A COMPARISON OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL AND PROCESS-ORIENTED GROUP-COUNSELING FOR GENERAL ANGER REDUCTION

Two counseled groups—one using anger reduction for cognitive‐relaxation coping skills and the other using time‐limited, anger‐focused, process‐oriented group counseling—were compared to an uncounseled control group. Both forms of counseling led to significant reductions on a number of trait, state, and person‐specific measures of anger as well as nontargeted general anxiety. Effects were maintained at 5‐week and 15‐month follow‐ups. At no point did counseling conditions differ significantly from one another, suggesting process groups are effective for general anger reduction and as effective as one of the best researched options in the field. Limitations of this conclusion are outlined along with needed research. 1990 American Counseling Association