Anger Management and Counseling in Woodstock, IL.

Mark D. Parisi, Psy.D.& Associates, P.C. offers anger management counseling and education. Our approach to treating anger is to help our clients understand this complex human emotion and to identify the unique triggers that set off their anger. We help to develop coping skills and work on techniques to diffuse anger before it leads to blow outs. Our approach combines education, counseling, and, where appropriate, medication management - all available on-site within our clinic.

Have you ever lost your temper and then thought "why did I react that way"? Do you struggle to communicate with people in your life without getting mad or defensive, yelling, or withdrawing/isolating from the situation all together? You are not alone. Many people struggle with managing their anger and finding other ways to communicate their frustrations without verbal and physical aggression. I work with individuals struggling to regulate their emotions by finding the feelings underneath the anger and learning appropriate strategies like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation to help them communicate their needs effectively.

In dealing with anger management, I do not simply try to focus on counting to 10 and other superficial control mechanisms. Instead, I try to help the individual to learn to deal more effectively with the underlying causes of the anger. Anger is a defensive response to perceived threat. Thus, I help the individual to uncover, recognize and deal more effectively with the perceived threat - perceived loss of love and respect from a loved one is the most common threat. We all feel hurt when we perceive that our loved one feels or thinks less of us.

If after getting a flat tire, you think and continue to say to yourself: "This sucks"…This is terrible"…"Why does this always happen to me?"…"I can’t stand it"… anger will be the likely emotional response. And if you typically think in a negative way, then you will likely be more prone to psychological and physical difficulties like anger, poor relationships, stroke and heart disease.On the other hand, someone who thinks to himself "I’m glad that I have a spare tire"…"I can handle this"…"This is a hassle, not a horror", will react in a more realistic manner. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you learn how to cope more effectively with life's challenges and lead a happier life.

Anger is not bad by itself. Getting adrenaline drunk though, can give you power at the time, but can also be destructive. Other types of anger may be hidden from view, but slowly eat away at your happiness. I can help you find your triggers, understand how they affect you, and work with you to develop coping tools to both prevent and recover from the stress hormones that accompany anger.

Annoyed, aggravated, irritated, frustrated, hostile, infuriated, and full of rage. What do all these words have in common? These words all fall on the emotional spectrum of anger. Anger is not an unhealthy emotion, but sometimes people express their anger in an unhealthy manner. There are alternative healthy ways of expressing and managing one's anger. Karen partners with her clients to explore the reasons for their anger, and then teaches the clients how to manage or release anger in healthy ways.

Anger is a normal human emotion that we all experience. The way we express anger can be what distinguishes us as being healthy or unhealthy partners, parents, co-workers, employees or managers. Anger is generally a surface emotion. Beneath it lies another strong emotion, usually sadness, hurt, fear or inadequacy. In our efforts to protect ourselves from being vulnerable we often act out in anger, which generally takes us farther away from our true goals. In my work with you I will help you understand your anger in a different way and provide you with techniques and coping skills to manage this strong emotion moving you closer to your ultimate goals and strengthening your relationships.

SIGNS of Anger Management Problems: Combativeness and agitation leading to acute frustration, overwhelming stress, personal and family dysfunction, non-stop arguing, frustrated spouse and expensive legal problems. TREATMENT: Assertiveness and empathy training, advanced communication exercises, insight-oriented counseling, hypnotherapy, counter-conditioning, intense, targeted role-playing, relaxation-autogenic training and communication skill and insight enhancement. BENEFITS of therapy: Greater happiness, rewarding relationships, greater intimacy, enhanced problem-solving, skyrocketing well-being, disappearing legal problems and rapid elimination of stress.

Anger is a secondary emotion, meaning something lies underneath. Exploring thoughts, experiences and primary feelings is key to treating anger. Often times treating anger is healing from attachment or developmental trauma. Other times, it's needing to be heard and validated. Managing anger possible through commitment to the therapeutic process and the client-counseling relationship.