Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the interactions between our emotions, our thoughts, and our behaviors. These can seem like complex concepts when working with children and teens, but this strategy that I’ll be describing can help even those young minds begin to build their awareness of what is happening inside their brain and how they can help regulate it.

As I mentioned in the trainings, I’m linking some items that can be used with the curriculum to add more visual, tactile, or auditory engagement. These are not necessary for the strategies to be effective though, just additional resources that you can utilize.

Dr. Daniel Siegel, a renowned neuroscientist, developed two models to help explain how our brain engages with the Fight-or-Flight Stress Response and why we should engage in regulation strategies to help regain control over our brain’s response.

Deep breathing is likely something you have heard about before, but do you know why it is beneficial and what it does in your body when you’re stressed?

If the child you’re working with can often get frustrated, worried, or sad and have difficulty communicating or expressing those feelings in healthy ways, these tools can help them engage their 5 senses for better emotional regulation.