Are you worried about your teen’s mental health due to their anger issues? As a parent, watching your child deal with seemingly uncontrollable anger can be hard. In addition to affecting themselves, your teen’s anger issues can have a major impact on the whole family. The solution to these issues is not always clear. When your teen starts to act out, you might feel ill equipped to offer support and guidance. Fortunately, help is available. With the right treatment, your teen can build coping skills and learn to effectively manage their anger.

Behavior problems like anger issues don’t typically exist in isolation. If your child experiences uncontrollable anger it might be connected to other mental health concerns. In children with behavior problems, more than 1 in 3 (or 36.6%) also have anxiety, and about 1 in 5 (or 20%) also have depression, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Addressing your teen’s anger issues will likely entail addressing the core conditions behind their anger. When it comes to teen mental health treatment, an intensive outpatient program (IOP) can be a great treatment option. IOPs offer structured, comprehensive care while still enabling your teen to live at home and, in most cases, attend school. When regular therapy sessions just aren’t enough, an IOP may be the best next step.

3 ways intensive outpatient treatment can help your teen manage their anger

Intensive outpatient treatment programs can help teens with managing anger in a variety of ways. By learning more about how an IOP can help your teen, you can make more informed treatment decisions. Here are some of the key ways intensive outpatient treatment works to help teens regulate their emotions:

• Group therapy — Teens experiencing emotional instability often feel isolated. Group therapy can help by providing a safe space for peer discussions and support. In group therapy, your teen can share their experiences with others who understand what they are going through. Group therapy also helps your teen develop better communication skills. Teens experiencing anger issues often have trouble building friendships. In social settings, such as school, they may keep to themselves and seem hostile to others. This can hinder their development of social skills. With group therapy, your teen will be immersed in a comfortable, moderated social environment intended to facilitate social skill building.

• Individual therapy — Do you think your teen may benefit from one-on-one care? A good intensive outpatient program will incorporate frequent individual therapy sessions. During these sessions, your teen can explore the root cause of their anger in a safe and private setting. Therapeutic strategies may be tailored to your teen’s needs. Expert therapists utilize a range of approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). These approaches are integrated into a comprehensive care model designed to help your teen make progress toward lasting improvement.

• Family counseling — Do you want to be involved in your teen’s treatment? Family counseling, a core part of intensive outpatient treatment, can be a great way to support your teen. Family support can have a big impact on teens struggling with their mental health. By engaging in your teen’s treatment journey, you can boost their confidence and help them stay motivated as they work toward a state of mental wellness.

How to manage anger issues: 3 effective coping mechanisms

By supporting your teen on their mental health journey, you can boost their confidence and strengthen your bond. One of the best ways to help your teen is by encouraging skill development. Practicing coping skills can empower your teen to better manage their anger. Here are some effective coping mechanisms that may complement your teen’s mental health treatment plan:

• Breathing exercises — Chronic anger is often a sign of anxiety. If your teen constantly feels on edge, they may lash out in inappropriate ways. In these situations, relaxation techniques can offer major benefits. Deep breathing exercises are one great way to relax. Simple box breathing exercises are easy to learn, can be practiced anywhere and can have immediate relaxing effects. The Cleveland Clinic has an excellent overview of box breathing. 

• Mindfulness — Mindfulness is about focusing on the present moment and calming one’s thoughts. When your teen gets angry or upset about past or future events, mindfulness can be a great way for them to reduce their distress. In addition to practicing at home, your teen may also learn mindfulness strategies during the course of their intensive outpatient program. We love this video by the Partnership In Education, about Heartbeat, a mindfulness exercise to calm your emotions. 

• Physical activity — Teens often try to repress anger and other intense emotions. This can lead to worsening mental health and unexpected outbursts. Instead of keeping their energy and frustration inside, your teen may benefit from a coping mechanism that offers a healthy outlet. Physical activities like running, swimming and cycling can be great for emotional stability. Exercise also releases endorphins (natural feel-good chemicals) that can boost your teen’s mood, helping them feel happier and more satisfied.

Embrace U can help your teen with managing anger

At Embrace U, our intensive outpatient program offers structured, short-term treatment for adolescents aged 10 to 18. Our expert team uses evidence-based techniques designed to ensure the best results for all our patients. With our help, your teen can gain control over their anger and other emotions.

Contact our team today for more information about our treatment programs or to schedule an initial appointment.