Anger Management
Anger management therapy at Hearts Aligned Therapy helps clients understand the root causes of their anger, recognize early warning signs, and develop healthy strategies for expressing and managing intense emotions. Steven Makulinski, LMFT uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, emotion regulation techniques, and interpersonal skills training to help clients break destructive anger patterns and respond to frustration in constructive ways. Anger management therapy addresses explosive outbursts, chronic irritability, passive-aggressive behavior, and anger that damages relationships or interferes with work and daily life.
What to Expect
Understanding Anger and When It Becomes a Problem
Anger is a normal, healthy emotion that serves as a signal that something feels wrong or unjust. However, anger becomes a problem when it is disproportionate to the situation, occurs frequently or intensely, leads to aggressive or destructive behavior, damages relationships or career, or creates chronic physical tension and health problems. Anger management therapy at Hearts Aligned Therapy in Rockwall, TX helps you understand your relationship with anger and develop healthier ways to experience and express this powerful emotion.
How Anger Management Therapy Works
Anger management therapy at Hearts Aligned Therapy uses a structured, skills-based approach. Steven Makulinski helps you identify your specific anger triggers and the thought patterns that escalate frustration into rage. You will learn to recognize the early physical and emotional signs of rising anger and apply de-escalation techniques before anger becomes destructive. Therapy also explores the underlying emotions that often drive anger — such as hurt, fear, shame, or feeling disrespected — allowing you to address the real issue rather than just the surface reaction.
Cognitive Behavioral Strategies for Anger
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches for anger management. At Hearts Aligned Therapy, CBT techniques help you identify cognitive distortions that intensify anger, such as personalization, mind-reading, and should-statements. You will practice replacing these distortions with more balanced, accurate interpretations of situations. CBT also includes behavioral strategies like time-outs, relaxation techniques, and assertive communication that help you respond to frustrating situations in ways that align with your values.
Anger and Relationships
Unmanaged anger is one of the most destructive forces in relationships. It creates fear, resentment, and emotional distance between partners, family members, friends, and coworkers. At Hearts Aligned Therapy, Steven Makulinski addresses the relational impact of anger by helping you develop assertive communication skills — learning to express your needs and frustrations clearly and respectfully without aggression or passive-aggression. Therapy may also involve repairing relationships damaged by past anger episodes.
Building Long-Term Anger Management Skills
The goal of anger management therapy is not to eliminate anger but to help you manage it effectively for the rest of your life. Hearts Aligned Therapy equips you with a comprehensive anger management toolkit including trigger awareness, cognitive restructuring, relaxation and grounding techniques, assertive communication, problem-solving strategies, and a personalized plan for handling high-risk situations. Steven Makulinski works with you until you feel confident in your ability to manage anger independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get Started?
Take the first step toward healing. Schedule a session to discuss how anger management can help you.