Psychotherapeutic Session Outline: Anger Management
Session Length: 60 Minutes
Patient Mood
- Primary Mood: Angry
- Engagement Level: Neutral or Indifferent
Main Condition
Session Goals
- Utilize Motivational Interviewing to enhance the patient's awareness of their anger triggers.
- Set small, achievable goals for managing anger.
- Encourage positive self-talk and challenge the belief: "Everything is my fault."
- Reinforce engagement in behavioral activation activities.
Session Structure
I. Introduction (5 minutes)
- Greeting and Warm-Up:
- Welcome the patient and create a comfortable environment.
- Briefly review the goals of the session.
II. Exploring Current Feelings (10 minutes)
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Open-Ended Questions:
- Ask the patient to share recent experiences that triggered anger.
- Explore the thoughts and feelings associated with these triggers.
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Reflective Listening:
- Acknowledge the patient's feelings ("It sounds like you're really frustrated when...").
III. Motivational Interviewing Techniques (15 minutes)
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Elicit-Provide-Elicit:
- Elicit: Ask the patient about their views on their anger and its effects.
- Provide: Offer information about anger management and its benefits.
- Elicit: Invite the patient to express their thoughts about changing their patterns of response.
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Explore Ambivalence:
- Discuss the pros and cons of holding onto anger versus letting it go.
IV. Setting Small, Achievable Goals (10 minutes)
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Goal Setting Exercise:
- Help the patient identify one specific situation where they often feel anger.
- Collaboratively set a small, achievable goal for managing this anger (e.g., practicing deep breathing for 1 minute when feeling angry).
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Write Down Goals:
- Document these goals to reinforce commitment.
V. Positive Self-Talk Techniques (10 minutes)
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Cognitive Restructuring:
- Introduce the concept of positive self-talk and its impact on emotions.
- Encourage the patient to challenge the mindset of "Everything is my fault" by identifying evidence to the contrary.
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Role-Play Exercise:
- Conduct a brief role-play where the patient practices reframing negative thoughts into positive affirmations.
VI. Behavioral Activation Activities Assignment (5 minutes)
VII. Session Closing (5 minutes)
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Summarize Key Points:
- Recap the importance of small goals, positive self-talk, and ongoing behavioral activation.
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Feedback and Reflection:
- Invite the patient to share their thoughts on the session and what they found most helpful.
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Next Steps:
- Briefly outline what will be covered in the next session and encourage continued reflection on anger management strategies.
Homework Assignment
- Behavioral Activation: Engage in one enjoyable activity daily and reflect on the feelings associated with it.
- Self-Talk Practice: Each evening, write down at least two positive affirmations to replace negative thoughts encountered during the day.
Conclusion
This structured session aims to systematically address anger management through motivational interviewing, goal-setting, and the promotion of positive self-talk, thereby fostering greater engagement and constructive behavior change in the patient.