Anger Management in Franklin, TN: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and a Mindfulness Approach

Anger is a universal emotion—everyone experiences it, but not everyone manages it well. Left unchecked, anger can lead to damaged relationships, health issues, and lost opportunities. If you've found yourself struggling to cope with anger, you're not alone. As a licensed professional counselor in Franklin, TN, specializing in anger management, I’ve worked with countless individuals seeking a better way forward. The good news? With the right approach, anger can transform from a destructive force into a powerful agent for positive change.

Anger serves an important function: it alerts us to problems and motivates us to address them. But in our modern world, where threats are rarely physical and more often psychological or emotional, anger can become misdirected or disproportionate. At my Franklin, TN counseling office, I help clients understand the roots and triggers of their anger, so they can respond—not just react.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective and research-backed methods for managing anger. CBT focuses on identifying and changing the irrational beliefs and thought patterns that fuel anger. Let’s break it down:

• Recognizing Irrational Thoughts: Often, anger is driven by distorted thinking—such as all-or-nothing beliefs, catastrophizing, and unrealistic expectations about fairness and control.
• The ABC Model: CBT teaches clients to analyze anger-provoking situations with the ABCs: Activating Event, Beliefs, and Consequences. For example:
  • Activating Event: Getting cut off in traffic.
  • Belief: “That driver doesn’t respect me; people always try to take advantage.”
  • Consequence: Escalated anger, potentially leading to road rage or lingering resentment.
• Disputing Irrational Beliefs: Through active disputation—challenging these automatic thoughts with logic, evidence, and even humor—clients learn to shift their outlooks. (“Maybe that driver was in a rush to the hospital—not everything is about me!”)
• Behavior Change: CBT is not just about thinking differently, but also about doing differently: Practicing relaxation, assertiveness, and healthy communication. If you struggle with how you express anger physically or verbally, CBT offers actionable skills for change.

In my Franklin, TN counseling sessions, clients work on personalized strategies and worksheets—such as the ABC’s Worksheet found in my book—to reinforce these new habits in real-life situations.

While CBT targets the “thinking” and “doing” aspects, Mindfulness-Based Approaches add a crucial third dimension: being. Mindfulness practices teach you to pay attention, on purpose, to the present moment, without judgment.

• Awareness of Triggers: Many of us go through life on autopilot, unaware of what truly triggers our anger until it’s too late. Mindfulness brings that awareness front and center.
• Reducing Reactivity: Instead of reacting instantly to anger triggers, mindfulness creates a “pause”—a moment to breathe, reflect, and choose how to respond.
• Letting Go of Attachment: Mindfulness reminds us that our thoughts are just that—thoughts, not facts. You learn to observe them, let them pass, and reduce the power they have over your mood and behavior.
• Meditation and Relaxation: Regular mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, and even mindful walking are proven tools for lowering baseline stress and increasing emotional regulation.

Clients at my Franklin, TN practice often find that integrating mindfulness with CBT accelerates progress. When you can sit with your emotions rather than automatically react, you take back control, one mindful breath at a time.

As a seasoned therapist and the author of Navigate Anger, I combine decades of clinical expertise with empathy and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Whether you’re dealing with chronic anger, relationship conflicts, family issues, or work-related stress, I can help.

• Personalized Treatment: No two people experience or express anger the same way. Your treatment plan will be customized for your specific triggers, habits, and life circumstances.
• Evidence-Based Methods: My Franklin, TN counseling office specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based interventions backed by the latest research in psychology and neuroscience.
• Local Expertise: As a member of the Franklin, TN community, I understand the unique culture, stressors, and opportunities of our area—giving you a homegrown, professional resource for lasting change.
• Flexible Scheduling: Appointments are available for individuals, and can be done in-office or by video/phone.

If you’re looking for anger management counseling in Franklin, TN, I invite you to reach out for a confidential consultation. Together, we can develop the skills and insights needed to overcome anger and foster emotional well-being.

Call or visit my office in downtown Franklin, connect with me through my website, or download my resources for a head start on your journey. Let’s navigate this together!