Does a Loved One Need Anger Management Counseling?
By Steve Hill
Have you ever blown your stack by over-responding to a situation? Maybe it would be easier to ask if you know someone who hasn’t. Virtually everyone has said something in anger that they wish they could take back. After nasty words are spoken or mean actions are taken, they can have a hurtful or escalating effect on others, and it is too late to un-do their impact. That is why anger management counseling can be beneficial for those who have trouble controlling angry responses to irritating situations. There is no shame attached to seeking anger management counseling; in fact, true shame comes from the failure to admit there is a problem and trying to take remedial action.
Anger management counseling can be sought for many reasons. In some cases, a doctor, spouse, or supervisor may recommend it. In other cases, a person may be able to contain physical and verbal expressions of anger, but realize that emotionally, his or her rage surpasses what one should expect in a given situation. At the point of this recognition, a wise person will consider anger management classes, training, or counsel to keep their emotions under check and to manage responses in a healthy way.
What Does Anger Management Counseling Involve?
Any type of personal counseling proceeds effectively when the client admits there is a problem or that others believe he or she has a problem. In this case, anger management counseling will focus on exploring the roots of unresolved anger, discovering triggers of current or unexplained anger, and looking at ways to try and bring anger under reasonable control. Working with a trained and possibly licensed therapist, a client will answer many questions about personal history, current conditions, and future expectations. He may even take one or more psychology tests that could provide insight to the patient’s mindset.
If anger management counseling warrants, a client may be referred to a doctor for a medical work-up that could check the person’s hormonal levels, blood levels, and overall condition to see if health problems play a role. Perhaps the prescription of a mood elevator, an anti-anxiety or bi-polar medication, or another type of medicine will have a positive effect on helping someone manage anger difficulties.
Anger management counseling also may involve the recommendation of self-help techniques that someone can practice at home or on the job. These might include keeping a journal and writing about negative feelings, getting a pet to help reduce irritation and promote a serene home environment, learning to adjust expectations, and being honest about disappointment, hurt, or irritation. Even adopting an exercise routine can help to balance bodily functions and contribute to a greater sense of well being.
Since each therapist uses different techniques, your sessions may be very different from those experienced by other clients. Your counselor may recommend group therapy, for instance, or family therapy if relatives are impacted by the situation. As you explore various techniques of anger management counseling, you will soon get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. For more information before, during, or after your counseling sessions, visit online websites like anger-management-information.com. Then you can go to your counseling sessions armed with information or questions that will positively impact your therapy.
Anger is a powerful emotion we all experience, but do not necessarily
express in the same way. Find out why anger is often misunderstood, its common triggers, and how to face anger, release it, and manage it for life.
Releasing Anger & Finding Freedom
By Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC
Of all the emotions we experience in our lives, anger seems to be one we all experience frequently in one way or another. When we think of an angry person we might picture someone getting loud or aggressive; or someone who is critical and mean. But anger is also expressed in other ways as in a person who is depressed and turns their anger inward. Or in a person who is afraid or frustrated or lonely.
Most often when we experience feelings of anger they alert us to an underlying emotion(s). That is, there is something behind our anger. For example, we might feel angry because we have been hurt by what someone said to us. So the underlying emotion here is hurt. Once we recognize this and deal with the hurt we will be able to release our anger. We might also feel angry because we feel frustrated that things did not go as planned. Realizing why we are angry and then dealing with the frustration will help us release the anger.
Sometimes when people are angry they don't realize that they are also experiencing other feelings as well. Identifying what other feelings besides anger they are experiencing is an important first step to learning what is really behind their anger. Then those feelings can be faced. Sometimes it is so much easier to feel angry than it is to face other feelings like shame or guilt or rejection. Those feelings can be unpleasant and uncomfortable and that is why so many people run from their feelings or try to bury them. Drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, promiscuity, work holism, gossip, etc., are all evidence of this.
So how can we face what is behind our anger and release it? It all depends. We might need to accept certain people or things in our lives. We might need to forgive someone. We might need to work on our self-esteem. We might need to make changes and take action. We might need to learn how to manage our emotions. Acceptance, forgiveness, and taking responsibility will help us to let go of anger that weighs down our hearts. Anger that is unresolved and not motivated to positive action keeps us from having peace and a calm, untroubled mind.
Anger is not all bad. It is a God-given emotion that helps us to experience life in all its fullness. It is what we do with our anger that matters. We can learn to manage and control our anger before it becomes destructive. If necessary, we can get anger management counseling to deal with it. We do not have to feel ashamed or guilty for feeling the way we do. Each one of us experiences anger from time to time. Anger has no control over us when we choose to release it. We can manage our anger, let go of toxic emotions, and experience freedom.
Anger does not have to control you anymore.
Let us help. We offer anger management counseling. You don't have to go through it on your own. But you must be willing to take the first step. The first step may be simply saying that you need help. Then you can begin to move forward by contacting us today.
Following are testimonies from clients that completed the New Day Counseling Anger Managment 6-week Class - Group Leader: Jodi Siberski, MA, LLPC, NCC
Anonymous Responses to: What did you especially like about this group?
" Jodi keeps this class real. I have went to 4 different counselors and this is the first time that I got anything that is going to help me. Thank you Jodi! You have altered my life and I am so grateful."
" I liked the fact that Jodi shared personal experiences in our sessions so I knew her counseling was coming from the real world and not academia."
"I like being able to come here and feel comfortable talking because people were in the same situation as me. Jodie made things very comfortable."
"Seeing other people that have issues like mine..being able to see i have an issue with controlling anger."
"The informality and openness of the group discussions."
"Jodi's ability to get everyone to open up and feel comfortable."
"I like the way Jodi made me feel, very warm and inviting. the interaction from other people was great."
Counseling Center Serving Macomb County, Oakland County and Wayne County [Metro Detroit Area / Tri-County]
Providing Psychological Services for the Surrounding Areas: Royal Oak, Clawson, Birmingham, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Farmington Hills, Troy, Sterling Heights, Madison Heights, Macomb Township, Bloomfield Hills, Chesterfield, Plymouth, Southfield, Warren, Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Pontiac, Waterford, Detroit
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