Emotional regulation
Emotional Regulation Counselling
Helping you understand big feelings and find ways to navigate them.
I’m Emily Corkery, a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #006695) and former teacher. I see children from age 4, teens, young adults, adults and families in person in Stittsville (Ottawa) and online anywhere in Ontario, and I’m accepting new clients. The first step is a free 15-minute call.
Do emotions sometimes feel bigger than the situation? Does frustration quickly turn into anger, sadness feel overwhelming or anxiety make it difficult to think clearly?
Maybe your child has frequent meltdowns, struggles with transitions or has difficulty calming down once upset. Or perhaps you’re finding it difficult to manage your own emotional reactions and want to respond differently.
Emotions are a normal and important part of being human. But learning to understand them, express them and navigate them isn’t always easy.
At Collaborative Counselling, I work with children (age 4+), teens and adults to develop emotional awareness, build practical coping strategies and feel more confident navigating difficult emotions.
What is emotional regulation?
Emotional regulation is our ability to recognize, understand and respond to our emotions in ways that support our well-being.
It doesn’t mean avoiding difficult emotions or always staying calm. It means developing the skills to notice what we’re feeling, understand what might be contributing to those feelings and choose how we respond.
When emotional regulation is challenging, you might notice:
- Frequent emotional outbursts or meltdowns.
- Difficulty managing frustration or anger.
- Feeling overwhelmed by seemingly small situations.
- Difficulty calming down after becoming upset.
- Bottling up emotions until they spill over.
- Struggling to name or explain what you’re feeling.
- Feeling guilty or embarrassed after an emotional reaction.
- Big reactions to transitions, changes in plans or being told “no”.
Big feelings in children and teens
For children, big feelings often show up as meltdowns, tears, defiance or difficulty settling at bedtime or before school. Teens might seem irritable, shut down, or swing quickly between emotions. These reactions usually aren’t about being difficult; they’re a sign that a child needs help making sense of what they feel.
With children, I use age-appropriate activities, stories and practical tools to help them name their feelings and practise ways to calm their bodies and minds. I also work closely with parents, using Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), so you can respond to big emotions in ways that help your child feel understood and settle. See counselling for children, counselling for teens and parent and family support.
Emotional regulation for adults
Emotions are part of being human, but sometimes they can feel difficult to manage. You might become frustrated more quickly than you’d like, feel overwhelmed by small challenges or find yourself reacting in ways that don’t reflect how you want to show up.
Perhaps you hold everything in until it becomes too much. Maybe you find yourself overthinking conversations, feeling guilty after an emotional reaction or struggling to communicate what you need.
Emotional regulation isn’t about ignoring feelings, pushing them away or staying calm all the time. It’s about developing awareness and finding ways to respond to emotions with greater understanding and intention. See counselling for adults.
How counselling can help
Counselling can help you, or your child, better understand emotional responses and develop practical skills for navigating challenging moments.
Together, we can work on:
- Recognizing and naming emotions.
- Understanding what may be underneath strong emotional reactions.
- Identifying situations or patterns that contribute to overwhelm.
- Developing strategies to manage intense feelings.
- Practising ways to pause before responding.
- Communicating emotions and needs more effectively.
- Building self-compassion when things don’t go as planned.
My approach
I draw on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including mindfulness skills, to support greater emotional awareness and flexibility, and on Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) when parents are part of the work.
Our work will focus on understanding your experiences and identifying strategies that feel realistic and useful in everyday life. The goal isn’t to stop having difficult emotions. It’s to feel more confident navigating them.
Sessions, fees and scope
Sessions are 50 minutes: $170 for individual sessions and $200 for family sessions. No HST, and I provide receipts for insurance. See Fees and the FAQ for details.
Counselling with me focuses on emotional and everyday mental health concerns. I don’t provide diagnoses or formal assessments; if another kind of support would serve you better, I’ll help you think about where to turn.
Common questions
My child has a lot of meltdowns. Can counselling help?
Counselling can help children name their feelings and practise ways to calm down, and help parents respond in ways that support their child. A free call is a good place to talk it through.
Do you work with adults on emotional regulation?
Yes. I work with adults who want to understand their emotional reactions and respond with more intention.
Can parents come to sessions on their own?
Yes. Some parents start with parent-only sessions to build skills they can use at home.
Related support
Let’s take the first step
You can learn to respond to your emotions with more understanding, confidence and care. A free 15-minute call is an easy way to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit.
Book a free 15-minute callPrefer to talk? Call 613-577-2275
50-minute sessions · $170 individual · $200 family · No HST · Receipts for insurance