SMV Anger: Friend or Foe Conceptualization and Treatment of Anger in Therapy

Friday, August 1, 2025, 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM, SPIEC (Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center), San Diego, CA

This course will provide clinicians with an understanding of anger by identifying symptoms and reviewing anger as an emotion, not a behavior. The components of anger will be discussed including physical sensations, urges, and cognitive aspects of anger. The pathways of anger as a primary and secondary emotion will be reviewed. This discussion will also break down common false beliefs about anger and the impact this has on one's relationship with this emotion. Further, the course will review how lack of awareness, misinterpretation of physical sensations, and beliefs about anger can lead to hidden anger, which may manifest as diagnoses. Case vignettes will be reviewed to show how anger may manifest differently in patients. This course will provide an overview of using temperature as an analogy for understanding the levels and progression of anger. Like temperature, anger builds on itself and understanding that concept will enhance both the clinician’s and client’s ability to cope. Attendees will learn to use the Anger Thermometer as a clinical tool to empower clients to master anger by understanding the cognitive and physical triggers and identify healthy coping skills. Attendees will learn the importance of baseline anger and how a fi rm understanding of baseline anger will both aid clients in minimizing the elevation of anger and provide an avenue for relief from the fear of losing control of anger. Lastly, discussion will focus on various coping skills clients can employ to minimize the escalation of anger and ultimately decrease baseline. This course will discuss various ways a patient’s anger may show up in the therapy session and provide clinicians with the tools to recognize the anger and guidelines on how to address this conflict in the therapeutic relationship. Role-playing activities will be used to demonstrate a clinical approach to patient’s anger based on a variety of case vignettes. The case vignettes will represent different difficulties that clinicians face in the therapy session.

1. Describe biological pathways of anger.
2. Differentiate between normal and pathological anger.
3. Discuss the different perspectives of anger and the assessment of major depression when anger is the underlying problem.
4. Identify symptoms of anger and conceptualize complexities of anger. 
5. Apply Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to manage and decrease the impact of anger on daily functioning. 
6. Manage anger in a therapy session.

Accreditation:  Sharp HealthCare is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit:  Sharp HealthCare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

PA Credit:  PAs may claim a maximum of 5.5 Category 1 credits for completing this activity. NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.

NP Credit:  AANPCB accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) issued by organizations accredited by ACCME as an equivalent number of hours of participation. 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit = 5.5 contact hour(s).

 

 LMFT/LCSWLPCC/LEP Credit:  Sharp HealthCare is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs (Provider number:  130750).  Sharp HealthCare maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.  Course meets the qualifications for 5.5 hour(s) of continuing education credit for LMFTs. LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  For LMFT/LCSWLPCC/LEP disciplines, course completion certificates will be emailed to the email address provided on course sign-in sheet within 10 business days.

       

Cultural & Linguistic Competency and Implicit Bias Standards: This activity is in compliance with California Assembly Bill 1195 which requires that all CME activities comprising a patient care element include curriculum addressing the topic of cultural and linguistic competency, in conjunction with California Senate Bill 923 gender-affirming care, and in compliance with California Assembly Bill 241 which requires that all CME activities incorporate educational components to address factors identified as impacting the provider’s patient populations and disparities potentially caused and exacerbated. 

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Sharp HealthCare adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education (ACE). Any individuals in a position to control the content of an ACE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities. All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.