Anger Management and Counseling in Lennox, CA.

Consider anger a socially acceptable mask that we wear to protect ourselves from more vulnerable feelings. It’s easier to show anger than hurt feelings. The way I work with anger is to explore what’s fueling the anger, what’s underneath it. Once the underlying feelings are identified and acknowledged, the anger becomes less intense and more manageable. I also use a somatic approach to anger, using physiological cues to recognize it before it grows out of control.

I use Trauma Therapy and Communication tools to find new ways of awareness to express oneself appropriately. I have been trained to find the "triggers" that mean someone may go "ballistic" because of these triggers, then find a way to change the way this energy is expressed. In my over twenty years of training I have a great many tools in my tool box. I know I can help!

Anger comes in many forms. Some of us default to frequent anger towards others, which can damage meaningful relationships and work opportunities. We can also direct anger inward towards ourselves in the form of recurrent self-criticism, negative judgment, and self-destructive behaviors. Anger is an important and healthy emotion that can bring attention to other more difficult underlying emotions and unmet needs. Such as feeling ashamed, sad, invalidated, or lonely. My approach to helping others more effectively manage anger is to better identify and understand emotions in general. Then learn to respond to difficult experiences with intentional, skillful action vs. emotional reactivity.

We can retrain ourselves react differently to challenging situations that spawn angry reactions. With a little time and practice, we can learn to regulate our distress by tuning into the cues when we are on overload. Bringing mindfulness to our triggers and our reactions, while slowing down our thoughts, can give us more choice in how we react. Mindfulness can teach us to be the observer to our own inner dialogue and can make room for little shifts that make gradual differences. I work from a somatic place first, giving attention to the indicators of distress. Each person manifests distress differently. Does your face get hot? Does your throat feel tight? We will begin here.

Most people who have difficulties controling their anger attempt to suppress the anger by various means, which often leads to future eruptions. A more effect approach is to explore the causes of the anger by discussing your feelings with an objective psychologist. Ironically, anger control is gained not through "control of anger" but through feeling and understanding the anger.

Frustration can sometimes lead to aggression. Cognitive-behavior therapy, as practiced by Dr. Levine, is a valuable tool in reducing the impact of frustration and reducing the resulting degree of anger. He will work with you to help you alter your reaction to frustration and develop alternative mechanisms to react to these events. Once your anger response is reduced your relationships with your family and friends are also likely to change in a much more positive direction.

We offer Anger Management classes to both court ordered and volunteer clients. Our program is 52 weeks of new material each week. It is evidence based and helps facilitate change if the client chooses to apply the principles taught. The work book and tools used in class are effective in helping clients find an alternative way of communicating their feelings or anger, frustration and even hurt. By implementing the tools taught, many clients have seen dramatic change in their relationships.

When I ask a child if anger is bad, their immediate answer is "yes". When I tell them it isn't bad, they look puzzled and horrified. I explain to them that it's what we do when we are angry that can make it bad or okay. I draw concepts from the book A Volcano in My Tummy to point out the helpful terms "clean" and "dirty" anger, i.e. punching a ball verses punching a teacher. I approach adults with the same concepts only on a more advanced level of course. God created us with a diverse set of emotions that signal warnings to us at times. Anger is one of those necessary emotions, but it does need to be released in healthy ways. I help clients explore acceptable ways to express it.

I have extensive experience treating anger management issues. I have conducted anger management groups that teach and reinforce skills for managing anger. My approach to the treatment of anger issues consists of: assisting client's in understanding the Nonproductive Anger Cycle that perpetuates destructive behavior, educating about the different types of anger, teaching anger management skills, and helping clients explore pain and fear that perpetuates their ineffective expression of anger. Anger management treatment includes helping clients learn to accept their emotions and learn how to tolerate and express their emotions more effectively.

Anger is a healthy expression of emotion. When anger and rage become the dominating emotion that rules our actions, a potentially serious problem exists. When this occurs we feel out of control, even frightened by the intensity of feeling. Scared by life altering actions and repercussions. We become lost and confused. We know this is not me but yet it is. This mystery is solvable. Sometimes when negative experiences happen we hide and bury them, We do this so well we forget why the anger is there. Over the years these experiences multiply, fester and grow. A time bomb waiting to be triggered. We can help you unearth the issues, defuse and help you to dismantle the bomb. Call! We can help.

Anger is a necessary emotion. However, many people are unable to manage their anger in a healthy way. This can lead to problems in relationships, family, and work. More seriously, this can lead to problems with the law. I am a Certified Anger Management Specialist. I run groups and executive anger management services to help court mandated and self referred individuals get a handle on their anger.

Everybody gets angry. Anger is a human emotion which can serve both positive and negative ends which, in itself, is neutral. Frustration, fear, feeling threatened or treated unfairly can trigger an angry outburst in any animal. Anger is a normal human emotion. It can be an appropriate response to injustice, unfairness or discrimination. However, what we need to achieve is a way of expressing anger that is reasonable, measured and proportionate. Cognitive behavioral therapy provides one of many possible answers to managing anger. Feelings are often created by our thoughts and examining our thought processes to see if they are reasonable and rational can help us with emotional regulation.

We frequently offer courses on Anger Management and have several therapists that specialize in this area. Helping people struggling with anger requires a specialized approach to treatment so make sure you are talking to a therapist that specializes in this area if you are in need of help. Call us and our intake coordinator will have one of our anger management specialists give you a call.