Psychotherapy for anger outbursts

Anger is a human emotion with its own origin and message. Difficulties arise when outbursts come suddenly, are stronger than we can understand, leave a sense of guilt and shame, or when anger is turned against ourselves again and again. In psychoanalytic therapy we do not look only for a way to hold an outburst back, but for an understanding of what it is for.

How anger outbursts show up

Anger outbursts often show up suddenly: the feeling overwhelms you before you can stop it, and afterwards guilt, shame, or a sense of having done something you did not want to do remain. Sometimes you hold anger back for a long time until it bursts, or it turns inward, into tiredness, tension and low mood. The consequences are often visible in relationships with those close to you, a partner, children or colleagues.

A psychoanalytic view of anger outbursts

Anger is often not only a reaction to the present event. It can carry an unexpressed past, an unmet need, or a pain that has not found words. Psychoanalytic work therefore looks not only for a technique of control, but for where the anger was originally directed and why it could not be expressed in a safe way.

Psychotherapy for anger outbursts in practice

In therapy I do not press you to stop feeling anger. Together we try to understand when and in which relationships it appears, what triggers it, and why it is sometimes so strong. Anger can be expressed for the first time within the therapeutic relationship, where we can explore it safely.

How I work with anger outbursts

It matters to me that you feel relaxed and accepted enough with me to express everything that comes to mind. Then we gain access to your inner world, which shows us where the difficulty really lies and how to move forward. When we touch the source, the symptom often calms down by itself.

When to seek help

If anger outbursts endanger your relationships, work or safety, if fear of your own anger limits you, or if guilt, shame or emptiness remain after outbursts.

Help with anger outbursts in Ljubljana

I offer psychoanalytic psychotherapy for anger outbursts in Ljubljana or online (by video call). At the beginning we agree on three introductory sessions (45–50 minutes each), in which you see how I work and whether psychoanalytic psychotherapy suits you. After that we agree on regular weekly sessions.

If anger surprises you before you can stop it, and guilt or shame remain after an outburst, we can explore together what triggers the outbursts and where the anger was originally directed.

More about how psychotherapy works and how to book an appointment.

Frequently asked questions about anger outbursts

Does psychotherapy help with anger outbursts?

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy for anger outbursts does not look only for a way to ease the difficulty, but for an understanding of what it is communicating. I work with the causes of distress and not only with the distress as expressed. Once we find the cause, and during the psychotherapeutic process, symptoms often ease or disappear.

How long does psychotherapy for anger outbursts take?

Duration is individual and depends on the therapeutic goal and on how long the difficulties have been present. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can last from a few months to a few years. One session lasts 45 to 50 minutes; usually once a week, and by arrangement sometimes several times a week.

Will I stop being angry in therapy?

The goal is not to stop feeling anger. Anger is a human emotion with its own origin and message. Together we understand what triggers the outbursts and where the anger was originally directed.