Helping our patients to better regulate their emotions

In counseling, there’s often two “extreme groups” I see.

1. One group has too much fusion/attachment with feelings, and that strong feelings can overwhelm them at times. They can then over compensate with detachment or dissociation.

2. The other group has too much detachment from feelings, and are often blamed for lack of empathy and sensitivity. They can have difficulties with social functioning. At times, they can over compensate with strong fusion with feelings and often in more reactive ways.

Counseling is in some ways, trying to help these folks fine tune that. Like driving a car, we put slight pressure on the gas pedal. We put slight pressure slight pressure on the brakes, except for emergencies.