Letting Go of Anger
Teen anger can take many forms. You might see it expressed as resentment, rage, or even fury. The anger that teens struggle with is very intense and powerful feeling. Anger is a secondary emotion for teens because it covers up other feelings that they find difficult to express.
Float on a Cloud is a popular and highly effective tool to manage not only a teen's anger, but also those underlying, super-strong feelings felt immediately before anger such as: frustration, fear, hurt, failure, humiliation, shame, sadness, rejection, distrust, jealousy, inadequacy, and insecurity.
When teens learn to let go of anger, even briefly, they feel calmer and more empowered in a healthy way. Letting go of frustration and anger also paves the way for problem solving.
For example, Float on a Cloud could help a teen explore how to allow more time get to school during morning madness, or how to get school work done better.
Managing anger for teens also helps them to manage relationships with family members, peers, and teachers.
Here are 4 steps for helping preteens and teens float away their anger:
1. Find a comfortable place to sit, recline or lie down.
2. Close your eyes if you are comfortable doing so and imagine floating on a soft, white, puffy cloud.
3 Breathe in picturing yourself floating up a few inches.
4 As you breathe out, imagine yourself floating back down and your anger leaving your body and going through the cloud into the surrounding air.
Float on a Cloud is just one of 54 unique cards from my new card deck "Letting Go of Anger." The easy to use exercises are simple skills and tools to help manage anger, overcome anxiety and create positive changes.
Download the Float on a Cloud card now and find the full "Letting Go of Anger" card deck here.
Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD, is a child and family psychologist with over 35 years of clinical experience specializing in anxiety, overthinking, and behavioral challenges in children and adolescents. He is the author of multiple books including, When Overthinking Overtakes Your Child: 10 Days to Ease Anxiety, Quiet Worry, and Tame Runaway Thoughts, and the international bestseller, 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child, which has been published in several countries.
His recent clinical and professional development interests have focused on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-informed interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based strategies, psychological flexibility, and process-focused approaches to address worry, rumination, overthinking, and difficulties with emotional regulation.
Dr. Bernstein is the recipient of the 2025 PSCP: The Psychology Network’s Distinguished Psychologist Award and is widely recognized for translating evidence-based therapy into practical, immediately usable strategies for clinicians, families, and schools.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jeffrey Bernstein maintains a private practice. He is an author and receives royalties. Dr. Bernstein receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jeffrey Bernstein is a fellow with the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.
