Dallas, Texas, USA - May 3, 2023 - The recent surge in mass shootings in the United States has once again brought the issue of gun violence to the forefront. Despite numerous attempts to control the problem, our society seems unable to find a viable solution. In her latest article, "Can Mass Shootings be Stopped?" Dr. Jayne Gardner, a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, offers a neuroscience-based approach to dealing with anger, which she argues is at the root of the problem.
According to the Gun Violence Archives, there have been 24 mass shootings in the United States in the last two weeks of April alone, highlighting the urgent need for a solution. Dr. Gardner believes that the current methods of dealing with gun violence, such as gun control, better background checks, and mental health initiatives, are not effective enough. Instead, she argues that we need to address the root cause of the problem, which is our inability to deal with anger.
Dr. Gardner explains that the most prevalent type of therapy used today, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is based on the flawed notion that we can use our cognitive mind to change our emotional brain. She argues that emotions take precedence over thoughts in our brains, and therefore we need to approach, rather than avoid, our emotions in order to effectively manage them.
Dr. Gardner's four-step formula for dealing with anger involves facing it, feeling it, fueling it through physical activity, and then fixing it by transforming the anger into thankfulness for the lesson. She argues that by following this approach, we can release our anger in a healthy way and prevent it from causing internal violence.
Step One: Face it.
If you sense you are angry, you are! Emotions are our truth! Accept anger and face it!
Step Two: Feel it.
If you cannot feel it but intuit you are mad, process it by writing about it, talking aloud to yourself about it, or remembering another time when you were mad to get in the mood to complete Step 3.
Step Three: Fuel it.
Pour gasoline on your rage and let it burn itself out. Any physical activity will work to effectively release your angry emotions. Scream, run, or hit a pillow but move!
Step Four: Fix it.
Once you have released your anger, it will no longer be in charge. You will feel better. Since anger is energy, morph it into thankfulness for the lesson.
"External violence will never stop until we deal with anger where it starts: inside of us," says Dr. Gardner. "We need to teach people how to manage their emotions effectively so that they don't resort to violence."
Dr. Gardner's article presents a compelling perspective for those seeking viable solutions to the issue of gun violence in our society. With a focus on releasing anger, the article proposes a unique and effective approach that has the potential to bring about transformative change in our communities. Based on her own qualitative research, the approach has demonstrated a marked decrease in emotional reactivity, allowing individuals to cultivate a thoughtful response rather than a reactive one. I highly recommend this thought-provoking piece to anyone interested in effecting meaningful change.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Jayne Gardner, please contact her at drjayne@jaynegardner.com or visit her website at drjaynegardner.com.
Agency Contact: Wilene Dunn, wilene@wcdenterprises.com, (713) 518-4914
Dr. Jayne Gardner holds a doctorate degree in psychology and counseling and state licensure as an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). She has contributed articles to numerous magazines, professional journals, and media outlets including SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), Dallas Business Journal, and Science of Mind magazine. She has hosted her own radio show called Wired to Win (KRLD-AM/Dallas) and has appeared on CNN's Business Unusual and on Good Morning Texas (ABC affiliate).
Media Contact
Company Name: WCD Enterprises
Contact Person: Wilene Dunn
Email: Send Email
Phone: 713-518-4914
Country: United States
Website: https://wcdenterprises.com
