Anger Management and Counseling in Mount Pulaski, IL.

I use primarily a cognitive behavioral approach (CBT) to therapy. This means I help individuals identify the perceptions or interpretations which may trigger an aggressive or angry response. By distinguishing between feelings vs. facts, and reaction vs. response, an individual can learn to substitute a more innocuous, and usually more accurate interpretation that leads to a healthier behavioral choice.

In my psychotherapy practice, I help patients with uncontrollable anger by providing a supportive environment to explore underlying triggers. Using various behavioral techniques, I teach patients to identify and reframe negative thought patterns, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve emotional regulation. By fostering self-awareness and promoting effective communication skills, I guide patients toward managing their anger constructively, enhancing their well-being and relationships.

We look at anger as a secondary emotion. It is very easy to characterize a person as "angry" and not explore where the reaction or response truly stems from. Our approach is to provide healing at the root. We explore what other emotions may be operating, so that we can address what has really provoked a negative response. We also try to find ways to replace the thoughts that evoke an angered response with something that helps our clients feel more in control.

Anger Management Counseling helps clients process their feelings of anger and learn appropriate ways to express anger. Clients learn to recognize their anger triggers in order to reduce, avoid, or prepare for those triggers. Clients also learn to recognize their body's early warning signs that tell them they are becoming angry so that they can use the skills they will learn in Anger Management Counseling to diffuse that anger. Clients will learn to recognize how their thoughts contribute to their anger. Relaxation skills are taught to prevent inappropriate anger, keep anger from escalating, and to calm intense anger feelings to a productive level.