Photo of Mark D. Best, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 97202, OR
Mark D. Best
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW, CCTP
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97202  (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
When life feels presents us with stress, whether it be from anxiety, depression, or trauma, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and a sense that our lives have become unmanageable. My greatest satisfaction comes with assisting individuals in recognizing their power to grow and thrive. I assist my clients, who include adolescents and adults, in finding ways to change their relationship to thoughts and emotions and develop a stronger sense of self, establishing core values, and creating an action plan linked to goals based on those values.
When life feels presents us with stress, whether it be from anxiety, depression, or trauma, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and a sense that our lives have become unmanageable. My greatest satisfaction comes with assisting individuals in recognizing their power to grow and thrive. I assist my clients, who include adolescents and adults, in finding ways to change their relationship to thoughts and emotions and develop a stronger sense of self, establishing core values, and creating an action plan linked to goals based on those values.
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Anger Management Therapists

How long does therapy take for anger management?

Treatment duration depends on the person’s specific challenges and circumstances. There are treatments for anger problems that are shorter and more goal-oriented, like Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which can last weeks to months. Others, like Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may last between six months and a year, while a more intensive treatment, like psychodynamic therapy, is open-ended, and clients may see their therapist for a year or longer.

How do you know if you need therapy for anger management?

Everyone gets mad from time to time. But when angry outbursts become frequent and cause damage to relationships, whether at home or in the office, it may be a good time to look into therapy. A therapist can assess where a client’s anger may be coming from, suggest strategies for averting angry outbursts, and help a client create a plan to become a calmer version of themselves.

Is there medication for anger management?

Medications do exist that help people mitigate the feeling of anger, but these are reserved for people with anger-related psychiatric disorders, such as intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or in some cases borderline personality disorder. In these cases, antidepressant medications may be prescribed to help with the client’s symptoms. In most cases of anger management, however, talk therapy is the recommended treatment, along with lifestyle changes where relevant.

What’s the best way to encourage someone to seek help for anger issues?

It’s helpful to express your concern and love for the person while framing therapy as a tool for improving their life. Offering specific examples of how an individual’s behavior affected either themselves or others should be done with compassion and with empathy. It may be useful to devise a game plan—breaking the process down into parts, such as finding a therapist, making appointments, and looking into insurance coverage.