Managing Emotions
Emotion dysregulation refers to ongoing difficulties in managing strong or rapidly shifting emotions. While everyone feels intense emotions at times, some people experience patterns that are more persistent, reactive, or difficult to control. These patterns can affect relationships, decision-making, work, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing.
Emotion dysregulation is common in people with long-standing personality vulnerabilities, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and can also occur alongside trauma histories, anxiety, or depression. People may find themselves reacting more intensely than they intend, feeling overwhelmed by anger or sadness, struggling to calm down, or feeling ashamed or confused about their emotional responses.
Common features of emotion dysregulation
intense or rapidly shifting emotions
difficulty calming after distress or conflict
anger outbursts or chronic irritability
impulsive reactions during emotional overwhelm
patterns of relationship conflict or fear of abandonment
emotional numbness or “shutting down” under stress
long-standing patterns that feel difficult to change
These experiences are not character flaws. They often reflect earlier adaptations to stressful or invalidating environments, trauma, or learned coping strategies that were once protective.
I work with people to understand the triggers, patterns, and beliefs that contribute to emotional intensity, and to build skills that support stability and more consistent emotional experiences. This work is paced carefully and focuses on increasing both insight and practical ability to regulate emotions.
I draw on evidence-based approaches such as DBT-informed skills, CBT, ACT, and EMDR when trauma contributes to emotional reactivity. These therapies help people:
recognise patterns that lead to emotional escalation
develop practical tools to manage strong emotions and urges
improve distress tolerance and impulse control
strengthen interpersonal effectiveness and relationship stability
reduce anger and increase emotional flexibility
build self-compassion and a more grounded sense of identity
Therapy is tailored to your circumstances and readiness, with a focus on building predictable, workable skills that improve emotional stability over time.
Anger management
For people whose emotion dysregulation presents primarily as anger or frequent conflict, I also offer a structured Anger Management Group Program. This is a six-session program delivered over three weeks (two sessions per week) for up to ten participants. It provides practical skills in understanding anger, improving impulse control, and strengthening communication. Dates for the 2026 program will be announced once scheduled.