New therapeutic trend helps women and nonbinary people release anger

Flashback: Krissie McMenamin started RageHER in Chicago in 2022 after studying for a master's degree focused on psychology and social intelligence and hearing from her professors that she hadn't really acknowledged and channeled her anger into positive outlets.

• She noticed her anger came out as passive aggression, toxic positivity or rage.

How it works: McMenamin says each event starts with a facilitator asking questions such as, "Who was allowed to be angry in your family" or "What does anger feel like in your body?"

• Eventually, participants move to the "fury floor" where rage doulas guide them through movements to express their anger and rage which can culminate in anything from screaming to beating pillows to sitting quietly to crying.

What they're saying: "There's something really powerful about being in a group where you're giving each other permission to go bigger, to express more, to witness and be witnessed by other people in this full range of feelings," McMenamin tells Axios.

Between the lines: Most of the rage doulas have training in social and emotional learning and psychology, McMenamin says.

If you go: RageHER takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Hairpin Chicago in Logan Square. Tickets start at $35.

• Open to all women and non-binary people.