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Stress Management


Today's Date: Monday, September 6, 2010
Anger Management

Anger is a basic and useful emotion that is part of the experience of being human. Anger is energizing, it is the emotion that allows us to fight injustice, right wrongs, face challenges. But like many powerful things it is also caustic and dangerous when misused or over used.

It is not anger that creates problems in people’s lives; it is angry, impulsive behavior. People in our lives don’t much care if we feel angry but when we act on that anger in a way that hurts them, breaks the rules, or infringes on their rights the problems start to mount. In relationships, work, or in society, we are held accountable for the things we do or say regardless of how justified we feel in our anger. We are ultimately responsible for our words and actions.

When we change the pattern of reacting impulsively, without thinking, then the problems caused by our angry behavior start to dissipate. The first step is learning to observe ourselves more closely and recognize the situations where we are full of emotion and prone to acting without thinking clearly.

As we start to observe the process of feeling out of control it becomes clear, angry behavior is not just triggered by the emotion of anger. We like to talk about feeling angry, but the feelings of anger have other emotions building along with them. The term “worked up” can be used to describe this state, because often it is hard to describe what we are feeling, but we know it is uncomfortable.

The more uncomfortable or worked up we get the more we have the urge to act, to do something to change the situation. It is amazing what we will do if we let ourselves get uncomfortable enough. Building awareness of what we are feeling, understanding what triggers those feelings, and learning to change our patterns of reacting to life is what anger management is all about.

Professionals Serving Adults - Professionals Serving Children


Amy Louden, MA
Psychologist

Amy is a licensed psychologist, with expertise in testing and treatment of individuals and families in both private practice and community mental health settings. She treats a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar illness. She enjoys a special emphasis on adolescent issues. Amy is also available for seminars and training.


David Schaffer, MSW, LICSW, CCAC, LISW
Clinical Social Worker and Addictions Counselor

David enjoys helping individuals, families and couples live meaningful lives instead of lives that are controlled by their problems.

David's practice includes working with people to address anxiety, addictions, depression, life transitions, trauma, and anger issues. He has a special interest in obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, behavioral addictions (gambling, pornography, sex, affairs, shopping, eating), chronic pain, post-partum depression and attention deficit matters. David particularly enjoys working with care-giving professionals such as clergy, social workers, and those working in medical and mental health fields. He is comfortable working in a non-judgmental way with people who have harmed others.


Greg Syner, M.A., LPC
Counselor

Greg Syner has experience in adolescent and adult individual counseling issues, including anxiety and depression. He is an elementary school counselor and has done, pastoral counseling. Greg also provides marriage and family therapy, bereavement and pastoral counseling.


Priscilla Leavitt, Ph.D.
Psychologist

Dr. Leavitt is a counseling psychologist with special training and certification in marriage and family counseling, grief and bereavement, hypnosis, stress and Christian counseling. She speaks and conducts seminars, offers EAP services to business and does counseling and Executive Coaching in addition to the extensive individual and group counseling she does at the Center.


JoAnne F. Vrabel, Ph.D.
Psychologist

A practicing Psychologist for over 15 years, Dr. Vrabel provides psychotherapy and counseling, as well as psychological testing and diagnostic assessment for individuals ages 6 and older.


Jim Wells, MA, NCC, LPC
Counselor

Jim is an LPC and LSW with 15 years' experience. He uses his specialized training in Play Therapy with children ages 3-12. He sees teens and adults as well. He counsels in a new play therapy room and an adjoining office with a 2-way mirror and a separate area for his work with families.


Mollie Haught, MA, LPC
Counselor

Mollie has experience in outpatient, inpatient, individual and group work. She also has multicultural experience, having counseled in Turkey with several nationalities. She works with children from age three, adolescents, and adults. Mollie treats individuals with mood and anxiety disorders and other mental health issues. Her special interests are children, geriatrics, and Christian counseling.


Linda J. Stockton, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor

Linda has a Master's Degree in Counseling and has completed concentrated coursework in marriage and family counseling. Linda is passionate about helping engaged and married/remarried couples improve the quality of their relationships. She also treats a wide range of mental health issues, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, abuse, and life transitions. Linda provides education and counseling services for children (age ten and up), teens, individual adults, couples, and families. She is also available for seminars.



Amy Louden, MA
Psychologist

Amy is a licensed psychologist, with expertise in testing and treatment of individuals and families in both private practice and community mental health settings. She treats a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar illness. She enjoys a special emphasis on adolescent issues. Amy is also available for seminars and training.


Greg Syner, M.A., LPC
Counselor

Greg Syner has experience in adolescent and adult individual counseling issues, including anxiety and depression. He is an elementary school counselor and has done, pastoral counseling. Greg also provides marriage and family therapy, bereavement and pastoral counseling.


Priscilla Leavitt, Ph.D.
Psychologist

Dr. Leavitt is a counseling psychologist with special training and certification in marriage and family counseling, grief and bereavement, hypnosis, stress and Christian counseling. She speaks and conducts seminars, offers EAP services to business and does counseling and Executive Coaching in addition to the extensive individual and group counseling she does at the Center.


Richard E. Stanley, MEd, LPC, NCC
Counselor

Mr. Stanley is an experienced mental health provider, having worked in both inpatient and private practice settings. His specialty areas include adolescents, families, couples, adults and groups.


JoAnne F. Vrabel, Ph.D.
Psychologist

A practicing Psychologist for over 15 years, Dr. Vrabel provides psychotherapy and counseling, as well as psychological testing and diagnostic assessment for individuals ages 6 and older.


Jim Wells, MA, NCC, LPC
Counselor

Jim is an LPC and LSW with 15 years' experience. He uses his specialized training in Play Therapy with children ages 3-12. He sees teens and adults as well. He counsels in a new play therapy room and an adjoining office with a 2-way mirror and a separate area for his work with families.


Harvey West, MSW, LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Harvey has experience working with adults and children in private practice and community mental health settings. He provides crisis intervention, individual therapy, and group therapy. He works with children, beginning at age 6, and adults of any age (including geriatric). He works with individuals who experience problems with depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic illness, abuse issues and other mental health problems. His special interest is working with anger management and behavioral issues. Harvey is trained to help individuals who have gambling problems and addictions.


Mollie Haught, MA, LPC
Counselor

Mollie has experience in outpatient, inpatient, individual and group work. She also has multicultural experience, having counseled in Turkey with several nationalities. She works with children from age three, adolescents, and adults. Mollie treats individuals with mood and anxiety disorders and other mental health issues. Her special interests are children, geriatrics, and Christian counseling.


Shibu Kuncheriah, MD, R.Ph.
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist

Dr. Kuncheriah is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist as well as a pharmacist. Dr. Kuncheriah received his pharmacy degree, Magna Cum Laude from Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, and then went on to receive his medical degree from Temple School of Medicine. He completed his adult psychiatry residency from West Virginia University School of Medicine and his child and adolescent fellowship from the University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine. He is board certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is also board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

  • Although he sees adults, Dr. Kuncheriah is currently prioritizing services to children, due to the limited psychiatric resources for children in our area.

    Dr. Kuncheriah is also a professional/motivational speaker and is available for talks and seminars on various topics. His special interests are autism, asperger’s disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and Christian based psychiatry.


  • Linda J. Stockton, MA, LPC
    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Linda has a Master's Degree in Counseling and has completed concentrated coursework in marriage and family counseling. Linda is passionate about helping engaged and married/remarried couples improve the quality of their relationships. She also treats a wide range of mental health issues, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, abuse, and life transitions. Linda provides education and counseling services for children (age ten and up), teens, individual adults, couples, and families. She is also available for seminars.


    Gary Battin, M.A., LPC
    School Psychologist

    Mr. Battin is a licensed school psychologist and licensed professional counselor with Masters degrees in both psychology and counseling. His primary interest is working with children, adolescents and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). He has presented numerous workshops on ADHD. Mr. Battin is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.


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