Problem
Note
1 
ANGER
BEHAVIORAL DEFINITIONS
1 Has a history of explosive, aggressive outbursts, particularly when intoxicated, that lead to assaultive acts or destruction of property.
2 Abuses substances to cope with angry feelings and to relinquish responsibility for aggression.
3 Shows cognitive biases associated with anger (e.g. demanding expectations of others, overly generalized labeling of the targets of anger, anger in response to perceived slights).
4 Shows direct or indirect evidence of physiological arousal related to anger.
5 Reports a history of explosive, aggressive outbursts out of proportion with any precipitating stressors, leading to verbal attacks, assaultive acts, or destruction of property.
6 Displays overreactive verbal hostility to insignificant irritants.
7 Engages in verbal, physical, and/or emotional abuse against significant other.
8 Makes swift and harsh judgmental statements to or about others.
9 Displays body language suggesting anger, including tense muscles (e.g. clenched fist or jaw), glaring looks, or refusal to make eye contact.
10 Shows passive-aggressive patterns (e.g. social withdrawal, lack of complete or timely compliance in following directions or rules, complaining about authority figures behind their backs, uncooperative in meeting expected behavioral norms) due to anger.
11 Passively withholds feelings and then explodes in a rage.
12 Demonstrates an angry overreaction to perceived disapproval, rejection, or criticism.
13 Uses abusive language meant to intimidate others.
14 Rationalizes and blames others for aggressive and abusive behavior.
15 Uses aggression as a means of achieving power and control.
LONG-TERM GOALS
1 Maintain a program of recovery that is free of addiction and violentg behavior.
2 Learn and implement anger management skills to reduce the level of anger and irritability that accompanies it.
3 Increase honest, appropriate, respectful, and direct communication using assertiveness and conflict resolution skills.
4 Develop an awareness of angry thoughts, feelings, and actions, clarifying origins of, and learning alternatives to aggressive anger.
5 Decrease the frequency, intensity, and duration of angry thoughts, feelings, and actions and increase the ability to recognize and assertively express frustration and resolve conflict.
6 Implement cognitive behavioral skills necessary to solve problems in a more constructive manner.
| SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES | THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS |
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Establish rapport with the client toward building a strong therapeutic alliance; convey caring, support, warmth, and empathy; provide nonjudgmental support and develop a level of trust with the client toward his/her/their feeling safe to discuss his/her/their anger control issues and their impact on his/her/their life. |
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Strengthen powerful relationship factors within the therapy process and foster the therapy alliance through paying special attention to these empirically supported factors: work collaboratively with the client in the treatment process; reach agreement on the goals and expectations of therapy; demonstrate consistent empathy toward the client's feelings and struggles; verbalize positive regard toward and affirmation of the client; and collect and deliver client feedback as to the client's perception of his/her/their progress in therapy (see Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Vol. 1 by Norcross & Lambert and Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Vol. 2 by Norcross & Wampold). |
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| Identify situations, thoughts, and feelings associated with anger, angry verbal, and/or behavioral actions, and the targets of those actions. (3) |
Thoroughly assess the various stimuli (e.g. situations, people, thoughts) that have triggered the client's anger and the thoughts, feelings, and actions that have characterized his/her/their
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