Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

Impulsivity doesn’t come from nowhere. It shows up when emotions move faster than skills. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline moves into part 2 of impulse control, unpacking what kids actually need to slow impulsive reactions and make better choices when feelings surge. You’ll hear why impulse control cannot be taught in isolation, how emotional literacy lays the groundwork, an...

Many kids struggle with impulse control, and adults are often left wondering why strategies don’t stick. This episode breaks down the foundations of impulsive behaviour and why so many kids react without thinking — especially when emotions are high. Dr. Caroline explains the building blocks kids need long before self-control can happen: emotional safety, a developing prefrontal cortex, attention r...

As we close out the year, this holiday replay of Overpowering Emotions focuses on helping kids reflect on how far they’ve come and set resilience intentions for the year ahead without pressure, perfectionism, or overwhelm. Dr. Caroline talks about why small victories matter, how to help kids notice their own growth, and how to set one or two realistic intentions that actually stick. You’ll hear ho...

Holiday break can bring joy… and a whole lot of overwhelm. In this Holiday Special Replay of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline shares what holiday dysregulation looks like in real life (including her own family’s “never leave the house on Christmas Day” boundary), why kids melt down when routines shift, and how adults can turn everyday holiday stress into practice for emotion regulation and res...

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults. We explore...

Big feelings don’t always need more rules and structure. Sometimes they need play, movement, and a bit of silliness. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline is joined by Sifu Boggy (Paul Brighton), a Taoist teacher who blends Qigong, Tai Chi, humour, and “sacred child” energy to support healing. They talk about why kids are the real teachers, how fidgeting and wild play help release...

Big feelings are not the problem. The real issue is when kids don’t know what those feelings are for or what to do with them. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline walks through how to help children and teens move from “I feel awful” to “Here’s what I need and here’s what I’m going to do.” You’ll hear how to: Teach kids to read their body signals and name emotions with more preci...

Kids say “I feel bad” all the time. But what does that actually mean for their brain and their behaviour?   In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline breaks down how the brain builds emotions and why teaching kids to move from “I feel bad” to “I feel overwhelmed / uncertain / left out” is a game-changer for emotional regulation.   Drawing on brain science and day-to-day stor...

This week, Dr. Caroline unpacks one of the most misunderstood parts of emotion regulation: Why avoidance keeps anxiety alive and how real-world experience rewires the emotional brain.   She explains how children’s brains constantly make predictions about safety, danger, and comfort and how avoidance traps them in cycles of fear. Using clear metaphors like the feeling tunnel and the prediction...

How do kids learn to think about their emotions instead of being swept away by them? In this episode, Dr. Caroline breaks down strategic emotion management, helping children and teens build emotional metacognition, the ability to reflect on and make sense of what they feel. You’ll learn how to guide kids to pause, question, and evaluate their emotions: What is this feeling trying to tell me? Is it...

What does mental wellness really mean, and how do we teach it to kids and teens when the adults around them are stretched thin? In this episode, Dr. Caroline sits down with licensed clinical social worker MJ Murray Vachon, who brings nearly 40 years of experience working with adolescents, families, and midlife adults. MJ shares the two mental wellness definitions that guide her work, how Dr. Dan S...

Kids don’t just feel emotions—they also create stories about what those emotions mean. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline focuses on cognitive appraisal and emotional metacognition. You’ll learn how children interpret events, how automatic “henchmen thoughts” fuel anxiety and meltdowns, and why teaching kids to appraise situations differently can build resilience. From detectiv...

Kids don’t always slam doors or shout when emotions overwhelm them. Sometimes the signs are quieter—flat energy, withdrawal, or a heavy sadness that feels impossible to shift. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline explores the “low-energy” emotions that often get misunderstood: loneliness, sadness, disappointment, boredom, confusion, embarrassment, regret, guilt, and shame. You’l...

In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline discusses the high-energy, often “unpleasant” emotions that kids struggle with — the stormy ones like anxiety, anger, frustration, and overwhelm. These emotions aren’t problems to fix or behaviours to shut down. They’re signals, calling for safety, connection, fairness, or skill support. Listen in to learn how to: Recognize behaviours as the...

In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline explores the often-overlooked role of pleasant emotions in self-regulation. From the high-energy buzz of excitement and joy to the quiet calm of contentment and gratitude, she unpacks what these feelings signal, the needs behind them, and how adults can guide children to channel them in healthy ways. Learn how excitement fuels motivation but...

Decoding Emotions: Helping Kids Understand What They Feel—and Why Emotions aren't problems. They're messages. And when we teach kids how to read them, we give them a powerful tool for self-regulation, resilience, and connection. In this episode, Dr. Caroline breaks down the difference between emotions and feelings, explore how the body and brain work together during intense emotional moments, and...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Caroline speaks with Dr. Shahrzad Jalali—clinical psychologist and trauma specialist—to unpack the idea of silent trauma —those unseen wounds from early childhood or minimized adult experiences that often go unacknowledged, but leave lasting emotional imprints. Together, they explore: Why trauma doesn’t need a dramatic event to be real How silent trauma shapes be...

Emotions don’t just “happen”—they’re built on signals from the body. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions , we explore how affect—the body’s internal state—shapes what kids (and adults) feel, label, and act on. From blood sugar crashes that masquerade as anger, to dehydration that looks like anxiety, you’ll learn how body signals are often misread as emotional problems. Discover practical stra...

In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline zeroes in on emotional literacy as an essential foundation of all self-regulation. From everyday behaviours to big emotional outbursts, the ability to name and understand emotions changes everything.   Learn why kids often shut down, spiral, or explode when they don’t have the right words—and how to build their emotional vocabulary in way...

Emotions aren’t just “big feelings” — they’re information. In this episode of Overpowering Emotions Dr. Caroline breaks down the building blocks of affect, emotions, feelings, and moods to show why understanding the differences matters for kids’ self-regulation. Learn how the brain interprets emotional signals, why emotions guide survival and decision-making, and how pleasant and unpleasant emotio...

Teen years are a time of big feelings, strong peer influence, and still-developing self-control.  In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline explores how peers can be powerful allies in helping kids and teens strengthen self-regulation.  From co-regulation strategies and group skill-building to peer mentoring and conflict resolution practice, discover how friendships and soci...

Self-regulation isn’t just about teaching kids to “calm down.” It’s about what’s happening around them—the relationships, routines, and environments that shape how they manage emotions and reach goals. In this episode of #overpoweringemotions Dr. Caroline breaks down the often-overlooked elements that make or break self-regulation development: chaotic households, screen dependency, co-regulation p...

This episode of #OverpoweringEmotions breaks down the most effective strategies to help kids and teens manage their impulses, emotions, and behaviours beyond the usual “just breathe” advice.  Dr. Caroline covers a broad range of effective interventions from mindfulness and CBT to distress exposures, DBT skills, emotional literacy, family supports, and system-wide approaches. Learn more about...

Is boredom a problem—or a powerful emotional signal?  In this episode of #Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline challenges the modern urge to “fix” boredom and shares why it’s actually essential for emotion regulation, creativity, and executive function.  Learn how boredom acts as a reset for the brain, encourages self-reflection, and builds resilience in kids and adults alike.  Disco...

In this episode of # Overpowering Emotions , Dr. Caroline breaks down self-regulation into its three essential parts—cognitive, emotional, and behavioural—and explains why emotional overload can derail even the best intentions. Learn how executive functions like attention, working memory, and impulse control interact with emotions and behaviors, why common strategies fall short, and what actually...