Q&A: Anger as a Therapeutic Act
Anger as a Therapeutic Act
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I asked a question privately, but another question came up and, with your permission, I would be glad to ask it.
As is well known, it is forbidden to get angry by the Torah.
So we seem to have a problem… Many of the patients who come to clinics are people who suppress or are afraid to express anger toward a particular other person.
As part of the therapy, therapists ask to allow patients to release anger, and in that way reduce the tension and bring relief from the symptoms.
Is this permitted, assuming it really is helpful?
Thank you very much,
Or
Answer
I am not aware that getting angry is forbidden by the Torah, nor even rabbinically. What I do know are statements of the Sages condemning anger. Those are ethical character-guidelines, not Jewish law.
Where anger is needed for treatment, clearly there is no problem with getting angry, just as it is permitted and desirable to get angry when the anger is justified.
Thank you very much, Rabbi.