Emotion Regulation
Emotion regulation refers to the processes by which individuals influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express these emotions. It involves a set of skills and strategies used to manage, modulate, or respond to emotional experiences in ways that align with personal goals, social norms, or situational demands. According to foundational work by researchers like James Gross, emotion regulation encompasses both conscious and unconscious efforts to increase, decrease, or maintain emotions, and it can occur before, during, or after an emotional response.
Key aspects of emotion regulation include:
- Monitoring and Awareness: Recognizing and understanding one’s emotions (e.g., identifying feelings of anger or sadness).
- Modulation: Adjusting the intensity or duration of emotions (e.g., calming oneself during stress).
- Expression: Controlling how emotions are expressed outwardly (e.g., suppressing anger in a professional setting).
- Coping Strategies: Using techniques like reappraisal (reframing a situation to change its emotional impact), problem-solving, or acceptance to manage emotional responses.
Effective emotion regulation promotes psychological well-being, adaptive behavior, and social functioning, while difficulties in these processes can lead to challenges like anxiety, depression, or impulsive behaviors.
Testimonials
“Prior to working with Dr. Napolitano, I had done CBT and DBT with other therapists. I found them all robotic and simplistic. By contrast, Dr. Napolitano is a sophisticated thinker and exceptionally insightful. Her help has been invaluable to me both personally and professionally. In short, she is truly the thinking man’s cognitive therapist.” — Michael
“Dr. Napolitano has an insightful perspective. She is direct, tells it like it is, and is effective at addressing problems swiftly. She has given me the skills to combat my problems on my own in the future.” — David
“You have helped me to be a better leader just by teaching me to be mindful.” — Andrew
To schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Napolitano, please complete this form: