When you’re learning to manage your anger in a nonaggressive way, the first steps consist of recognizing how anger feels for you, and getting to know the situations that produce it. It’s easier to take these first steps if you can become aware of your anger’s symptoms. Cognitive Signs Cognitive
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger July 10, 2019
We must allow children to experience the consequences of their choices. A consequence is defined simply as “the natural outcomes of behavior”. Consequences teach a valuable lesson: we make a choice/take an action or we do not, either way there is an impact on the outcome of events. Logical consequences
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger July 1, 2019
The more aligned a couple is on certain crucial dimensions, the better off they will be in the long term. Below are questions that can help to start thinking about how compatible a couple is: • Do we expect our partner to tell us the amount of money spent on
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger June 11, 2019
Unfairness arises in situations of powerlessness, disrespect and a lack of reciprocity in your most intimate relationships. Often in relationships you want something or someone to change, but you cannot make it happen, which fuels your desire to defend against this feeling of impotence. Sometimes you cannot even get your
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 31, 2019
We would certainly take objection to parents who are not teaching their children to read or do math because we know how difficult life will be without those skills. Why is responsibility any different? When we do not teach our children responsibility, we send them into the world without a
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 30, 2019
Once when I was watching the news, I saw a story about a man in southern California whose house had been destroyed by a mudslide. He was crying, and he told a reporter that he wanted the federal government to step in and help. Down the street, the reporter found
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2019
4 ways Trump’s presidency has evoked a sense of powerlessness: 1) Marginalization – when an individual or group minimizes or disavows the legitimacy, rights or privileges of others who are believed to be somehow different from the mainstream. 2) Internalizing external reality- themes of loss related to reduced importance, influence,
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2019
There is a long history of women who were told they were hysterical for openly expressing intense emotions. Guest blogger, Laura Brownstone, LCSW has been a therapist for over 15 years. In this post, she shares her thoughts on the shame and stigma that fuels the impulse of self injury. I
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2019
Try looking at anger in terms of the following 5 reasons for angry behaviors: 1 Seeking revenge. You feel hurt, so you want to get even and make things fair. 2 Preventing disaster. You feel helpless, so you want to take control. 3 Pushing others away. You feel discouraged, so
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2019
As parents, we are probably all familiar with being provoked into a blood vessel-popping rage. We are instantly overwhelmed and any resolution we might have made to stay calm is eradicated. That’s because kids are amazingly good at refining behaviors that they can turn to when they’re disappointed or angry,
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger May 23, 2019