AUSTIN
ANGER
MANAGEMENT
10% off online bookings!
AUSTIN
ANGER
MANAGEMENT
Austin's anger management resource since 2006
In over thirty years of working with people, this is what I’ve found to be my truths and my approach to counseling.
When we look for a counselor:
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We’ve tried everything we know to do to solve our problems and whatever we are doing is not working.
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We often feel trapped in a situation and can see no way out.
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We want someone who will listen first and then give us tools that work better than the ones we are using.
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We want someone who can give us hope that we will find our way out of the mess we’re in.
I work best with people who:
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Appreciate that what I have to share is not just coming from my training but also from decades of having made my own mistakes, sometimes over-and-over, and learning from those mistakes.
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Want me to give honest feedback--not brutal honesty, but honesty from my heart.
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Want an interactive counselor--someone who will give feedback and suggest possibilities.
Finally, my experience of counseling is our working together to solve your problems. I won’t change you. I don’t have that power. I can, however, help you change yourself to create a better life.
~ Jim Hoadley, MEd, LPC, LMFT
Founder, Austin Anger Management
The anger management course from Austin Anger Management (AAM) is a psychological-educational skills program that provides tools to improve emotional, cognitive and behavioral intelligence. The course includes instruction on communication, empathy, compassion, mindfulness, emotional regulation, identification of triggers, understanding of personal values, emotional coping strategies, strategies for navigating conflicts, a comprehensive understanding of violence within relationships and how we may respond from our highest personal values instead of anger.
The ultimate goal of the class is to be able to remain calm under all circumstances.
"What we find as we listen to the songs of our rage or fear, loneliness or longing, is that they do not stay forever. Rage turns into sorrow; sorrow turns into tears; tears may fall for a long time, but then the sun comes out. A memory of old loss sings to us; our body shakes and relives the moment of loss; then the armoring around the loss gradually softens; and in the midst of the song of tremendous grieving the pain of that loss finally finds release."
~ Jack Kornfield
Contact Austin Anger Management
Austin Anger Management integrates traditional psychotherapy, especially cognitive and behavioral approaches, to help students identify patterns of thinking, past experiences, and learned behaviors that contribute to anger. This encourages self-reflection and accountability while helping students recognize triggers, challenge distorted thoughts, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Psychodynamic and trauma-informed perspectives contribute to our classes by emphasizing that unresolved emotional wounds, shame, abandonment, or chronic stress can intensify angry reactions. By increasing insight into these underlying causes, students gain greater control over emotional responses.
Mindfulness strengthens our anger management program by teaching students to observe thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions without immediately reacting to them. Rather than suppressing anger or exploding outwardly, mindfulness encourages nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Mindfulness practices such as focused breathing, grounding exercises, and body awareness help individuals pause before acting impulsively. This pause creates space for thoughtful decision-making instead of automatic reactions.
Emotional intelligence (EI) adds another critical dimension to our work at Austin Anger Management. EI involves recognizing emotions in oneself and others, understanding emotional triggers, and responding in socially effective ways. Individuals with stronger emotional intelligence are more likely to communicate assertively rather than aggressively, tolerate frustration, and demonstrate empathy and compassion during conflict. Emotional intelligence skills help students recognize early warning signs of anger escalation—such as muscle tension, racing thoughts, or irritability—and intervene before emotions become overwhelming.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) integrates many of these concepts into a practical skills-based framework. DBT combines acceptance and change strategies to help students regulate intense emotions in four major skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. In our classes participants learn how to tolerate distress without acting destructively, challenge emotional assumptions, and communicate needs more effectively. DBT also teaches practical tools such as paced breathing, time-outs, grounding techniques, opposite action, and assertive communication strategies. These skills improve self-control during emotionally charged situations and strengthen long term emotional resilience.
Our approach recognizes that lasting change requires both self-awareness and behavioral practice. Traditional psychotherapy helps our students understand why anger occurs; mindfulness teaches awareness and emotional presence; emotional intelligence strengthens empathy and compassionate communication; and DBT provides concrete coping skills for high-stress moments. Together, these approaches help students move from reactive behavior toward thoughtful, intentional responses that improve relationships, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.
Our Mission
Austin Anger Management addresses both the emotional roots of anger and the practical skills needed to manage emotional responses. Traditional psychotherapy, mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence (EI), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are all part of our integrated approach to anger management by helping students understand, regulate, and respond to emotions more effectively.