Healthy Anger

Whether dealing with the tantrums of a demanding two-year-old or the hostile rejecting rage of a distraught teenager seeking greater independence dealing with a child''s anger is one of the most frustrating and challenging tasks faced by a parent. While some children learn constructive strategies to manage anger many learn ineffective ways that may lead to more severe emotional and behavioural difficulties such as underachievement depression interpersonal conflict and in extreme cases even violence. In Healthy Anger psychologists and anger expert Dr Bernard Golden helps us understand how children experience and express anger and how parents can help them to manage this complex and charged emotion. Rather than just examining the child''s disruptive behaviour Golden focuses on parent-child interaction teaching parents constructive ways to respond to the whole child. Anger Golden explains is a natural emotion that is distinct from behaviour that is aggressive. He emphasizes that anger does not occur in isolation but rather in the context of individual needs attitudes perceptions and emotions. Golden helps parents work with their children to identify the causes of their anger and then to implement strategies for coping in a healthy way. He gives parents constructive guidance for helping to understand child logic talking about anger and forgiveness responding to escalating anger rewarding good behaviours and recognizing those children and teens who need professional help. Throughout the book Golden includes clear step-by-step instructions for exercises and tasks that will build coping strategies and build problem-solving skills for managing and channeling anger in healthy ways. Healthy Anger is an accessible and comprehensive guide for parents teachers and clinicians who work with children and teens.