When outbursts—slamming doors, arguments, name-calling, threats—become your teen’s norm, it’s time to find help. Anger can be a healthy emotion, but only when it’s expressed constructively and with purpose. Family First offers teen anger management in Palm Beach Gardens and in Ft. Lauderdale. With more than 120 years of combined clinical experience, our team of licensed professionals can help your teen explore why they get so angry so they can find new ways of expressing themselves.
When is teen anger a problem?
Every teenager gets angry during the complex journey from childhood to adulthood. Occasional outbursts, boundary testing, and emotional volatility are normal parts of adolescent development. Sometimes, though, it goes too far.Â
Having uncontrolled anger harms relationships with friends and family. It’s a risk factor for substance use, heart disease, road rage accidents, and even memory issues. At its worst, unchecked anger—rage—can also lead to self-harm and harm toward others.Â
Recognizing problematic anger behaviors
The step from normal anger to concerning anger is fairly wide. But without recognizing anger for what it is, setting boundaries, and learning how to de-escalate, even normal anger patterns can become concerning.Â
Normal anger
It’s normal for your teen to get angry when they feel hurt (or even inconvenienced). They might roll their eyes, huff and puff, even talk back when you ask them to take the trash out or get off their phone. You might also see them storm off over nothing if they’re feeling anxious or depressed over something unrelated. Normally, anger:Â
- Is in proportion to the situationÂ
- Is short-lasting and/or resolves when the situation is overÂ
- Doesn’t get in the way of their daily lifeÂ
During one of these angry episodes, you can probably talk your child back down or know that it will blow over relatively quickly.Â
Concerning anger
Anger becomes concerning when it becomes frequent, intense, or prolonged. You might notice:Â
- Explosive reactions to minor requestsÂ
- Inability to calm down within a reasonable timeframeÂ
- Anger that disrupts school performance or family relationshipsÂ
- Throwing and/or hitting thingsÂ
- Making threats toward family, peers, or themselvesÂ
You might feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells around your teen, like even something minor will light their fuse. You might even be scared of what they’ll do when they’re angry.Â
Talk to us about teen anger management.
What kind of anger have you noticed?Â
It can feel like you’re on an island when you’re living with an angry teen, but you’re not alone. Plenty of teens get angry, even deal with explosive anger. Teens act out and explode at home, at school, in public, around others, and even by themselves. Where have you seen it?Â
A note from schoolÂ
Suspensions. Write-ups. Trips to the principal’s office. You might have been called to the school or gotten a note from a teacher. “Johnny yelled at me and other students during class today.” “I saw Kyle hit another student when they were walking to third period.” Even if your teen acts fine at home, they might be more than a handful at school.Â
Broken dishes, holes in the wallÂ
Does the oven seem less hot than your teen’s temper when you’re having an argument at dinner? Plates or glasses may fly, they might put a fork into the table, or even punch a hole in the wall as they storm off to their room. All over something as simple as being told that they can’t go out next Friday.Â
Screaming matchesÂ
Have you ever found yourself lost in an argument? Triggered yourself by how mad your teen got about the smallest issue? It’s normal to get wrapped up in your own emotions and yell at them, only to get screamed at in return. Cursing and name-calling, hurtful words and things not meant come spilling out.Â
Anger creates tension, and tension is hard to live around. The longer it goes unaddressed, the closer everyone gets to snapping.Â
Common triggers and underlying conditionsÂ
Your teen probably isn’t getting angry just to do it. Being angry is stressful, and leaving things unresolved, stuck in the loop of getting worked up and lashing out, doesn’t let anyone make progress. There’s probably something deeper that your teen doesn’t understand or can’t communicate how it’s affecting them.Â
Environmental triggersÂ
- Academic stress: Overwhelming coursework, learning challenges, college prep, and even perfectionism can trigger anger. Whether they’re struggling to keep up or meet high expectations, exploding might seem like the only way out.Â
- Social challenges: Adolescence is a time of quick change. Teens might struggle with their own identity, friends, cyberbullying, and figuring out who they’re attracted to. Interpersonal relationships are frustrating, and anger can be a quick vent.Â
- Family stress: Parental expectations, sibling rivalries, relocation, divorce/separation, and grief around extended family deaths can all trigger anger. It can become a way to express frustration and regain some sense of control.Â
Mental health conditionsÂ
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): Teens with ODD don’t just argue occasionally with parents or teachers—they engage in ongoing power struggles that escalate quickly and seem impossible to resolve through typical discipline approaches.Â
- Intermittent explosive disorder (IED): IED causes episodes of explosive, aggressive behavior that are disproportionate to the situation and occur frequently over time.Â
- Depression: While most people associate depression with sadness, teens may also have angry outbursts when depressed. This can be due to feelings of hopelessness and a lack of control over their emotions.Â
- Anxiety disorders: Anxiety in teens can manifest as irritability or anger, often triggered by stressors like academic pressure or social situations.Â
- Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, including manic episodes, which can trigger intense anger and aggression.Â
- ADHD and autism: Neurodivergent teens may struggle with rage attacks due to difficulties in impulse control and social communication.Â
- Trauma: Teens who have experienced trauma may exhibit aggressive behavior, using anger as a coping mechanism.Â
- Substance use: Substance abuse can also lead to increased aggression and violence in teens.Â
Other factorsÂ
- Brain development: The perfect storm for anger issues. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation, doesn’t fully develop until the mid-twenties, leaving teens vulnerable to explosive reactions.Â
- Hormonal influences: Puberty affects mood regulation and aggression levels, particularly in boys experiencing testosterone surges. However, hormones alone don’t determine behavior—they simply lower the threshold for emotional reactivity.Â
Teen anger is complex. You might not have all the solutions when your son or daughter flies off the handle, and that’s okay. Family First provides evidence-based treatment for oppositional and aggressive behavior in South Florida. We know that there’s no simple “fix”; that’s why we help teens explore their emotions to find a better way forward.Â
How treatment can helpÂ
Professional support can give your teen the tools they need to process their emotions and de-escalate when they feel angry. Talk and experiential therapies use evidence-based methods to teach these tools.Â
Talk therapiesÂ
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps teens identify the thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to anger explosions. Teens learn to recognize early warning signs of anger buildup and develop healthier thinking patterns that prevent minor frustrations from escalating into explosive outbursts.Â
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Focuses on teaching emotional regulation skills and distress tolerance techniques. The mindfulness and emotional regulation skills taught in DBT help teens learn to pause between trigger and response, creating space for healthier choices.Â
- Group therapy: Offers invaluable peer support, social skills practice, and normalized experiences with other teens facing similar challenges. Many teens feel isolated by their anger issues and benefit enormously from discovering they’re not alone in their struggles.Â
- Family therapy: Involving the whole family in therapy can help improve communication, understanding, and support within the household. It also allows parents to learn how to effectively respond to and manage their teen’s anger.Â
Experiential therapyÂ
- Exercise: Physical activity is an excellent outlet for pent-up emotions and stress. Exercise promotes the release of endorphins, reducing feelings of anger, frustration, and aggression.Â
- Music therapy: Music can be a powerful tool for managing difficult emotions. It can help teens express themselves in non-verbal ways and provide a healthy distraction from triggers or negative thoughts.Â
- Art therapy: Similar to music therapy, art allows teens to express their emotions through creative means. This form of therapy can also improve self-esteem and promote relaxation.Â
- Sandtray therapy: Utilizing sand and miniature objects, this therapy allows teens to create a visual representation of their thoughts and emotions. It can be especially helpful for those who need to process trauma or grief that causes anger.Â
Why Family First takes a whole-family approachÂ
Anger is never isolated, especially when teens are struggling with it. Families, friends, and everyone in range of the angry teen may feel its effects. When teens have a stable family base that is supportive, loving, and open to therapy sessions, they are able to receive more effective treatment. We take a whole-family approach because it gives everyone the space, tools, and guidance to heal. Â
Our team creates personalized treatment plans for every family we help. While teens are in treatment—at our residential Palm Beach Gardens program or our Ft. Lauderdale day program—we connect with parents. Through education sessions, family counseling, and support groups with other parents, we’ll guide you through anger management treatment as a family unit. Get your teen the support they deserve. Call 888.904.5947 or contact our team online.Â