CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Emotional Dysregulation
What is anger management?
Often presenting as inability to regulate emotions, symptoms that require anger management in children and young adults vary by developmental stage. In young children, tantrums and frustration are common, while older kids and teens may act out aggressively due to underlying conditions or emotional distress. By young adulthood, unresolved issues, mood disorders, and life stressors can trigger anger. Across all ages, strategies that take a holistic view of the child and work to understand and address the root causes of the symptoms are most effective for anger management. A common diagnosis that calls for anger management is Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD).
Signs and symptoms of dyregulation in children
Emotional dysregulation in children and adolescents can show itself through a range of symptoms and conditions that differ for each developmental stage. Here’s a breakdown of how these challenges can appear in different age groups under the age of 26.
Early childhood (under age 6)
Tantrums due to unmet needs or frustration
Delayed speech/language development or an inability to express feelings
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Inconsistent parenting
Trauma exposure
Children (ages 6-12)
Impulsivity, frustration tolerance
Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ODD
Bullying, as victim or perpetrator
Family conflict or divorce
Learning disabilities leading to low self-esteem or frustration
Adolescents (ages 13-18)
Conduct Disorder
Trauma/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Depression or anxiety masked as anger
Substance use
Peer pressure or social rejection
Social media or online conflict
Young adults (ages 18-26)
Unresolved trauma or childhood issues
Mood disorders such as bipolar disorder
Relationship challenges
Family stress
Workplace or academic pressure
Poor coping strategies such as substance use or violence
Neurological differences like Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or ASD
THE BLACKBIRD HEALTH DIFFERENCE
“Anger is a secondary emotion so it is important to identify and connect with the underlying emotion. Therapy can help the child connect to the underlying emotion and be able to process their feelings in other ways. Understanding the whole picture helps to give the child the proper resources and skills.”
—Nicholas Mediate, Psychotherapist and Manager of Behavioral Health
Diagnosis and understanding
Anger is often associated with diagnoses of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because emotional dysregulation doesn’t usually appear in isolation—it frequently exists alongside other mental health conditions—anger management alone may not lead to lasting improvement unless other co-occurring conditions are addressed. At Blackbird Health, we consider a wide range of biological, psychological, social, and even environmental factors to understand the full picture. Our thorough, integrated treatment plans are designed to effectively address depression and all of its related conditions.
Factors we consider
Developmental
Cognitive
Behavioral
Physical
Genetic
Psychosocial
GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scoring
Frequency and duration of symptoms
Interference/Impact on daily life
Treatments
and goals
Blackbird Health customizes treatment plans for emotional dysregulation in children, adolescents, and young adults based on their age, developmental stage, symptom severity, co-occurring conditions, and family environment.
Here are some of the most common and evidence-based treatment options across these age groups.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
Communication and conflict resolution work
Physical exercise
Medication
Trauma-informed therapy
Peer and support group therapy
Our treatment plans are effective and sustainable. We work with the patient and family to set realistic goals for their work. Some of these include
Reducing symptoms
Improved daily functioning
Enhanced coping skills
Strengthening self esteem and self compassion
Improved relationships
Improved lifestyle
Relapse prevention
““Jonathan is in a much better place now. He has a really good toolkit he can pull from. Over time he has become more calm, he has gained control over his emotions, and he has matured. He feels a level of confidence and knows that going forward he's going to have the awareness and knowledge to be able to respond to things differently.”
—Amanda, Pennsylvania
Through the Blackbird Health understanding-first approach, we envision a world where every young person is fully understood and receives support building the tools they need to thrive.
