If your anger is causing distress in your life, anger management therapy can help you to become calmer and reduce the impact of anger outbursts.
In this guide, we’ve looked at two places to find an anger management therapist near you or online.
We’ve also explained how to find the right therapist, to help you manage your anger in a healthy way.
Quick comparison table
Anger management therapy near me
Below, we’ve reviewed three of the best places to find a therapist who specializes in anger management.
1. BetterHelp
BetterHelp is a virtual therapy platform dedicated to improving your emotional and mental health. With over 25,000 therapists in all time zones, BetterHelp makes it easy to find a counselor who can allow you to heal your life and relationships by helping you control your angry emotions.
On the platform, you are able to choose how you access each session with your counselor. You have the option to connect with your therapist through video chat, phone call, or text messaging.
For example, you might choose to schedule video chats with your counselor, but if you have a day when you aren’t able to do so, you can just text them instead. This flexibility in how you communicate is especially helpful for days when you are experiencing a lot of anger and don’t have the privacy to express it out loud with your therapist.
Signing up for sessions through BetterHelp is an easy process. Simply fill out the provided questionnaire, and you will be matched with a qualified counselor who will be able to help you control your anger and improve your emotional and mental health.
If for some reason the counselor you are matched with doesn’t fit your needs, you can easily change providers at any time on the platform.
BetterHelp also offers you a guided journaling experience, which can be used to help with your treatment. You can either use the journals by yourself, or share them with your counselor.
Journaling can be incredibly helpful for anger management, because the act of writing down your thoughts helps to clarify your underlying feelings and deepen your self-awareness – especially when guided by your therapist.
2. online-therapy.com
Online-therapy.com is a teletherapy platform specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is an incredibly effective method for resolving angry and aggressive behavior, because it allows you to make sense of your anger by examining the underlying reasons behind your thoughts and behaviors.
CBT breaks down your problems and challenges by focusing on the fact that your thoughts about a situation can affect you mentally and physically. Understanding how everything is connected in this sense can help you realize that your anger is usually a secondary emotion, and the underlying pain is something that you and your therapist can then delve into and begin resolving.
After you sign up on the platform, you are matched with a counselor who will then begin discussing your pain points, triggers, and goals for therapy.
Along with therapy sessions, you will also be instructed to complete a CBT-focused self-guided course that will help you gain awareness of your challenges with anger. These insights will then be discussed with your counselor, who will be able to use your answers to give you support unique to your specific situation.
What does online anger management therapy cost?
The average price range of virtual therapy for anger problems is between $65 and $90. This typically includes one scheduled session each week, as well as the ability to message your therapist.
Without the extra costs of rent and support staff, online platforms are often able to offer subscription plans that are much more affordable than in-person therapy.
Sliding scale counseling may also be available – for example, with BetterHelp, you can get a discount if you’re a student or unemployed. In this case, you’ll pay significantly less than the standard rate.
How to find the right anger management therapist
Anger is a normal human emotion. But uncontrolled anger can cause incredibly harmful effects on your mental health, physical health (such as high blood pressure), your family, and your personal relationships.
When you learn to control feelings of anger, this will improve your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Since the main components of anger issues are emotional and physiological, finding the right trained professional is essential to effective emotional awareness and anger control.
Let’s discuss factors you should look out for when choosing between virtual anger management services, and selecting the right counselor.
Education and licensure
All providers on BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Online-therapy.com are professional counselors, therapists, social workers, psychologists, or psychiatrists who are licensed and accredited in their field.
When you are matched with a therapist on one of these platforms, you may want to research their background and education to see if they are a match to what you are looking for.
Many anger management counselors hold either a master’s degree and/or a doctorate in a psychology or social services field. Anger management counselors usually major in family/marriage therapy, general psychology, counseling, criminal justice, or social work.
During their graduate work, they typically focus on taking courses that have to do with their chosen field such as abnormal psychology, sociology, family therapy, counseling techniques, conflict resolution, or group therapy.
There are programs out there that focus specifically on anger management counseling. However, most programs instead offer a degree in another type of counseling or social work, with a concentration in anger management.
Training and credentials
In addition to their degrees and majors, counselors carry specialist credentials in specific areas of mental rehabilitation, like anger management.
For example, in addition to their degrees, professionals have the option of obtaining an Anger Management Specialist Certification. This certification allows providers to treat complex anger management problems in both individual and group settings.
There are also therapists who are a Certified Anger Management Treatment Professional. These specialists create cognition-based treatments to help manage traits of rage, as well as relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises.
It’s not essential to find a professional who has one or more of these certifications. Some therapists may help with a range of behavioral issues, and have extensive experience helping people with an anger problem.
However, these types of credentials can be helpful, in that they show that a counselor has undertaken specific training in anger management treatment, and teaching relaxation techniques.
Types of anger management therapy
Excessive anger can cause serious issues if it is left unresolved. Psychologists deal with these problems through various therapeutic methods, depending on their experience and specialties.
Your therapist may help you understand your anger triggers, help you learn how to express your aggression in a healthy manner, and discuss problem-solving in a way that benefits your relationships.
They may also help you in managing anger through techniques like relaxation training (mediation and breathing exercises), using “I” statements instead of showing aggression, and waiting to express your feelings until you stop feeling angry.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
One method that therapists use for anger management is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you how to identify negative thought patterns that lead to angry outbursts and loss of self-control. This type of therapy uses cognitive and physical techniques to help with impulse control, and reduce negative self-talk.
Mental health professionals who are trained in CBT are able to do so through in-person sessions as well as using online therapy platforms. CBT can assist you in managing your anger in a healthy way by altering negative beliefs and emotions.
Other types of anger management therapy
Other types of therapy where you can learn anger management techniques include group therapy and psychodynamic therapy.
Anger management group classes can be useful because they allow you to practice your social skills in a controlled setting amongst your peers. With psychodynamic therapy, your therapist will place emphasis on the mental and emotional origins of your anger issues, rather than on the behavior itself, helping you to improve your anger management and reduce your levels of aggression.
Conclusion
Finding the right counselor for anger management therapy is important to resolve your anger issues and improve your emotional stability.
Anger issues can be challenging to deal with if you don’t have the right help. Online platforms provide an easy, accessible way of getting help from a mental health professional, and improving your emotional intelligence, from the comfort of your own home. However, if you need immediate help, it may be best to have in-person counseling session.
Have any more questions that we can clear up? Leave your comment below and we will respond with our best solutions.
I am a freelance writer, mental health advocate, and certified meditation teacher with extensive experience in mental and emotional health. After earning my master’s degree in educational psychology, I went on to practice crisis counseling and behavioral therapy.
As a writer, my aim is to utilize my personal and professional experience in mental health to create content that helps readers feel understood and supported. I have been a contributor for The Mighty, Yahoo!, and have ghostwritten for a variety of personal development and wellness websites.
When I’m not writing, you can find me exercising, reading, or playing with my dogs, Doug and Ozzy.
