Disruptive, Impulsive-Control & Conduct Disorder
Learn to Pause, Choose and Thrive
Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders can make it hard to resist urges, manage emotions, or follow rules in ways that keep relationships and daily life steady. These challenges aren’t a reflection of your worth — they often stem from a mix of biological, environmental, and learned patterns. With the right tools, it’s possible to replace impulsive reactions with thoughtful choices, repair trust, and build a calmer, more fulfilling life. At Cortes Counseling, we work alongside you to create lasting change with understanding and respect.
What are Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders?
These disorders involve ongoing patterns of behaviors where emotions or impulses feel difficult to manage, sometimes leading to conflict with others or challenges in school, work, or home life. Examples include intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. The behaviors may involve outbursts, defiance, aggression, or breaking rules, but at their core, they’re signs that someone is struggling with emotional regulation and impulse control, not that they’re “bad.”
They can affect people of any age, though they’re often noticed in childhood or adolescence. Early intervention can help prevent patterns from becoming more entrenched, and therapy offers a space to uncover triggers, learn coping strategies, and rebuild healthier ways of relating to others.
When Should I Consider Counseling for Disruptive or Impulse-Control Issues?
Consider counseling if frequent outbursts, conflicts, or impulsive decisions are creating strain in relationships, work, or school or if you notice a pattern that feels hard to change despite your best efforts. Therapy can also be helpful if you’re feeling guilt or frustration afterward and want to find new ways of responding in the moment.
You don’t need to wait until situations escalate to a crisis. Seeking help early can make it easier to create positive habits, strengthen relationships, and feel more confident in your ability to handle life’s challenges with self-control and calm.
What Happens During Counseling for Disruptive or Impulse-Control Disorders?
Our Services
Our Specialties
Counseling starts with understanding your unique patterns, triggers, and strengths. Together, we work to identify what sparks impulsive or disruptive reactions and practice strategies that help you pause and choose a different response. This might involve learning calming techniques, improving communication skills, and creating plans to handle stressful situations.
Sessions are collaborative and nonjudgmental, focusing on building skills and celebrating progress, no matter how small. Over time, therapy can help reduce conflicts, improve relationships, and give you a greater sense of control over your choices and emotions
How do I get started?
To get started, simply give Cortes Counseling a call or complete our request form. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and schedule a first session for you in our office. We are also proud to offer telehealth counseling services online, if you would prefer to conduct your sessions virtually.
