‘Anyone can become angry – that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time – that is not easy.’ Aristotle. The Nichomachean Ethics

Anger is a natural state of arousal everyone experiences, involving the well known ‘fight or flight’ survival mechanism. However, a chronically angry person is typically more stupid than he or she needs to be, because higher brain function is inhibited through the release of powerful stress hormones. Anger needs to be effectively controlled and utilized.

People who may describe themselves as having ‘anger issues’ are generally seeking to control the kinds of inappropriate and extreme expressions of anger that can have effects harmful to their own health and social relationships as well as being dangerous to others.

Chronic extreme anger can lead to :

• accelerated heart rate
• high blood pressure
• raised cholesterol levels
• heart attacks and strokes

and other stress symptoms, such as insomnia, digestive problems, IBS etc.

Human Givens therapists working with these concerns will teach clients a range of skills including:

• how to recognize the signs of an ‘emotional hi-jacking’
• physical and pscyhological strategies to bring down arousal
• various other effective relaxation skills
• how to re-frame situations and encourage empathy
• the use of guided imagery to develop more effective patterns
• how to increase practical emotional intelligence

In some cases, troubling past experiences may need to be dealt with through de-traumatising procedures. Unhelpful thought patterns around anger may need to be re-assessed. Unmet needs and negative life situations making a person more prone to angry outbursts may need to be thoroughly considered. Counsellors work with clients to develop practical solutions and ways forward, taking fully into account their unique circumstances and character.

Number of sessions required will vary depending on the individual and on whether other related challenges have to be addressed. Considerable improvement is frequently reported after just one session.