Anger Meter

One technique that is helpful in increasing the child's awareness of when he or she feels anger is giving them a way to monitor it. A simple way to monitor anger is to use the “anger meter.” A 1 on the anger meter represents a complete lack of anger or a total state of calm, whereas a 10 represents a very angry and explosive loss of control that leads to negative consequences. Points between 1 and 10 represent feelings of anger between these extremes. The purpose of the anger meter is to monitor the escalation of anger as it moves up the scale. For example, when a child encounters an anger-provoking event, he or she does not reach a 10 immediately, although it may sometimes feel that way. In reality, the child’s anger starts at a low number and rapidly moves up the scale. There is always time, provided one has learned effective coping skills, to stop anger from escalating to a 10.

I like to illustrate the escalation of anger with a visual technique I often use in therapy.  I have a balloon and a small pump and tell the child that the pump represents how I feel inside.  I invite the child to say things that he or she thinks will make me angry (I set guidelines for this, to make sure nothing inappropriate is said!).  With each comment, I blow air into the balloon with the pump as I make an angry face.  The child's excitement grows as he or she watches the balloon get larger and larger.  When the balloon gets close to popping, I release it from the pump and it flies around the room.  We then talk about how when we feel angry, our "balloon" inside of us begins to fill.  Eventually it "explodes" and gets us in trouble.  We talk about the importance of "letting the air out of our own balloons".  We also talk about how sometimes we wake up with our balloon already very full, and the slightest thing can make it explode.  The kids love this technique!

One difficulty children  have when learning to use the anger meter is misunderstanding the meaning of a 10. A 10 is reserved for instances when an individual suffers (or could suffer) negative consequences. An example is when a child assaults another person and receives consequences.

A second point to make about the anger meter is that children may interpret the numbers on the scale differently. These differences are acceptable. What may be a 5 for one person may be a 7 for someone else. It is much more important to personalize the anger meter and become comfortable and familiar with your client's readings  of the numbers on the scale.
 

The Anger Meter


10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
• You have a choice!
• Use your anger control
plan to avoid reaching 10!

I encourage my clients whom have difficulty with anger management to keep a record of when they feel angry.  The children often enjoy this to a certain extent, as they get to use graph paper.  I work with them to create a data keeping system that works for them.  This helps us to review in session the times when they got really angry.

Click here to see how child anger management can be achieved through using music

Click here to continue to the next page, "Events Triggering Anger"