Anger Management and Counseling in Dranesville, VA.

Anger is a natural emotional response and it emerges as a combination of thoughts, statements, physical reactions, and overall physical arousal. One goal of therapy is to use anger as a helpful and constructive tool in recognizing and establishing boundaries or advocating for your needs. Another goal is to reduce agitation, aggression, argumentativeness, and tension, by learning and practicing skills that help you improve interactions with others and develop healthy ways to communicate your emotions.

For you to understand where your anger comes from and what triggers it is most important. I do not believe in managing anger. One needs to learn its source and have coaching in how to change the mind-set behind it. Sometimes anger is tied to PTSD and abuse. These must be uncovered with help, then redirected with coaching. Others can't manage your life, you must be taught how to cope through the mine fields of life. I have found that most have been told they will have to live with "pain" and we will manage it for you. I have not found that to be the real case. I see real change in people. We are not to be trapped in anger. So I know there is real hope.

Many people have quick tempers and are easily flooded with unhappy emotions. Using new information from neuroscience, we help people learn to observe and think about their own anger process, and then learn ways to re-evaluate and apply “antidote” thoughts to the angry ones. Conversely, many people carry resentment and grudges, and have a lively inner critic of themselves or others, but don’t know how to effectively request what they need and want. They may stew rather than share the needs for safety, control or connection which fuel the anger. Again, we help people follow the feelings, re-appraise them, and come up with a whole different set of actions and reactions. And then practice them in rea....