Emotion Regulation Therapy
Develop healthier ways to understand, express, and manage emotions
Are you struggling to manage intense emotions, experiencing frequent emotional outbursts, or finding that your emotional responses are affecting your relationships and daily life?
Specialized Emotional & Behavioural Support
Emotional dysregulation can manifest in many ways—from difficulty controlling anger and impulsivity to overwhelming anxiety, mood swings, or emotional shutdown. Whether you're an adult working to improve your emotional responses or a parent seeking support for your child's behavioural challenges, our Toronto-based emotion regulation therapy services provide the tools and strategies needed for lasting change.
At Mental Wellness and Me, Laura Davidson, MSW, RSW, offers comprehensive support using evidence-based approaches:
Our Emotion Regulation & Behavioural Services
Adult Emotion Regulation Therapy
Our adult-focused emotion regulation therapy helps you develop greater emotional awareness and more effective responses to intense feelings. This service benefits adults who:
- Experience emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation
- Struggle with anger management or emotional outbursts
- Feel overwhelmed by emotions or have difficulty naming feelings
- Find that emotional challenges impact their work or relationships
Through a structured yet flexible approach, you'll learn practical skills for:
Identifying and labeling emotions accurately
Implementing effective self-soothing techniques
Developing healthy coping strategies for difficult feelings
Building distress tolerance for uncomfortable emotions
Communicating needs and boundaries effectively
Child & Youth Behavioural Therapy
Children and adolescents often express emotional difficulties through their behaviour. Our specialized behavioural therapy for young people helps address:
- Emotional outbursts, tantrums, or meltdowns
- Defiance or oppositional behaviour
- Difficulty following rules or routines
- School-related behavioural challenges
- Social interaction problems with peers
Our child-centered approach combines:
Age-appropriate emotional vocabulary building
Collaborative problem-solving techniques
Positive reinforcement strategies
Skill-building through play and creative activities
Parent coaching to support new skills at home
Parents are essential partners in this process, and we provide guidance on how to reinforce therapeutic strategies in daily life.
Anger Management & Impulse Control
For those specifically struggling with anger or impulsivity, our targeted therapy focuses on:
Understanding anger triggers and early warning signs
Developing a "pause button" between feeling and action
Learning de-escalation techniques for intense emotions
Practicing healthy expression of difficult feelings
Building communication skills for conflict resolution
This service is beneficial for both adults and adolescents who want to respond more thoughtfully in situations that typically trigger anger or impulsive behaviour.
What to Expect in Your Therapy Sessions
Starting emotion regulation or behavioural therapy is an important step toward creating positive change.
Initial Assessment
Your journey begins with a comprehensive evaluation where we discuss:
- Your specific emotional or behavioural challenges
- How these challenges impact your daily life and relationships
- Patterns you've noticed in emotional responses
- Previous strategies you've tried
- Your goals for therapy
For children, this assessment includes both parent and child perspectives to develop a complete understanding of the situation.
Typical Session Format
Regular 50-minute sessions typically include:
- Check-in about experiences since the previous session
- Skill-building exercises and strategy development
- Practice applying techniques to real-life situations
- Planning for skill implementation between sessions
- Adjustments to your personalized approach as needed
Treatment Timeline
While everyone's path is unique:
- Many clients begin noticing improvements in awareness after 3-4 sessions
- Developing and practicing new skills typically requires 8-12 sessions
- More complex or longstanding issues may benefit from longer-term support
- Some clients return for "refresher" sessions during particularly challenging periods
Progress Measurement
We regularly assess your improvement through:
- Self-reported changes in emotional management
- Tracking the frequency and intensity of challenging behaviours
- Feedback from family members or teachers (with appropriate consent)
- Evaluating progress toward your specific goals
Online Session Logistics
Virtual therapy sessions are:
- Conducted through a secure, PHIPA-compliant platform
- Structured with interactive elements to maintain engagement
- Particularly convenient for busy families and professionals
- Effective for both adult emotion regulation and child behavioural therapy
Why Choose Laura Davidson for Emotion Regulation Therapy
When seeking help for emotional and behavioural challenges, specialized expertise makes a meaningful difference. Laura Davidson brings specific qualifications to support your journey:
Advanced Training
in DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) skills for emotion regulation
Specialized Experience
working with both children and adults on behavioural challenges
Master of Social Work (MSW)
from the University of Toronto with specialization in Mental Health
Experience at The Hospital for Sick Children
providing therapy to children and youth
Registered Social Worker (RSW)
in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Laura creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment where you can explore emotional patterns and practice new skills. Her approach balances compassion with practical, skill-based strategies that lead to tangible improvements in emotional well-being.
Client Success Stories
After years of emotional outbursts that damaged my relationships, I finally found help through Laura's emotion regulation therapy. She taught me to recognize my emotional triggers and develop strategies to respond rather than react. The skills I've learned have transformed not just how I handle my emotions, but how I approach my entire life. My relationships at home and work have improved dramatically.
As parents, we were at our wit's end with our 9-year-old son's behavioural challenges. School meetings became a dreaded occurrence, and home life was chaotic. Laura worked with both our son and us, teaching strategies that actually made sense and could be implemented in real life. Six months later, his teacher commented on the remarkable improvement, and our home is much more peaceful. Laura's approach was exactly what our family needed.
I've always struggled with intense emotions that seemed to come out of nowhere. Laura helped me understand the connection between my thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and taught me practical skills to manage overwhelming feelings. The virtual sessions fit perfectly with my busy schedule, and I appreciated her concrete, no-nonsense approach combined with genuine empathy. I finally feel in control of my emotions rather than the other way around.
Emotion Regulation & Behavioural Therapy FAQs
What is emotional dysregulation?
Emotional dysregulation refers to difficulty managing emotional responses effectively. It may manifest as emotions that are too intense for the situation, difficulty returning to a baseline emotional state, or inappropriate emotional responses. Many people experience this as feeling "overwhelmed" by emotions or having reactions that seem out of proportion to the triggering event.
How do I know if I need emotion regulation therapy?
Consider seeking help if:
- Your emotional responses regularly feel overwhelming or out of your control
- Emotions significantly interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning
- You frequently regret your reactions or behaviours when emotional
- You use unhealthy coping mechanisms (like substance use) to manage feelings
- Previous attempts to manage your emotions haven't been successful
For children, signs may include frequent emotional outbursts, difficulty transitioning between activities, or behavioural problems at school or home.
How is child behavioural therapy different from adult therapy?
Child behavioural therapy is adapted to be developmentally appropriate, often incorporating play, art, and other engaging activities. It focuses more on concrete behavioural strategies with immediate reinforcement, while building emotional vocabulary and awareness. Parent involvement is also a crucial component, with parents learning to support and reinforce therapeutic strategies at home.
How long does it take to improve emotion regulation skills?
While everyone's journey is different, most clients begin developing greater emotional awareness within the first few sessions. Learning and practicing new skills typically takes 8-12 sessions, with continued improvement as these skills are applied in daily life. Emotion regulation is an ongoing practice, but therapy provides the foundation and tools needed for long-term success.
Can online therapy effectively address behavioural challenges?
Yes, virtual therapy has proven effective for both emotion regulation and behavioural challenges. For children, online sessions can be structured with interactive elements to maintain engagement. For adults, virtual therapy offers convenience and accessibility. In some cases, being in your home environment during sessions can actually facilitate practicing new skills where they'll be used most.
Get Started with Emotion Regulation Therapy Today
Taking the first step toward better emotional management can transform your relationships, work life, and overall well-being. Laura Davidson provides expert emotion regulation and behavioural therapy in Toronto and throughout Ontario through both in-person and virtual sessions.
Ready to begin your journey toward greater emotional balance?
Book your free 15-minute consultation
To discuss your needs and ensure we're a good fit
Schedule your first session
At a time that works for you
Begin your personalized treatment plan
Designed for your specific emotional or behavioural challenges
Virtual sessions are available throughout Ontario.
Your journey to better emotional regulation starts with a single step. Reach out today.