Learn and implement calming and coping strategies as part of an overall approach to managing anger. (24)
As part of a larger personal and interpersonal skill set, teach the client tailored calming techniques (e.g. progressive muscle relaxation, breathing induced relaxation, calming imagery, cue-controlled relaxation, applied relaxation, mindful breathing) for reducing chronic and acute arousal that accompanies his/her/their anger expression (or supplement with “Deep Breathing Exercise” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce).
Identify, challenge, and replace anger-inducing self-talk with self-talk that facilitates a more measured response. (25, 26, 27)
Use cognitive therapy techniques to explore the client's self-talk that mediates his/her/their angry feelings and actions (e.g. demanding expectations reflected in should, must, or have-to statements); identify, challenge, and change biased self-talk, assist him/her/them in generating appraisals that correct for the biases and facilitate a more flexible and temperate response to frustration; explore underlying assumptions and schema if needed. Combine new self-talk with calming skills as part of a coping skills set for managing anger.
Assign the client a homework exercise in which he/she/they identify angry self-talk and generate alternatives that help regulate angry reactions; review; reinforce success, problem-solve obstacles toward sustained and effective implementation (or supplement with “Journal and Replace Self-Defeating Thoughts” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce).
Role-play the use of calming and cognitive coping skills to visualized anger-provoking scenes, moving from low- to high-anger scenes. Assign the implementation of calming and cognitive techniques in his/her/their daily life and when facing anger-triggering situations; process the results, reinforcing success, and problem-solving obstacles.
Learn and implement thought-stopping as part of a new approach to managing angry feelings when they arise. (28)
As the initial part of a multicomponent coping strategy for controlling impulverbalsivity (e.g. “stop, calm, think, and act” approach), teach a thought-stopping technique in which the client silently “shouts” the word STOP upon recognizing the first signs of anger and then proceeds to the other management steps (i.e. calming, thinking) toward responding in an adaptive, effective manner (or supplement with “Making Use of the Thought-Stopping Technique” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce); review implementation, reinforcing success, and problem-solving obstacles.
Learn and implement assertive communication skills for addressing frustration and anger in an honest, appropriate, respectful, and direct manner. (29)
Use skills-training interventions (e.g. instruction, modeling, role-playing, rehearsal, and practice) to help the client learn and implement assertive communication, highlighting its distinctive elements as well as the pros and cons of assertive, unassertive (passive), and aggressive communication (or supplement with Your Perfect Right by Alberti & Emmons or with “Assertive Communication of Anger” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce).
Learn and implement problem-solving/solution-finding skills and/or conflict resolution skills to address personal and interpersonal problems. (30, 31, 32)
Use skills-training interventions (e.g. instruction, modeling, role-playing, rehearsal, and practice) to help the client learn and implement problem-solving/solution-finding skills (e.g., defining the problem clearly, brainstorming multiple solutions, listing the pros and cons of each solution, seeking input from others, selecting and implementing a plan of action, evaluating the outcome, and readjusting the plan as necessary), or supplement with “Problem Solving: An Alternative to Impulsive Action” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce.
Use skills-training interventions (e.g. instruction, modeling, role-playing, rehearsal, and practice) to help the client learn and implement conflict resolution skills (e.g., empathy, active listening, “I messages,” respectful communication, assertiveness without aggression, problem solving, compromise).
Conduct conjoint sessions to help the client implement new personal and interpersonal skills (e.g. assertion, problem solving, and/or conflict resolution skills) with his/her/their significant other (or supplement with “Applying Problem Solving to Interpersonal Conflict” in the Adult Psychotherapy Homework Planner by Jongsma & Bruce).
Combine learned anger management skills into a new approach to handling frustration. (33).
Assist the client in adopting a client-tailored strategy for managing anger that combines any of the somatic, cognitive, communication, problem-solving, and/or conflict resolution skills relevant to their needs.
Practice using new anger management skills in session with the therapist and during homework exercises. (34, 35).
