Should the whole family go to counseling if one child has anger issues?

Everyone experiences anger at some point. It is human emotion that cannot be eliminated. It is how, where, and when anger is expressed that defines it as a problem or not. The person expressing anger may not see it as a problem either but others around him\her can.
If a child is expressing anger and it impacts on the family and attempts to curb within the family have been exhausted, seeking outside help would be advised. Who participates in therapy is dependent on the circumstances and the motivation of the child who has the Anger Management problem. Sibling and parental reaction to anger as well as involvement prior to the anger episode need to be evaluated.

Parent involvement is essential in therapy. Parents response to anger and consequences attached to anger episodes could help shape behavior and offer motivation and investment into change. Other family members could be brought in to help assist in allowing the child to master Anger Management skills and define their roles in this problem. Sibling participation would be helpful if: there is a need to repair damaged relationships, siblings could assist the child in helping manage the problem, they may be directly or indirectly escalating the problem, and there is a need for further understanding of the nature of anger.

The main focus of therapy should be on the anger issue. Family counseling (with siblings) could be counterproductive if the focus shifts away from the anger problem. Also, the child experiencing anger should have some rapport with their sibling. If this relationship is strained to the degree the child is reluctant to open up, it may be more productive to hold off on family counseling (with sibling) until the anger could be stabilized.