Interpretations
Working through how a situation has been read, and the assumptions made about other people's intentions.
Irritability and Anger Management
Do your relationships with others suffer because of interpersonal tension? CBT for irritability and anger looks at how situations are interpreted, and where those interpretations come from.
Where the irritation comes from
People often feel annoyed because of how they interpret the general situation around them, or even the actions of others. When events happen that are felt to be unfair, the interpretation that follows can be the source of the irritation rather than the event itself.
Over time, repeated challenges to what feels like ‘fair play’ can build up into resentment, and resentment is difficult to shift on your own once it has become a habit of reaction.
There are also close biological similarities between human anger and fear — the same bodily reactions can underlie both, which is why anger can feel overwhelming and hard to control.
Many people first notice anger and irritability through their relationships, when small everyday situations start producing disproportionate tension, arguments or bursts of frustration. Cognitive behavioural therapy for irritability and anger examines the interpretations people make of what happens around them, and where those interpretations were originally formed. Because an event only becomes distressing through the meaning assigned to it, working on the thought process can often ease reactions that have felt automatic and out of control for years.
Treatment typically begins by identifying the situations in which anger appears most often, then examining the beliefs held about oneself, other people and fairness in general. Clients learn practical techniques for pausing, recognising unhelpful patterns of thinking and responding differently to provocation. Alongside this, sessions often address stress, anxiety, mood difficulties and sleep, since these frequently contribute to irritability. Confidentiality is maintained throughout, and a structured plan of sessions can be arranged for individuals, with referrals and primary care links considered where appropriate.
What the therapy examines
Therapy works with the beliefs that give rise to irritation, and looks for more realistic interpretations of the situations and people involved.
Resentment
Examining the sense that things should go a particular way, and the impact that repeated challenges have had.
Outbursts
Understanding the reactions that surface in relationships and the pattern behind them.
Realistic alternatives
Seeking interpretations of events that hold up better against real life, rather than assumptions that fuel irritation.
How sessions work
Irritability and anger are treated with the same structured approach used across the practice.
- The first session lasts approximately 80 minutes and is used to assess the specific problem.
- Subsequent sessions last approximately 1 hour and are normally held weekly.
- Homework between sessions may include tasks, reading, writing, or cognitive challenges agreed in advance.
- You may attend alone or with another person, though third parties are typically outside the room during sessions.
- You can leave therapy at any point without obligation, and some clients gain all they need after just 2 or 3 sessions.
Read more about sessions & charges or return to the home page.
Talk about what is causing the tension
Start with an assessment session in Newtownabbey, where the specific problem is looked at in detail before a plan is agreed.