Anger Management in Vancouver
Anger gets a bad reputation, we think of it as a dangerous emotion. Often our angry reactions can cause fractures in our relationships and difficulties in our workplaces.
At Emotion Wise Counselling we work with you to understand your own anger – where it comes from, how it makes sense and how to navigate feelings of anger.
Anger can make total sense when you are working towards an important goal or activity and it is blocked, someone you care about is threatened, attacked or insulted (including yourself), or your integrity is at stake.
You may have a pattern of anger if ...
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You were modelled this in childhood, your caregivers often expressed anger towards you and others
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Growing up – anger may have been the only acceptable way to express sadness or disappointment – this is often the case for men in their childhood
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If growing up and in your current life – expressing anger has been the most effective ways to get your objectives met (for example, you find people don’t listen to you or help you unless you get angry)
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You were not allowed to express anger growing up and still hold it inside and now that you are older you seem to react in anger all of the time.
How Can I Become a Less Angry Person?
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Start to notice when you begin to feel slightly annoyed and where you hold it in your body. Often people say they go from 0-100. When you learn to notice it earlier on you will have an easier time in reducing your anger at a low level than when it is at its peak.
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Notice your self-talk – when you are angry what thoughts are going through your mind? Are you hard on yourself and others? When we observe our thoughts we will have more power to shift our feelings.
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Practice out different ways to see the situation with a neutral or compassionate perspective. Imagine a caring person talking through the situation (perhaps a grandmother, a partner or a best friend, a kind coach) with compassion.
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Take time out, walk away, take a pause when you start to feel your anger increasing. The more skilled you become at taking pauses and taking breaks, the less intense your anger will become.
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Join one of our groups or seek an Individual counsellor to help you through what is underlying your anger. For many people there is unresolved trauma at the root of their anger that requires a journey of healing with a trained professional.
How we help with anger
We offer Trauma-Informed DBT Groups that are helpful for people who struggle with anger management. DBT provides concrete skills to help with emotion regulation in a trauma-informed way.
We offer In-person counselling in Vancouver and virtual counselling for anger management with counsellors who are trained in anger management techniques including those drawn from DBT, CBT and EMDR.
Contact us today to connect with one of our counsellors for a free consultation session!
