If you want to change how you respond when you feel angry, it helps to choose a format you can actually use. You might want a self-paced course, a group programme or individual appointments. This guide explains the differences and the questions to ask before you choose. My anger management guide also explains common difficulties and treatment approaches.
My online anger management programme is for adults aged 18 and over who want to work on their own anger. Below, I explain how self-paced learning compares with other options in Ireland. If you are looking for help for a child, training to work with clients, or a course someone has required you to attend, check the provider’s suitability and requirements before enrolling.
What Kind of Help Is Out There?
Different people need different kinds of support. Here are the main options:
Self-paced online learning
You work through recorded lessons and practical exercises when it suits you. This format suits adults who want to practise independently rather than attend scheduled sessions. Check the curriculum, access period and refund terms so you know what you are buying.
One-to-one therapy
This is traditional, face-to-face therapy. It’s private, it’s tailored to you, and it’s often the best route if your anger is tied up with other things like depression, trauma, or anxiety. If your experience of anger is what we term ‘complex’ in that you might have a dual diagnosis of another mental health condition, then I fully recommend meeting with a psychologist for face to face therapy, as they have the experience not only to help with anger, but also work with other conditions.
Group courses
These usually run over a set number of weeks, where you learn anger management skills alongside others. For some, this is powerful because you realise quickly you’re not the only one struggling. Hearing how other people cope — and being supported when you practice the skills yourself — can make a big difference.
Online or in-person
Since Covid, online therapy has become a normal choice in Ireland. Some people love the convenience of logging in from home, others prefer sitting in a room with someone. There’s no right or wrong — it’s about what feels doable and safe for you.
Making Sure Someone Is Qualified
Here’s the bit a lot of people don’t realise: in Ireland, the titles “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” aren’t legally protected. That means anyone could call themselves one. So it’s crucial you look for accreditation.
Look for membership in one of these:
- IACP (Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- PSI (Psychological Society of Ireland — if you’re looking for a psychologist, go for a Chartered Psychologist)
- IAHIP (Irish Association for Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy)
- FTAI (Family Therapy Association of Ireland)
If they’re accredited by one of these, you know they’ve had proper training, are supervised, and follow a code of ethics.
Some Places to Start
Here are a few names you’ll come across if you start searching:
- Access Counselling Clinic (Dublin): Offers one-to-one counselling and group anger programmes.
- The Therapy Centre (Dublin): Uses CBT, person-centred, and compassion-focused approaches.
- Blanchardstown Therapy Centre: One-to-one counselling with a focus on healthy coping skills.
- Irish Association of Anger Management (IaAM): Runs workshops and programmes nationally.
- MindFully Well: Therapists across Cork, Galway, Limerick, and beyond.
- Counselling Experts: Supports adults, teens, and children both in person and online.
- Directories: IACP.ie both searchable databases where you can filter for “anger.”
Questions Worth Asking
Don’t be afraid to check out a therapist before you commit. A short call can save you months of frustration if they’re not a good fit. Here are some things to ask:
- Have you worked with anger issues before?
- What approach do you use — CBT, DBT, something else?
- How do we know if therapy is working?
- What’s the cost and do you offer a sliding scale?
- What availability do you have?
Getting help for anger is a sensible healthy decision. It’s saying, “I want to stop hurting myself and the people I care about.” It takes time and you have to put the work in, but with the right support — whether that’s a course, a counsellor, or both — you’ll feel the difference and get control back in your life
Related reading: free anger-support resources in Ireland; finding an anger-management therapist.