Are you a parent who is worried about your child’s anger? Has your child started having angry outbursts at home or school and you just aren’t sure what to do? Are you tired of the yelling, hitting, and slamming doors? Are you overwhelmed, exhausted, and at your wits end with your child’s behavior? Please know that you are not alone. This is a problem parents call me about often with the same emotions you are probably having right now.
The good news is that anger is a normal and healthy emotion, but how we express our anger is an indication of how well (or not so well) we do at managing our emotions. Children can learn healthy and positive ways to express their anger and get their needs met without falling apart at school and home all the time. Parents, I can teach you how to think about your child’s anger in new and different ways that actually keep you more calm and collected. It takes time, practice and patience but there is hope.
Let’s talk a little bit more about anger and how this might show up in your home. Anger is usually just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine a big iceberg floating in water. What we usually see is just the tip hanging out above the water. If we shift our view to what is going on below the water, we will see that the iceberg is much bigger and massive below the surface. Think of your child’s anger in this way. Underneath those big, mad feelings are usually deeper unmet needs or emotions such as being too tired, being hungry, feeling unsafe, feeling anxious, or feeling overwhelmed.
Are you wondering if your child is too young for counseling? Maybe you are thinking your child won’t be able to open up and talk with me? I will help your child increase awareness and identify feelings using play therapy techniques. Children don’t always have the verbal ability to talk about how they feel. Play is the natural language of children and is a metaphor, or symbolic expression, of what is going on in their lives. Play is to children what verbalization is to adults (http://cps.education.gsu.edu).
It is my specialty to develop a treatment plan and strategies that work best with your child’s interests and abilities. If you are ready for some extra support or would like to talk with me for a free 10 minute phone consultation, please give me a call or email me today. You can also access my online scheduling here and schedule an appointment to speak with me if that works better with your schedule.
To learn more about Cathy and her practice, click here.
Be Well,
Cathy