

The majority of her clients come in because they are having relationship problems or because someone suggested they seek help. It’s just, ‘I’m going to be impulsive,’ and nothing seems to stop this.”Īccording to Galinis, impulsivity is an inclusive term that describes the ways that people disconnect from themselves, their relationships and their reality. “Basically,” adds Hudspeth, a member of ACA, “you’re saying that everyone around you and even consequences are of no value to change behavior. Hudspeth, an associate dean of counseling at Southern New Hampshire University, acknowledges that “some impulsivity is just a natural part of growing up learning from situations.” It becomes a problem, however, when repeated consequences and societal pressures have no impact on the person’s impulsive behavior. Sometimes, if these individuals don’t yell or lash out, they will be left feeling unsatisfied, she adds.Įdward F. Impulsiveness comes from an internal place in which individuals either react without thought or can’t stop themselves from doing the impulsive behavior, says Skinner, a member of the American Counseling Association. Similarly, Laura Galinis, an LPC in private practice in Georgia, affirms that when she uses the term impulsivity to describe her work with clients, she is frequently met with blank stares. She rarely has clients present and tell her they are impulsive. Even so, Skinner, a licensed professional school counselor who works with students with self-esteem, impulse-control and other social-emotional issues, says that impulsiveness is often poorly understood or is not on people’s radar. Skinner stayed calm, and eventually he let her back in.Īccording to prevalence data cited by Psych Central, 10.5% of Americans have an impulse-control disorder. Hearing this, the boy circled back to Skinner’s office and locked her out. She told him she wasn’t going to stop him from going home, but she was going to make sure he got there safely. Skinner, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) at Kettle Moraine Counseling in Wisconsin, quickly followed. Shortly after the boy’s parents dropped him off, he walked out of Skinner’s office and headed toward his house a few blocks away. This long list meant the boy was often being told what to do and felt powerless. In addition to impulse-control issues, the 10-year-old had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), struggled with issues around being adopted, and had medical concerns. A bout five years ago, a young client walked reluctantly into Jennifer Skinner’s office.
