Psychologists and psychotherapists are playing an increasingly important role in preventing violence against women, as growing numbers of men are presenting to mental health professionals for anger issues.
Anger – described as the action of showing violent or self-destructive behaviour or having a pathologically aggressive nature – is one of the least well-managed mental health conditions among men, according to clinical psychologist Dr John Kearny, who cites it as one of the main perceived causes for 64 per cent of violence against women.
“Anger gives us the energy to deal with difficult, sometimes threatening situations, so it’s important to be able to feel anger occasionally,” Dr Kearney said.