Anger Management Therapy in Alberta
Maybe you snap at the people you love, then feel awful afterwards. Maybe anger comes out of nowhere, or it sits under the surface all day. You might not even call it anger, just being "on a short fuse."
Anger is a normal emotion, and it often protects something that matters. When it starts costing you relationships, work or peace of mind, it's worth getting support. KP Psychological offers online anger management therapy for adults across Alberta, including Edmonton and Calgary, by secure video, for people who are physically in Alberta at the time of each session.
When anger becomes a problem
Most people feel angry sometimes. Anger becomes a problem when it's affecting your life: when it's too frequent, too intense, lasts too long, or comes out in ways that hurt you or others.
Anger shows up in the body, the mind and behaviour. You might notice:
- In your body: a faster heartbeat, tense muscles, clenched fists, tightness in your chest or feeling hot
- In your mind: feeling tense or unable to relax, being easily irritated, feeling humiliated, or resenting other people
- In what you do: shouting, sulking or ignoring people, starting fights, breaking things, or hurting yourself
What can sit underneath anger
Anger is often a surface emotion. Underneath, there may be hurt, fear, shame, exhaustion or a sense that something isn't fair. Chronic stress, poor sleep, pain and alcohol can all shorten your fuse.
Anger after trauma. Anger is one of the most common reactions to trauma. The U.S. National Center for PTSD explains that anger is part of our survival response. After trauma, that response can get "stuck," so everyday stress sets it off as if it were a life-threatening danger.
This is common for first responders and Veterans and military members, whose work trains the body to stay ready for threat. Anger can also come from moral injury, the deep distress of seeing or doing things that go against your values.
What the research says helps
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is the most common approach in anger management. The NHS notes that most anger management programs include CBT, often with counselling. For anger linked to PTSD, the National Center for PTSD recommends CBT that works on three things together:
- Arousal: learning to calm your body before anger takes over
- Behaviour: building more options than yelling or shutting down, such as taking a time-out
- Thoughts: noticing beliefs like "you can't trust anyone" that keep anger going
Treating the trauma underneath. When anger is driven by PTSD, treating the PTSD itself can matter too. Trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR are recommended for PTSD in international guidelines. Research on EMDR for anger specifically is limited, so we'd use it for the trauma, not as an anger treatment on its own.
Things that can help right away
The NHS suggests some simple steps when anger rises:
- Pause. Count to 10 and try slow, calming breathing before you respond.
- Step away. Take a short time-out, and come back when your body has settled.
- Move. Regular exercise, such as walking, running, swimming or yoga, can help burn off tension.
- Talk it through. Tell someone you trust what's making you angry.
- Try CBT self-help tools, such as noticing the thought that fired you up and questioning it.
In this video, Kyle guides you through a short exercise to help calm your nervous system.
How we can help
We start by understanding where you are now, what you have been carrying, and what you want to feel different. Then we plan together. There's no shaming here. Wanting to change how anger shows up in your life is a strong step.
Therapy may include:
- understanding your anger cycle: triggers, body signals, thoughts and actions
- body-based skills to bring your system down from "high alert"
- CBT and DBT skills for responding instead of reacting
- communication skills for saying what you need without escalating
- trauma-focused work, such as EMDR, when anger connects to past experiences
Who you'd see
You'd work with Kyle Poon, R.Psych. Anger management is one of the areas he works with, alongside trauma, PTSD and the stress of front-line work. His style is calm, collaborative, and direct when needed. Kyle currently has a waitlist, and the free consult is a good time to talk about timing.
If anyone is being hurt or is afraid
If anger has led to violence, threats or fear at home, safety comes first.
- In immediate danger: call 911.
- Alberta's Family Violence Info Line: call or text 310-1818, 24/7, with phone support in more than 170 languages.
If there's violence or fear in a relationship, individual support comes before couples therapy.
What therapy looks like here
Sessions are 50 minutes, by secure video. How often we meet is up to you. We work it out together, based on what fits you best, including your finances and your coverage.
A session with Kyle is $250. Alberta Health Care doesn't cover psychologists, but many extended health plans do, and we can bill most insurance companies directly. See fees and insurance for details.
Common questions
Is anger a mental health problem?
Anger itself is a normal emotion, not a diagnosis. It becomes something to work on when it's hurting your relationships, work, health or safety. Sometimes anger is part of something else, like PTSD, depression or chronic stress, and that's worth looking at too.
Do you offer court-ordered or mandated anger programs?
No. We offer voluntary therapy only, and we don't provide letters for court-ordered or employer-required programs. If a court or employer requires a program, ask them which programs they accept.
Do I have to talk about my past?
Not unless you want to. Many people start with practical skills for the here and now. If your anger connects to past experiences, we can work on that when you're ready, at your pace.
Can you help if my anger comes from my job?
Yes. Many first responders, Veterans and health care workers notice more anger after years of stress and exposure to trauma. See our pages on therapy for first responders and therapy for Veterans and military members.
Will my partner be involved?
Only if you want that. Most anger work starts one-on-one. If things are safe at home and you'd both like it, couples sessions with Marissa may help later.
Do you bill insurance directly?
We can bill most insurance companies directly, so you only pay the part your plan doesn't cover. Tell us your plan at your free consult, and we'll confirm before your first session.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
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