Anger Expression

Many people of all ages present to counseling with concerns about anger management. One of the tasks of counseling focused on anger is identifying what lies underneath the anger. In the mental health field, anger is often referred to as a “secondary emotion,” meaning that it usually comes second to another primary emotion. Oftentimes feelings such as sadness, grief, embarrassment, hurt, worry, or guilt are hidden underneath the anger that shows up in our behaviors. Sometimes it feels more socially-acceptable to respond with anger rather than sadness. Children and adults struggle with the reflexive responses such as yelling, storming off or hitting that come to us impulsively when we have been triggered or feel overwhelmed. Counseling can help to identify triggers to anger and alternative behavioral responses.