By Emma Pritchard (Accredited Counsellor and Certified Forest Therapist)
Since qualifying as a counsellor in 2016 I have received many referrals for young boys and young male adults labelled as “angry” by their parents and professionals. Their angry and often destructive behaviours leading them to become isolated at both school and home, and in some cases transitioning out of mainstream education to an alternative provision. Expecting to meet with a real life Incredible Hulk, on the contrary they have appeared with a gentleness, sensitivity, sadness and loneliness, and left me commonly felt a sense that these boys are more lost and confused than angry.
Anger is a very normal emotion/feeling for us all and many express, but as I explore this emotion with my clients it is often accompanied by other feelings such as shame and anxiety. As human beings we don’t like to see Anger, we don’t like to hear Anger and we don’t like to be Angry, so many of us suppress Anger, and Anger then becomes very good at hiding other feelings. Much of my therapeutic work over the past 7 years has centred around supporting young people to find positive self-care coping strategies and outlets for their angry energy.
In 2017, I began working with my young clients solely and intuitively in woodland spaces to support their challenging feelings and thoughts. Through my additional Shinrin Yoku/Forest bathing studies I became reminded of how innately we are all connected to nature and began to see how positively young people respond to being in an outdoor space. In the 1980s, the Japanese culture recognised that they were becoming eye dominated with their advanced technology, and they began to embrace natural environments with prescriptive walks connecting to all senses instead of medication,(pioneered by Dr Qing Li) to support overwhelming feelings of anger, anxiety and depression. The Shinrin Yoku research not only reduces these overwhelming feelings, but it also boosts moods, creativity and productivity and our immune systems!
Even before the coronovirus pandemic we all had a responsibility to help our lost boys and teach them self-responsibility and self-care for their angry energy. The young people I work with simply love kicking leaves and running around in outdoor spaces, so if there is resistance initially, then start with simple activities. Remember that negative patterns take time to break so continue with new routines until it becomes the new normal.
I support Dorset schools with 1 to 1 and group outdoor therapeutic sessions, so please contact me via emma.pritcharddcw on Instagram or Emma Pritchard- Dorchester counselling and well-being on Facebook or my website if you feel your school or child would benefit from therapeutic support.
If you are worried or concerned about safeguarding a young person who is presenting with Angry behaviours at home or school then please contact your family GP, social services and or young people professionals such as CAMHS for advice and support.