Anger Management and Counseling in Fridley, MN.

Anger itself is not bad, but many of us have not learned how to handle it or channel it in healthy ways. I will work with you to identify the triggers that challenge you and help you come up with a plan of how to talk yourself into a calmer place. Then when you speak, you will feel confident that you are representing yourself in a clear, strong way.

I see anger as a secondary emotion. In order to heal the anger it is important to look beyond anger and search for the primary emotion. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is very important so you will feel comfortable revealing how you are hurting underneath that angry exterior. Understanding what can trigger you anger is important also. Some education about the brain and how it works is generally helpful in understanding and conquering your anger. I want to show you how you control your emotions. Emotions do not control you!

I approach anger management as a basic emotional skill. Like all skills, it can be taught and with practice it can be effectively developed in a short time. Some of the specific techniques I may use in teaching anger management are: identifying early signs of anger, breathing exercises, thought stopping, avoiding triggers, and teaching healthy emotional expression of a full range of feelings. I also use a variety of other techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help my clients learn to effectively manage anger. Beyond the behavioral approach to managing anger I sometimes find it useful to explore the sources of the anger.

I'll help you understand the choices you have to manage and express your feelings in constructive ways. You'll become more aware, accepting, and assertive rather than reactive and misunderstood. Anger is a powerful emotion that needs to be expressed like any other emotion. Anger itself isn't bad - in fact, it's a useful signal that something's wrong and we need to take action. However, the way it's expressed can be either helpful or hurtful. Learn to center yourself and be proactive in expressing your anger in a way other people can hear.

Do you feel irritable and frustrated? Do you rage sometimes and don't know why? When you fight with your partner, parent, or friend does it escalate quickly? Anger can come from a deep part within you that may be bottle up. It is possible to remain cool headed even if your natural go-to is anger. I can teach you effective strategies and skills to help you remain calm and collected in those moments of frustration.

I have worked with many clients, mostly men but some women, to help them understand and better manage the frustration and anger in their lives. Sometimes the anger stems from patterns learned in childhood, sometimes it arises from just not knowing how to better manage the frustrations of life. I can work with clients to help them reduce their overactivity and gain not only insight into the problem, but better control and ultimately, better relationships.

Anger doesn't have to rule your life. I recognize that people who struggle to manage their expression of anger are hurting. It doesn't feel good or empowering to lose control. I can help you take back the power anger has stolen from you and make the changes you are looking for. I believe that if you're coming to therapy you are ready for change. Let's work together to make it happen.

Do you feel overwhelmed at time by people who push your buttons and bring out the worst in you? Would you like to be calmer and more in control when under stressful and challenging situations. Anger is a challenging emotion which can be managed with easily learned skills and strategies to help improve your interpersonal relationships and get the results you want!

Anger Management therapy is often very structured for me. I use a curriculum to address the following: Anger. (What is it? What triggers anger? What makes it better/worse?) Quick Control of Anger. (Recognizing anger and learning ways to calm your emotions.) Strategies to Manage Anger. (What stops it? What is frustration? What is rumination? Strategies for managing unhealthy rumination.) Relationships. (Communication strategies) Challenging Angry Thoughts and Beliefs. (How our thoughts affect our anger) Challenges to Managing Anger.

I prefer the term trigger management. Anger stems from frustration, hurt, annoyance and disappointment. We will work together to control your feelings and actions that may have been getting you in trouble at school, home, the community or at work. Recognizing your triggers can help use appropriate ways to reach goals and solve problems. You can overcome those outbursts and lead the life you desire.

Are you having trouble keeping your anger in check? This is a common challenge for a lot of people. Anger is what I call an umbrella emotion, which means that it often covers up other emotions that are harder to share with others. It is really useful to take a look at what might be underneath the anger, such as hurt or fear. Anger is a very useful protection, and it might have served a very valuable function for you in the past. However, it is important to take a look and decide if it is useful to you NOW. If your anger is pushing people away, it might be time to learn a new way to express your feelings.

It is interesting that often we find that anger issues stem from early childhood issues. It can come from previous times we felt we were not heard, we were hurt, had negative things happened or were generally in an environment where we were not given a chance to develop a way to deal with anger. The physiological qualities of anger can make it harder to manager. During anger our brain sends signals to our bodies, temporarily, that the situation is life-or-death, and our flight-or-flight mechanism kicks in.

I offer individual and group training in anger management. I am certified as a CAMS 1 (Certified Anger Management Specialist) by the National Anger Management Institute. My program consists of 8 to 12 sessions using the curriculum "What's Good About Anger?" This course of training directs participants in learning to identify triggers, take time to think about consequences rather than to lash out, self-soothing practices, and much more.