Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy of Anger Management Problem: A Case Study

Abstract

Anger is an experiential state and consists of cognitive, emotional, and physiological components. Maladaptive ways of anger expression may cause professional, social, physical, and legal problems. Prevalence and destructive consequences of anger-related problems increase the treatment importance of these problems. Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment option for anger control. In this case study, a 12-session CBT process of a 37-year-old female who suffered from anger management problems was presented. Psychoeducation about anger was provided and a record for anger-related situations was requested. The record helped the client to realize anger-related antecedents and situations, and to adjust herself proactively predicting her anger. She learned to follow “stop-think-act” order in angry times and to postpone aggressive behaviors by the self-given command of “stop”. She began to realize the cognitive distortions and to restructure her thoughts in the following sessions. Moreover, her awareness about the core belief of being worthless, the assumption about not self-disclosing to others in order to protect herself, or the rule of being respected increased and she realized the connection of these beliefs with her current problems and coping strategies. Besides, she began to be more tolerant in inter-personal relationships and to disclose her thoughts and feelings instead of aggressive behaviors. These interventions resulted in a decrease of trait anger, inappropriate anger expression, anger suppression, and in an increase of anger control as assessed by Trait Anger and Anger Expression Scales. In the present case CBT techniques were effective and consistent with the related CBT literature on anger management.

Keywords

• cognitive and behavioral therapy
• anger control
• aggressive behaviors

Öfke Kontrol Sorununun Bilişsel ve Davranışçı Psikoterapisi: Bir Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

Öfke bilişsel, duygusal ve fizyolojik bileşenlerden oluşan yaşantısal bir durumdur. Öfkenin işlevsel olmayan yollarla ifade edilmesi mesleki, sosyal, fiziksel ve yasal sorunların yaşanmasına neden olabilir. Öfkeyle ilgili zorlukların yaygınlığı ve yıkıcı sonuçları, bu zorlukların tedavisini önemli hale getirmektedir. Bilişsel ve Davranışçı Terapi (BDT), öfke kontrolünde yaygın olarak kullanılan etkili bir yaklaşımdır. Bu olgu sunumunda, öfke kontrol sorunu yaşayan 37 yaşında bir kadın danışanın, BDT yaklaşımıyla yürütülen 12 seanslık psikoterapi süreci aktarılmıştır. Öfke hakkında psiko-eğitim verilen danışandan öfkelendiği durumlar için kayıt tutması istenmiştir. Bu sayede danışan öfke duygusuyla ilişkili belirtileri ve durumları fark etmiş, öfkelenebileceği durumlar için proaktif düzenlemeler yapmıştır. Öfkesi şiddetlendiğinde “dur-düşün-davran” sıralamasını izlemesi ve saldırgan davranışlarını kendisine “dur” komutu vererek ertelemesi sağlanmıştır. Öfkelendiği zamanlardaki bilişsel çarpıtmaları tanımış ve düşüncelerini değiştirmeye başlamıştır. Değersiz olma inancını, hakkındaki olumsuzlukların bilinmemesi halinde yargılanmayacağı varsayımını, saygı görmesi gerektiği kuralını fark etmiş, bunların güncel sorunları ve baş etme stratejileriyle ilişkilerini kavramıştır. Ayrıca kişiler arası ilişkilerde hassasiyetinin yüksek olduğu konulardaki toleransı artmış, saldırgan davranışlar yerine kendini ben diliyle ortaya koymaya başlamıştır. Müdahalelerin sonucunda Sürekli Öfke ve Öfke İfade Tarzı Ölçekleri ’ne göre danışanın sürekli öfkesinde, öfkesini uygun olmayan biçimde ortaya koymasında ve bastırmasında azalma, öfkesini kontrol etmesinde artış gözlenmiştir. Literatürde öfke tedavisinde BDT’nin etkisine işaret eden çalışmalarla tutarlı şekilde, bu vakada kullanılan BDT tekniklerinin etkili olduğu gözlemlenmiştir.

Keywords

• bilişsel ve davranışçı terapi
• öfke kontrolü
• saldırgan davranışlar

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