Anger management
Anger management therapy in Orange County
Enhance provides anger management therapy Orange County adults can start in outpatient care, using CBT to change how anger builds and comes out.
(714) 862-19074.9 from 448 Google reviews
Clinically reviewed by Christina Khouie, MA, LMFT, our founder, on September 30, 2026. Enhance is accredited by The Joint Commission and certified by the California Department of Health Care Services.
Check your coverage
Send us three details and we’ll check what your plan covers, then call you back.
What it is
What is anger management therapy?
Anger management therapy is treatment with a licensed therapist that helps you understand your triggers and respond without shouting, threats or damage.
The American Psychological Association calls anger a normal emotion, so the goal is healthier expression, not pushing it down. It becomes a problem when it is too frequent, too intense or destructive.
Everyday anger
Anger at an unfair moment passes once the moment is over. Expressed calmly, it can even help other people see what went wrong.
Anger that needs treatment
This kind of anger flares often, lasts a long time, and comes out as shouting, threats or broken things. It starts to damage your relationships, work and health.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 right away. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988.
Levels of care
Levels of care for anger management
Most anger management happens in outpatient therapy, with IOP or PHP when anger comes with depression, trauma or substance use disorders.
Inpatient
- Where you sleep
- On site, with clinical staff
- How much of your week
- All of it
- Who it suits
- Needs more than a day program
- What usually comes next
- PHP
Partial hospitalization (PHP)
- Where you sleep
- At home
- How much of your week
- Most of each day
- Who it suits
- Can sleep at home safely
- What usually comes next
- IOP
Intensive outpatient (IOP)
- Where you sleep
- At home
- How much of your week
- Part of the week
- Who it suits
- Keeping up work or school
- What usually comes next
- Outpatient
Outpatient
- Where you sleep
- At home
- How much of your week
- Regular sessions
- Who it suits
- Doing well with therapy
- What usually comes next
- Ongoing care
Admissions will tell you on the first call which level of care fits your situation.
When to call
Signs anger may need treatment
A clinician decides whether anger needs treatment by how often signs like these happen and what they cost you.
- You shout, make threats or break things when you are angry.
- Your angry episodes are frequent, intense or slow to fade.
- Your anger has cost you a job, a relationship or trouble with the law.
- People close to you seem afraid of how you will react.
- You feel guilt or shame after most angry episodes.
- Anger often covers up other emotions, like sadness or worry.
Outpatient may be enough if
- No one at home is in danger.
- You can keep up with work or school.
- Weekly therapy sessions are helping.
If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
What anger management therapy includes
Treatment for anger at Enhance may include these parts, and each one works on the patterns behind outbursts rather than only the outbursts.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you spot your triggers and the thoughts that turn frustration into rage, then practice calmer responses. It is the core of anger management here.
DBT skills
Dialectical behavior therapy teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance, which are coping skills for the moments when anger rises fast.
Individual therapy
One-to-one sessions with a licensed therapist, where you look at what sets off your anger and plan what to do instead.
Group therapy
Groups led by a licensed therapist focus on skill development and coping skills, such as speaking up assertively instead of aggressively.
Family therapy
Sessions that include family members when it would help, so the people at home understand your plan and how to respond.
Dual diagnosis care
When anger comes with substance use disorders, one team treats both in one plan, and a licensed psychiatrist manages medication if needed.
Other conditions
Related care
Treatment for anger also looks at mental health conditions that may come with it, such as depression, anxiety, trauma or substance use.
What happens when you call
See what happens when you call admissions or send us the form.
You call, or send the form
You tell admissions what is happening and whether you think anger management might fit.
We check your benefits
With your permission, we contact your insurer and find out what your plan covers.
You hear what it means
Admissions explains your deductible, your copay and which level of care your plan supports, in plain terms.
You decide
If you want to go ahead, admissions walks you through what happens next.
Benefits vary from plan to plan, and checking them does not guarantee coverage.
(714) 862-1907Cost and coverage
What your plan may cover
What you pay depends on your deductible, your copay and the level your insurer approves. Admissions checks your benefits with the insurer and tells you the figures before you decide anything.
We're in network with most insurance plans. If your plan isn't listed, call us and we'll check it for you.
Some plans we accept
- Ambetter
- MHN
- CalPERS
- Covered California
Common questions about anger management
If your question is not answered here, call admissions at (714) 862-1907.
Is anger management the same as therapy?
At Enhance, yes. Anger management here is therapy with a licensed therapist, mostly CBT, rather than a class or a course.
What type of therapist is best for anger management?
A licensed therapist trained in CBT is a common choice. In California, that may be a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed professional clinical counselor.
How do I know when my anger has become a problem?
Anger issues become a problem when angry episodes are frequent, intense or slow to fade, or when they hurt your relationships, work or health.
What does cognitive behavioral therapy for anger actually involve?
You track your triggers, notice the thoughts that turn frustration into rage, and practice coping strategies such as pausing, stress management and restating the problem calmly.
Is group therapy or individual therapy better for managing anger?
Neither is better for everyone, and many plans use both. Individual therapy looks at your own patterns, and a therapist-led group lets you practice skills without being judged.
Can anger be a symptom of depression, anxiety, or PTSD?
Yes. Irritability and anger can be part of a mood disorder such as depression, and of anxiety or PTSD, so your assessment checks for these too.
How are substance use and anger problems connected?
Some people drink or use drugs to calm anger, and substance use can lower self-control. Anger can also make addiction recovery harder, so we treat both together.
What levels of care are available for anger-related mental health concerns?
Most people start in outpatient therapy. Our IOP and PHP treatment programs can help when anger comes with another mental health condition, and admissions recommends a level.
What happens during an intake assessment for anger-related concerns?
A clinician usually asks how often anger shows up, what it has cost you, and about your health, substance use and safety. You then hear the recommended level of care and decide.
Can anger management therapy help with relationship and family conflict?
It can be part of the work. Family therapy can join your plan when it would help, so the people closest to you understand the skills you are building.
What are warning signs that anger is escalating toward violence?
Threats, breaking things, blocking a doorway or feeling unable to calm down are warning signs. If anyone is in danger, call 911, and call or text 988 if you think about hurting yourself.
How long does anger management take?
It depends on your needs and the level of care. You and your therapist review progress together, and results depend on the practice you do between sessions.
Does insurance cover anger management therapy?
Insurance coverage depends on your plan and the level of care. Admissions checks your benefits with the insurer, and checking does not guarantee coverage.
Talk with admissions about anger management
Describe how often the anger shows up and what it has cost you. Admissions will suggest a level of care, and you decide.
Enhance Health Group14742 Newport Ave STE 208, Tustin, CA 92780