Anger Management CBT Worksheets

Frustration, irritation, and anger are normal human emotions. We often feel angry when our goals are thwarted, or when we perceive that others are taking advantage of us. Anger can be a problem if it is experienced too frequently, too intensely, or if the modes through which an individual expresses their angry feelings include aggression or violence.Frameworks for understanding anger, and techniques for working with it effectively are an essential part of every clinician’s toolbox. This collection of resources has been designed to help your clients to recognize their anger, and to understand the thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that are precipitating or perpetuating their angry responses. There are also resources for acting assertively and forgiving oneself or others.

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Assessment

  • Aggression Questionnaire | Buss, Perry | 1992
    • Buss, A.H., & Perry, M. (1992). The Aggression Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 452-459.
    • Scale
  • Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools, 2nd ed. | National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Dahlberg, Toal, Swahn, Behrens | 2005
  • Clinical Anger Scale | Snell, Gum, Shuck, Mosley, Hite | 1995
    • Snell, W. E., Jr., Gum, S., Shuck, R. L., Mosley, J. A., & Hite, T. L.. (1995).  The Clinical Anger Scale: Preliminary reliability and validity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 215-226
    • Scale

Guides and workbooks

  • Anger management workbook
  • The Path to Patience: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Patient Person | Caroline Lavelock, Everett Worthington, Sarah Schnitker | 2013
  • The Path to Forgiveness: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Forgiving Person | Everett Worthington | 2011
  • Anger And Irritability Self-Help Booklet | Wellbeing Services South Glasgow
  • A guide to controlling anger | S Black, R Donald, M Henderson | 2005

Information Handouts

Presentations

  • Anger, Compassion, and What It Means To Be Strong | Russell Kolts
  • Anger management and coping skills | Eastridge | 2013

Self-Help Programmes

Treatment Guide

  • Understanding and reducing angry feelings | Bartholomew, Simpson | 2005
  • Anger management instructor guide | VA | 2008
  • Working with anger – some powerful practical tips | Russ Harris
  • Anger management for substance use and mental health clients: A cognitive behavioral therapy manual | SAMHSA | 2019
  • Getting along & keeping cool: A group programme for aggression control | Center For Clinical Interventions | 2001
  • True strength: a compassion-focused therapy approach for working with anger | Russel Kolts | 2016

Video

  • Compassion, anger, strength, and moral indignation | Russel Kolts | 2020

Worksheets

Recommended Reading

  • Novaco, R. W. (1977). Stress inoculation: A cognitive therapy for anger and its application to a case of depression.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,45(4), 600.
  • Novaco, R. W. (1976). The functions and regulation of the arousal of anger.American Journal of Psychiatry,133(10), 1124-1128.
  • Mackintosh, M. A., Morland, L. A., Frueh, B. C., Greene, C. J., & Rosen, C. S. (2014). Peeking into the black box: mechanisms of action for anger management treatment.Journal of anxiety disorders,28(7), 687-695.
  • Henwood, K. S., Chou, S., & Browne, K. D. (2015). A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of CBT informed anger management.Aggression and violent behavior,25, 280-292.
  • Deffenbacher, J. L. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral conceptualization and treatment of anger. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18(2), 212-221.
  • Day, A., Howells, K., Mohr, P., Schall, E., & Gerace, A. (2008). The development of CBT programmes for anger: The role of interventions to promote perspective-taking skills.Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy,36(3), 299-312.
  • How to trick ‘angry’: Narrative therapy for people with an intellectual disability | Hoole, Morgan | 2008

What Is Anger?

Signs and Symptoms of Anger

Anger is an emotional response that is associated with a spectrum of other physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physical signs associated with anger include muscle tension, including a clenched jaw, increased heart rate, sweating, headache, or dizziness. Emotions associated with anger may include frustration, irritation, anxiety, guilt, or shame. Behaviors associated with anger can span a spectrum from expressive (e.g., raising your voice, being sarcastic or abrasive) to inhibitory (e.g., withdrawing, focusing internally).

Psychological Models and Theory of Anger

In 1975 Raymond Novaco published an influential analysis of the functions and regulation of anger. He described anger as having the following functions:

  • an energizing function which increases the vigor with which we act;

  • allowing for the expression of frustrations;

  • a self-promotional function;

  • a defense against feelings of vulnerability, whereby an anger response appears as secondary to a situation that has aroused anxiety.

Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Working with Anger

Cognitive behavioral interventions are the most studied treatments of anger (Lee & DiGiuseppe, 2018).

Anger Management

Anger management is a structured treatment designed to foster the self-regulation of anger and aggressive behavior. Anger management teaches clients to become aware of signs and symptoms associated with their anger. Anger management is intended to reduce the frequency, intensity, duration, and specific modes of expression of anger. Intervention techniques include:

Forgiveness Therapy

Forgiveness therapy is an evidence-based treatment for anger (Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000, 2015). Enright and Fitzgibbons have published extensively regarding forgiveness therapy. Their approach views forgiveness as a process involving stages of uncovering, decision, work, and deepening.

Resources for Working with Anger

Psychology Tools resources available for working therapeutically with anger may include:

  • psychological models of anger

  • information handouts for anger management

  • exercises for anger management

  • CBT worksheets for anger management

  • self-help programs for anger management

References

  • Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2000). Helping clients forgive: An empirical guide for resolving anger and restoring hope. American Psychological Association.

  • Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2015). Forgiveness therapy: An empirical guide for resolving anger and restoring hope. American Psychological Association.

  • Lee, A. H., & DiGiuseppe, R. (2018). Anger and aggression treatments: A review of meta-analyses. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 65–74.

  • Novaco, R. W. (1975). Anger control: The development and evaluation of an experimental treatment. Lexington.

  • Novaco, R. W., & Renwick, S. J. (2019). Anger management. Common Language for Psychotherapy (CLP) Procedures Retrieved from: https://www.commonlanguagepsychotherapy.org/assets/accepted_procedures/anger.pdf

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