Understanding and Managing Anger
Anger is a normal, healthy emotion. It becomes a problem when it feels intense or hard to control, comes out in ways you later regret, or starts to affect your relationships, work or wellbeing.
Anger often sits on top of other feelings, such as hurt, fear, stress or feeling unheard. Therapy helps you understand what is underneath it and develop new ways to respond, so that you feel more in control.
Signs Anger May Be Getting in the Way
Anger can be expressed outwardly or held in. You may notice:
A Short Fuse: Getting angry quickly, or feeling like your temper escalates before you can stop it.
Regret After Outbursts: Saying or doing things you later wish you had not.
Strain on Relationships: Conflict with partners, family, colleagues or friends because of how anger shows up.
Physical Tension: A pounding heart, clenched jaw or fists, or feeling like you are about to explode.
Holding It In: Simmering resentment, withdrawing, or bottling things up until they spill over.
If you are ever worried about the safety of yourself or someone else, please call 000.
How Therapy Can Help
Our psychologists draw on practical, evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you:
Understand Your Triggers: Identify the situations, thoughts and feelings that set anger off.
Notice Early Warning Signs: Learn to recognise the physical and mental cues before anger escalates.
Build Calming and Coping Skills: Practise strategies to settle your body and mind and take a pause when needed.
Communicate Assertively: Express needs and boundaries clearly and respectfully.
Address What Lies Underneath: Work with stress, trauma, hurt or unmet needs that may be fuelling anger.
Many people find that anger becomes far more manageable once they understand it and have new tools to respond.
What to Expect
Therapy for anger is collaborative and paced around you. It usually involves:
A Thorough Assessment: We explore how anger shows up for you, what tends to trigger it and how it affects the people around you.
A Tailored Plan: We set clear goals with you and choose strategies that suit your situation.
Practical Skills and Support: You will practise new skills for managing anger in the moment and for responding differently over time.
Reviewing Progress: We regularly check in on how things are going and adjust the approach as needed, so therapy continues to fit your goals.
How to Access the Service
To begin therapy, please get in touch with our friendly administrative team via our contact page, phone, or email address and we will send you an intake form and our information sheet and consent form to start the intake process.
You do not need a referral to book an initial appointment, however you may want to discuss your needs with your general practitioner (GP) to determine if you qualify for Medicare funding, which can cover up to ten sessions with a Mental Health Care Plan. In such cases, you would need a referral. Additionally, private health insurance rebates may be available through your provider.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000. For 24/7 crisis support in Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.