Photo of Sanela Solak, Pre-Licensed Professional in Philadelphia, PA
Sanela Solak
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Someone made a mistake at work that you had to stay late to fix – no problem. Your spouse forgot to pick up the cake you reminded him about five times – all good. The kids knocked over and broke an heirloom vase – don’t worry about it. You are so understanding and forgiving with everyone in your life. But, if you make the tiniest error, you can’t let yourself live it down. You’re unsure why it’s so impossible for you to accept anything less than perfection. You suspect it may have to do with unresolved pain from your past. But you can’t let anyone know you’re suffering, so you pretend everything is fine and hope no one notices.
Someone made a mistake at work that you had to stay late to fix – no problem. Your spouse forgot to pick up the cake you reminded him about five times – all good. The kids knocked over and broke an heirloom vase – don’t worry about it. You are so understanding and forgiving with everyone in your life. But, if you make the tiniest error, you can’t let yourself live it down. You’re unsure why it’s so impossible for you to accept anything less than perfection. You suspect it may have to do with unresolved pain from your past. But you can’t let anyone know you’re suffering, so you pretend everything is fine and hope no one notices.
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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.