Anger Management and Counseling in La Crescenta, CA.

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 help people struggling with anger in Los Angeles CA by helping them develop awareness of their anger experience within their body and mind and how it is impacting their body. I help you learn strategies for regulating your body and mind so you do not lose control of the anger. I help you learn healthy communication of anger, and the development of conflict resolution skills. I support you in exploring issues of transference from past relationships and experiences that may be contributing to your strong feelings of anger in present circumstances and relationships. I create safety, increase positive expression of anger, and reduce or eliminate sources of anger when possible!

Anger is not only something to "manage." The feelings in anger need to be recognized, understood, and responding to in a way that make sense. You're not bad because you are angry, you treat yourself and others badly when your trapped in intense feelings. I help people come out of the shame of being labeled in negative ways because they struggle with anger. Anger becomes less of a struggle when you're not alone in it.

Do you find yourself angry at the world? Do you become angry from one moment to the next without knowing or understanding what triggered you? When used appropriately and when under control anger can be a healthy way of expressing yourself, however if you find yourself to be explosive, and turning your anger on others your overall health can be impacted and cause irreparable damage to your most valued relationships. Learn healthy age appropriate styles of coping with and expressing anger by changing negative thought processes, implementing relaxation skills to de-escalate and becoming aware of your "buttons" on a daily basis.

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.

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.

Anger can be a difficult beast to manage that can fracture or relationships and create guilt and shame, but it is possible to treat it. With the aid of tools like EMDR CBT and guided visualizations I can help you overcome this issue and heal from the issues that drive it. Additionally, I can provide tools, coping skills, and other resources to help you manage this particular issue.

A technique I use with Anger Management is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which looks at our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Anger is a behavior that is an expression of our thoughts and feelings. I will work with you to help unlock the thoughts and feelings causing the anger. We can often correct negative thoughts that can help alter our feelings and behaviors. We can also look into other techniques to develop other coping mechanisms for anger. We resort to anger because that is what we were taught when we were younger. When you have other tools to express yourself and different thoughts, your anger isn't as necessary as often. You are still you. Just a calmer you.

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.