Anger Management and Counseling in Playa Vista, 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.

Anger is very closely correlated to depression and is in fact one of its symptoms. When people get labeled as having "anger issues" I as a therapist suspect that there is some form of underlying depression and in most cases early childhood trauma. I use cognitive behavioral therapy, but I also use psycho-dynamic psychotherapy to get down to the root of the underlying reasons for the anger.

Anger is a feeling that carries information. Anger alerts us to the awareness that we feel threatened in some way. People often get angry because they are in emotional pain. However, showing someone that you are in pain is a more effective way to help others feel remorse for what they did than raging at them. Emotionally intense young adults do not have to destroy any more relationships with "over the top" reactions! There are more effective ways of responding. I can teach these young people simple relaxation and awareness exercises that allow them to tame their anger.

Frustration can often 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.