Anger Management and Counseling in Burke, VA.

Anger is an emotion. And anger is usually the result of emotions building up inside. One of the traits that I bring to therapy related to anger management is being able to process how anger comes into any situation my clients are dealing with. In taking the time to identify how anger manages to invade my client's life we can work towards ways of preventing it from stopping the ability to live a fulfilling - and complete - life.

A lot of people struggle with feelings of anger and resentment. Instead of calling it "anger management," I prefer to talk about "anger expression." I am developing a program to help people develop healthy strategies for expressing anger in a constructive and respectful manner. You will learn the root causes of your anger, and gain practical tools to express it in ways that promote understanding and resolution. You will enhance your communication skills, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution abilities.

Anger is a normal human emotion. It is a strong negative feeling that is often inappropriately expressed, negatively impacting interpersonal relationships. It is a secondary emotion rooted in fear, pain, and/or frustration. In therapy, we identify the origins of your anger and teach you alternative ways to respond and express yourself more effectively.

How do you know if your anger is serious enough to need help? A quick answer is if you find that anger is your go-to, knee-jerk reaction to everyday irritants and disappointments, or if your anger is compromising your quality of life, it may be time to talk to someone. My way of working with angry clients is to both search for the causes of the anger as well as figure out concrete, common-sense ways for anger to be managed on a daily basis. Anger itself is not the problem; often it's the management (or mismanagement) of it that brings on a host of other problems. Maybe you have a right to be angry! But wouldn't it be better to be able to express that anger in a way others can really hear it?

We all get angry sometimes. Anger, like other emotions, is important. It signals to us that something is going on that we need to pay attention to. Chronic irritability, rage and/or violent outbursts also can be a sign that our nervous systems are stuck on high. If we don’t slow ourselves down, anger can take up a lot of space in our relationships and our lives. I work with people to help them recognize the triggers for their anger and what meaning this trigger holds for them. I also help people learn how to calm down their systems. In this way, people can express their feelings and needs in a way that leads to happier lives and better relationships.

Anger management can change the course of your life. When we learn how to manage our feelings, instead of our feelings managing us, we begin to grow in psychological maturity. The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life. I will assist you in understanding triggers, thought patterns, and developing alternative coping mechanisms to address difficult feelings. Your relationships and your life will thrive.

Uncontrollable anger, a bad temper and aggression can lead to significant relationship and career failures. Identifying the triggers that cause one to become upset and learning more adaptive strategies and solutions are the essential ingredients for change. Cognitive restructuring, problem solving, improving communication and relaxation strategies are but a few approaches used in anger management treatment. Working with partners, spouses or family members is also beneficial. At times, medication may be warranted in conjunction with therapy or counseling. We at Ashburn Psychological Services are here to help.

Are you feeling upset thinking about your life or your career? As your life and career coach I can help you get a plan to help decrease your stress. Together we navigate the path to realizing your ideal life vision. During the coaching process, we work to identify your core values, enhance your strengths, increase your self awareness and to ensure that we find you a life or career plan.