Anger Management and Counseling in Phoenix, AZ.

Anger is a specific form of dysregulation where the body is out of balance and looking for away to get back into balance. We work with clients to get back into balance and find ways to release anger in healthy ways. Our goal is to understand where the anger may be coming from and work to find ways explore the things that may be underlying the anger response.

My approach to anger management typically involves components of (DBT) dialectical behavioral therapy, including, mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. In summary, mindfulness practices allow us to observe our current states of being, as they are, without judgment. Fostering emotional regulation allows us to work with what we are observing in ourselves. Distress tolerance skills help us work through the difficult moments. Lastly, interpersonal effectiveness work involves yourself and how you interact with others in your environment. DBT is shown to be beneficial when working with strong emotions, such as anger, and I have seen the benefits.

Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D approaches issues of anger management in a very humane yet fresh perspective. You see, anger is a normal emotion but it is the valence (intensity) as well as the coupling choice of what one does with this that is the problem. Telling someone to "not" do it or modifying behavior with a trite psychological plan that only breeds a compliant response is not the way to change anger. Brainwave optimization is a new cutting edge technology that allows one to rewire circuitry responsible for reactivity driving the anger. Contact Grey Matters International, Inc now at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Problems with appropriate expression of anger often contribute to relationship strain within couples, marriages, parent child connections, friendhips, families, friends and work associates. Dr. Keller helps patients explore the underlying hurt and feelings of vulnerability often associated with impairments in anger management. He teaches assertive skills, communication skills, conflict negotiation skills,and relaxation skills necessary for appropriate expression of anger. At times inappropriate anger is related to neurobiological problems and or substance abuse.. Dr. Keller refers patients to medical speicalists for further evaluation when indicated.

In my experience as an EMDR therapist, I pay close attention to the links between past and present. I’ve seen time and time again how unhealed emotional wounds resurface and come out sideways. While anger management can provide helpful strategies, they don’t get to the heart of the issue. Often, anger is what we see on the surface, but the real problem is what’s underneath the anger. Negative beliefs like “I’m helpless,” “I’m out of control,” and “I’m a failure,” start to bubble up, and anger comes to the rescue. It can get us in trouble, but at least it gets the blood pumping. With research-proven EMDR therapy, I help men heal anger at its source so it doesn’t have to be managed.

I specialize in helping men, and anger management is one of the things that guys struggle with most. For most men, we either stuff our anger and let it fester, and then usually explode when it has built up to a point that it can't be pushed down anymore. It's like a pressure cooker. I work with men to help cool their anger, and come up with other tools and outlets for their natural expression of anger. Also, for some men, depression is an inverted form of anger expression, and I work with is meant to help give a voice to their quiet suffering. I work with angry and depressed guys in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area.

Most commonly, I work with men who need help with anger. All of us can lose our cool and hurt other people, but some of us are more likely to express ourselves through anger. There are many reasons why someone might have this issue. The key to learning to redirect ourselves at the critical moment is to be aware of our felt sense at the time. Most people are able to detect, when they train themselves to do so, a charge of emotion in the body. At such times, one must absent the situation before he says and or does something regrettable. It is helpful to learn to be mindful of our felt senses so we can drain the stress through special techniques and also avoid losing control.

Are you struggling with anger? Do you have outbursts & regret them? Do you stuff your anger & then take it out on someone? Is anger tearing apart you or your relationships? Are you worried how it will affect your kids? You are not alone. The good news is you can learn how to control your anger & still express yourself. You'll learn skills, understand where it comes from, and know how to express it in a healthy manner. Anger is a signal that you can listen to and learn from without destroying yourself or others.

I often coach men on how to better regulate their emotions, including anger. I can teach you strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, provide relationship insights from the Gottman Method, and help you practice calming strategies to take control back. You might have every right to be angry. But if it’s making things worse, it’s time for a change. At Lion Counseling, our mission is to help you escape the cages that hold you back and become the lion God created you to be.