Anger is a very normal emotion. Everyone experiences anger especially if we are threatened or mistreated, however if anger becomes too extreme, it can really disconnect and damage relationships and keep you from having a productive life. Therapy can help you manage your anger and help you communicate effectively what you really need so you are taken seriously.

Explosive anger expression can be an addictive cycle which damages or breaks relationships. Anger ranging "black out rages" to chronic irritability takes a toll on the one who is angry and those who love and care for him or her. Anger is a normal, healthy, appropriate emotion at times. When it takes charge and causes additional suffering, it is time to seek help. If loved ones indicate it is a problem, then it is time. My approach includes a belief that there is a reason someone is deeply angry. We will look at the root of the problem as well as use cognitive-behavioral and self-management strategies to intervene in physically and emotionally harmful behavior. Please call.

I approach counseling for anger and anger management from a Cognitive Behavioral perspective. This means that we would work together to identify your thought patterns that fuel anger, recognize the actions you take when angry, and explore the emotions (fear, sadness, disappointment, shame, embarrassment, to name a few) that exist alongside your anger. Anger management counseling may also include developing patterns of thinking that are more helpful to you, practicing activities that help relieve your anger, and processing the emotions related to your anger.

Anger doesn’t have to equal rage. We can learn how to express angry feelings in ways which don’t cause fear in the people around us. Sometimes our feelings for a person are more possessive than loving. We can use humor in the form of sarcasm, masking our anger instead of sharing our feelings in a healthy way. It might feel like we go from 0-100 on the anger scale quickly, but it is a process similar to dominoes falling one after the other. If we can learn to recognize the process that occurs and slow it down in our mind, we can make better choices and express our feelings without the trauma, emotional and even physical damage that rage and anger inflicts on ourselves and those around us.