Copy of Book Review: Anger Management

A “how to” book for therapists working with anger, “The Practitioner’s Guide to Anger Management” focuses on supporting clients to manage and improve behavioural issues. Published in 2019, the book and accompanying program are authored by two clinical psychologists Dr Howard Kassinove and Dr Raymond Chip Tafrate and offers a comprehensive method for the “Selection Menu for Anger Reduction Treatment” (SMART) program. Suitable for counsellors and related disciplines, their approach works with clients to manage target behaviours of “problem-anger” by using established therapeutic interventions that form the “menu”. The authors demonstrate that this customisable approach can work to help clients to change their “unhealthy anger” in specific contexts.

As a resource, the guide’s format and length is more akin to a student textbook, with elements of a “practioner’s guide” included. Developed for a broad audience ranging from case managers, educators, students in training, and health workers, as well as counsellors. It comprises educational content along with practice insights and case examples of engaging the client. The steps of understanding anger and identifying types of anger form the basis of the method, progressing to evaluation of individual client circumstances and then incorporating proven interventions. The program requires the client to have the goal to change “problem-anger” behaviour and aims to improve the quality of relationships at work and home and in social settings. It presents a program of flexible intervention that encourages seeing the client as an individual and tailoring treatment to suit.

As a counsellor looking for a “practitioner’s guide”, this book offers more fundamental learning and background material and less “practitioner to practitioner” style insights. A focus on the therapeutic alliance is achieved in parts, such as Chapter 17 (Part 8) and the associated case study that is presented in a guide format that counsellors in particular may find useful. That chapter has supplementary information explaining the clinician’s approach and process to tailor the therapy to the client’s specific needs.

Chapter 11 may be a challenging read for some, as it provides case studies of people who have forgiven the perpetrators of very confronting crimes against them, including genocide. In the authors’ own words: ‘This may seem shocking …’. This particular moment is an opportunity for the authors to discuss the thoughts and feelings of a clinician on encountering the potential for vicarious trauma. Surprisingly the authors don’t explore the impact of client experience on the therapist, and don’t include examples of therapist self-care that the authors employ in their work with clients who have anger defined as “unhealthy”.