Anger Management and Counseling in Altadena, CA.

Is your anger getting the best of you? Perhaps its ruining your relationship or compromising your ability to move up in your career. Maybe its just a feeling--you're always tense, stressed, worked up, you feel "on edge." Whatever your experience is, there is health to be had and hope to be found. Something in you knows there's got to be another way to live. Together, we'll explore what your anger is really about and develop strategies to get you feeling more healthy and whole so you can have the relationship with others you want to, the internal peace that people talk about, and the ability to move well through stressful situations.

I do not believe in "anger management". Instead, I believe in being in control of your emotions - including anger. My clients discover how to be in control of their feelings of anger or rage - instead of the anger or rage controlling them. My clients discover how they can feel anger, but then choose more effective and productive ways of expressing themselves - in ways that no longer lead to regret or hurt - but rather in ways they feel proud and good about.

I believe anger is a secondary emotion, covering other feelings such as grief, depression, anxiety, and/or hurt. Often times anger management is a signal for a need for trauma work, which can include explore prior experiences that felt stuck or emotionally taxing. Often times when others are angry, it's the only way they can feel heard-- having anger is not the problem, it's, what we do with the anger is what needs to be explored as appropriate or not.

Most of us have some relationship to anger. In a world that is capable of sudden cruelty and profound injustice, anger can be a powerful ally, helping us to take action that leads to real change. But anger can also try to take over our lives by tricking us into doing things we would rather not do, or getting ourselves into trouble. When anger arrives, we will face it together. Might we flip the script? Is it possible to take control of the relationship with anger, to interrogate it and unmask its motivations, its support, and its insidious methods of taking over?

Being angry is not bad in itself. It is when we use the energy that anger gives us to hurt others and ourselves that cause problems. Anger is a "red flag" that tells us that something is not right in our lives. If you are experiencing this type of anger, you owe it to yourself and the others you love to find out what you can do to control and even let go of destructive feelings and behaviors and have a much more productive, happier life.

If you are grappling with anger that negatively impacts your live, you will find solace and transformation through anger management therapy. My specialized approach emphasizes improved somatic awareness, allowing recognition and understanding of the physical sensations tied to anger. By fostering a better understanding of emotional patterns, you will be guided to uncover the triggers and underlying causes of the anger. Personalized therapy equips you with the confidence and skills to exert emotional control over a wide range of emotions, leading to more harmonious relationships and a more balanced life. This journey is not just about managing anger, but about unlocking a more peaceful self.

Anger comes from someplace deep inside. I work not only at helping the person control their anger but the cause so it can permentely be deleated. Each person is uniquely different and we will work together to understand how to deal with its root causes. Most clients can learn in a couple sessions what to do in the moment to get anger under control. The rest takes longer

Frustration and anger is a normal part of life but if you find your child or yourself having a negative attitude or pessimistic outlook on life; swearing and cussing at others, yelling and having anger outburst, hitting or throwing things, or driving aggressively, it is definitely time to get help. Learning how to manage your anger and frustration will improve your attitude, your relationships with others, and give you a sense of control over your life. Stop avoiding and blaming others for your negative behavior. Don’t ignore the warning signs, please take a step to improve your life and the lives of those you love.

Abby provides supportive, skills-based therapy for individuals struggling with anger and emotional regulation. Using a trauma-informed and relational approach, she helps clients understand the roots of their anger, identify triggers, and develop healthier coping strategies. Through techniques drawn from evidence-based practices like CBT and mindfulness, clients learn to express emotions more constructively, improve communication, and strengthen relationships. Abby creates a nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their emotions and build lasting emotional resilience.

Feeling out of control can be extremely distressing, destructive, and can have a lasting impact on your relationships with others. Learning how to manage your emotions and effectively deal with anger is an important goal, and one that can be accomplished through active participation in therapy. The goals is for our clients to leave therapy with the skills and confidence that they can manage the challenges that come with everyday life. Learning such skills will directly help with increasing the quality of your relationships and decrease the negative impact of your anger in areas such as work, school, and family difficulties. It can also potentially help avoid any negative legal outcomes.

Anger is very closely correlated to depression and is in fact one of its symptoms. When people get labeled as having "anger issues" I as a therapist suspect that there is some form of underlying depression and in most cases early childhood trauma. I use cognitive behavioral therapy, but I also use psycho-dynamic psychotherapy to get down to the root of the underlying reasons for the anger.