MOOD & EMOTION REGULATION
Learn to Ride the Waves of Your Emotions
We help you understand your emotional patterns, develop regulation skills, and create more balance in your life.
AT START, WE MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE
We help you develop a new relationship with your emotions.
Emotions are information. They tell us what we need, what matters to us, and how we're experiencing the world.
But when emotions feel too intense, change too quickly, or stick around too long, they can make life feel unmanageable. Difficulty with mood and emotion regulation might mean experiencing intense reactions that seem out of proportion to situations, rapid mood swings that leave you exhausted, persistent low or irritable moods, or feeling overwhelmed by feelings you can't name or control.
Difficulty with mood and emotion regulation can look like:
Intense emotional reactions that feel out of your control
Rapid mood shifts throughout the day
Difficulty calming down once upset
Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
Explosive anger or frequent irritability
Persistent feelings of emptiness or sadness
Difficulty identifying what you're feeling
Here's the truth: struggling with your emotions doesn't mean you're broken or weak. It often means you haven't yet learned the skills to manage emotional intensity, or that your nervous system is responding to past experiences or current stressors in protective ways.
The good news? Emotion regulation is a skill you can learn.
OUR APPROACH TO MOOD & EMOTION REGULATION
Instead of fighting them, avoiding them, or being controlled by them, you'll learn to understand what your emotions are telling you and how to respond in ways that serve you.
Understanding Your Emotional Patterns
We help you identify triggers, recognize patterns in your emotional responses, and understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and behaviors. Awareness is the first step to change.
Building Core Regulation Skills
We teach practical, evidence-based skills through:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift thought patterns that intensify emotions
Mindfulness Practices to observe emotions without being overwhelmed by them
Somatic Techniques to regulate your nervous system through body-based practices
Creative Pathways to Regulation
When emotions feel too big for words, creative expression offers alternative ways to process and release:
Art Therapy to externalize feelings and create distance from emotional overwhelm
Music Therapy to shift emotional states and practice co-regulation
Dance Movement Therapy to release what your body is holding and reconnect with physical sensations
Drama Therapy to practice new emotional responses in a safe space
Creating Your Personalized Toolkit
Everyone's regulation needs are different. We'll work together to identify what works for you, whether that's grounding techniques, self-soothing strategies, distraction skills, or ways to safely express intense emotions.
Developing Emotional Awareness
Many people struggle to identify what they're feeling. We help you build emotional vocabulary, recognize sensations in your body that signal different emotions, and understand the messages your feelings carry.
Addressing Root Causes
Sometimes, difficulty with emotion regulation stems from trauma, attachment patterns, or ongoing life stressors. We address these underlying factors while building your regulation skills.
Your Emotions Don't Have To Control Your Life
Let's work together to help you find balance and build the skills you need.
Signs You Might Benefit from Therapy for Mood & Emotion Regulation
You might benefit from working with one of our mood and emotion regulation specialists if you're experiencing:
→ If any of these resonate with you, reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Therapy can provide the tools, insight, and compassionate space you need to heal.
Rapid mood changes that leave you exhausted or confused
Difficulty calming yourself down once upset
Intense emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to situations
Feeling controlled by your emotions rather than in charge of them
Using harmful coping strategies to manage emotions (self-harm, substance use, restriction)
Relationships suffer because of emotional outbursts or withdrawal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions About Mood & Emotion Regulation
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Emotional intensity exists on a spectrum. Some people naturally experience emotions more intensely than others, and that's okay. The question is whether your emotional experiences are causing problems in your life. If they are, therapy can help you develop skills to manage intensity while still honoring your feelings.
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Many people struggle with emotional awareness, a phenomenon sometimes called alexithymia. This is incredibly common and something we can work on together. We'll help you build emotional vocabulary and learn to recognize physical sensations that accompany different feelings.
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No. The goal isn't to dampen your emotions or become emotionally flat. It's to help you experience emotions without being overwhelmed by them, and to respond to your feelings in ways that align with your values and goals.
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Absolutely. While DBT was originally developed for BPD, its skills are helpful for anyone struggling with emotion regulation, impulsivity, relationship difficulties, or distress tolerance. Many of our clients benefit from DBT skills regardless of diagnosis.
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You can start learning basic skills immediately, and many people notice improvements within a few weeks of practice. Deeper change takes longer. Think of it like learning an instrument: you can play simple songs quickly, but mastery takes consistent practice over time.
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Hormonal fluctuations absolutely impact mood, and this doesn't make your experiences less valid or less worthy of support. We can help you develop strategies for managing premenstrual mood changes while also addressing any underlying emotional regulation difficulties.
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Some people benefit from medication, others from therapy alone, and many from a combination. We can work collaboratively with your prescriber if you're on medication or considering it. Therapy offers skills and understanding that medication alone can't provide.
Ready to Feel More in Control of Your Emotions?
You can learn to understand your feelings, ride the waves without drowning, and create the emotional balance you've been craving.