on insights from both modern and ancient, western and non-western, psychological theory and mental health models.

Both Private and Group training available. For more information contact Dr. Ingram directly at: 773-343-8538 or email at leonard@angermgmt.com