
Emotional regulation
What Is Emotional Regulation?
Controlling emotions can be a real challenge for many, and it’s often easier said than done. You may have encountered phrases like ‘just feel better’ or ‘stop acting like that,’ which oversimplify complex mental health struggles. Conditions like anxiety and depression have become somewhat mainstream, but their true impact is often minimized or invalidated. The difference between regular worry and clinical anxiety is significant. Anxiety involves excessive, persistent concerns and often has a physical component. This can make it incredibly tough to ‘just relax,’ as some might suggest. Similarly, depression is distinct from ordinary sadness. People may tell you to ‘snap out of it’ or label you a ‘downer,’ but clinical depression goes far beyond temporary sadness. Unfortunately, the word ‘depression’ has been diluted to the point where those who genuinely grapple with it aren’t always understood in their battle to manage depressive episodes. When you lack the coping skills to navigate these emotions, life can feel overwhelming and leave you feeling powerless. In therapy, our focus will be on helping you regain a sense of control and empowerment over your emotional well-being.
Do you feel like you
Worry a lot
Feel scared or nervous
Have trouble sleeping
Get sweaty hands in situations
Experience a rapid heartbeat in situations
Have trouble concentrating
Feel on edge or jumpy
Or
Feel very sad or down
Do not enjoy things you used to like
Feel very tired or have low energy
Eat or sleep more or less than usual
Feel guilty or worthless
Have trouble focusing or making decisions
Think about death or suicide
Feel like the future is dark Then you are in the right place!
How I will help you
In therapy, I combine the person-centered and cognitive behavioral approaches to help manage emotional regulation. Building a trusting, non-judgmental relationship is the first step. Through the person-centered approach, I create an environment where you can comfortably share and feel validated in your experiences.
Additionally, I use the ABC model from the cognitive behavioral approach to address difficult emotions. This model believes that our beliefs, not events themselves, influence our behaviors. For instance, feeling worthless after a breakup is not caused by the breakup itself but by the belief ‘I am worthless.’ Our beliefs about ourselves, others, the environment, or situations shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
In therapy, we’ll focus on challenging these beliefs and transforming them into ones that better serve you.
Are You Ready For Change?
Set up a free call so I can learn more about you and how I can assist you.