The Resolution of Anger in Psychotherapy: A Task Analysis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2011

Abstract

Anger often is conceptualized as a disruptive emotional force, but it may be seen as an adaptive internal signal that cues self-protective action. In this study, an adaptation of task analysis was used to develop a model of how anger is resolved inpsychotherapy. Episodes with markers of client anger (N = 10) were identified in audio-taped psychotherapy sessions by using clients' feedback. From this analysis, two distinct types of processes leading to the resolution of anger were identified in Paths I and II. Across these paths, clients engaged in interventions such as planning action for the future, meta-communicating about the use of emotions, and differentiating and exploring aspects of emotional experience

Publisher

Humanistic Psychologist

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