Impulse-control work, named honestly.

Impulse control shows up in a lot of shapes: snapping at someone you love before you have caught up to the fact you were angry, spending money you do not have, eating past full, leaving a job in the middle of a hard week, ending a relationship in a single sentence. Most of these are not character flaws. They are patterns with a job.

The work depends on what is underneath. With ADHD, the work is partly executive-function scaffolding. With anxiety, it is partly nervous-system regulation. With shame, it is partly the older work of why the costs have been bearable. We figure out which mix is yours.

How we work on it

CBT and DBT tools come in heavily for the in-the-moment work. Person-centered work holds the longer arc. Most weeks we talk about what happened since the last session, name the pattern, and work on a smaller-cost option to try between sessions.

Impulse-control work is not white-knuckling. It is figuring out what the impulse is for, and whether there is a less expensive version of that same job.

What this is not

If the impulse-control pattern is substance use or addiction, that is a different specialty and usually needs AODA-credentialed care. I can refer you. If it overlaps with anger that has frightened the people around you, see the anger page.

What to do next

If an impulse-control pattern is what brought you here, the next step is to schedule the consultation or intake session.

Schedule a free 15 minutes consult →