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Anger Management Counseling Techniques

Anger management techniques can be used in a person's home to help alleviate anger and stress. Anger is a natural release of emotions, but some people do not know how to correctly handle these emotions. Anger management "constructs a way to dismantle the initial reactions and responses to the things that anger us," according to Daniel Barnhart in his book "Anger Management."

  1. Venting

    • Venting helps get the anger out. Venting can include screaming or beating a pillow, and this technique tends to escalate the anger before it helps it to subside, like the saying "it always gets worse before it gets better." Some anger management therapists offer foam bats as a way to release aggression.

    Meditation and Prayer

    • These techniques can be used together or separately and they help the body and mind to calm down, letting the anger subside. Finding a focus point, or counting to 10, can be counted as forms of meditation because you are concentrating on something specific that can take the mind away from any anger.

    Behavioral techniques

    • Learning different behaviors can change the way you react to situations that cause anger. If you are able to see the outcome and know that it is healthier to just take a breath and let it go, you might be able to avoid an explosion of anger. Finding out where you anger comes from and changing that can help, too. For instance, if it is a job that is angering you, change the conditions of your employment. Embracing change by removing the things that anger us can lead us to a less stressful life.

    Use Your Anger

    • Learn to use your anger for something positive. Instead of throwing items around when you are angry, clean. Instead of breaking items, take up a hobby making something, which will calm your mind. Whenever you are starting to feel angry, start doing something positive or something you love.

    • Not all anger is bad, according to Barnhart. It is a natural reaction to life. It is when anger leads to hurting ourselves or others that it needs to be managed. Learning to channel anger can help release anger in a better and safer way.

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