Anger Management and Counseling in Darnestown, MD.

We all experience anger in our lives. I help clients develop healthy ways to experience and express their anger by: • Identifying effective ways to handle anger and express feelings; • Understanding how feelings such as fear, pride and inferiority feed anger; • Transforming negative patterns of thinking, relating and behaving that influence anger; • Learning ways to communicate, resolve conflicts and meet needs successfully; and • Developing a healthy lifestyle that supports a successful life. The constructive use of anger, assertiveness, helps express and preserve our needs, worth, and convictions while considering and respecting the needs and feelings of others.

Uncontrollable anger, a bad temper and aggression can lead to significant relationship and career failures. Identifying the triggers that cause one to become upset and learning more adaptive strategies and solutions are the essential ingredients for change. Cognitive restructuring, problem solving, improving communication and relaxation strategies are but a few approaches used in anger management treatment. Working with partners, spouses or family members is also beneficial. At times, medication may be warranted in conjunction with therapy or counseling. We at Ashburn Psychological Services are here to help.

Anger is much feared and little understood. It is an essential human emotion, and yet it can lead to rage, which is a destructive instinct. It is essential when dealing with anger to get to the root of it, which is most often deep hurt and/or loss. Using brainspotting (https://brainspotting.pro/) as well as psycho-education, I have helped many people make friends with their anger and have far greater freedom of choice as to how to express it.

Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with illness. These issues can have ripple effects on your relationships, sense of self and perceptions of the world. I know how complex things can get, and I will support you during this process.

Appropriate anger management is a skill that can be learned. Often times, people that struggle with anger management were never given the tools to regulate their emotions. Through exploration of our triggers, understanding and changing the messages we attach to these triggers, and learning to regulate our physiological arousal state, we can successfully implement de-escalation strategies and return to a place of calm. *Please note, I do not work with domestic violence issues although I am happy to provide referrals.

A lot of people struggle with feelings of anger and resentment. Instead of calling it "anger management," I prefer to talk about "anger expression." I am developing a program to help people develop healthy strategies for expressing anger in a constructive and respectful manner. You will learn the root causes of your anger, and gain practical tools to express it in ways that promote understanding and resolution. You will enhance your communication skills, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution abilities.