Emotions Scale for 1:1 Sessions

The Emotions Scale is a tool for us to use with children, young people, and adults who may be struggling with emotional regulation and need support to identify, describe, and understand their feelings.

This tool is useful for 1:1 sessions with an individual, helping them to identify how they are feeling and to discuss potential strategies they may use when feeling dysregulated. Over time, this can help them to recognise their personal signs of dysregulation before crisis and start to use personalised supportive strategies independently.

Contains:

• • The Emotions Scale User Guide

• • Emotions Scale template

• • Key Question cards

• • Emotions cards

How to use this tool:

Share the User Guide and talk through how to use the scale with the individual you are supporting.

Use a selection of the Emotions Cards to help individuals identify how they feel, e.g. angry. Discuss where they would position themselves from 0-10 on the scale, and why.

Use the Key Questions to guide the conversation around how to move up / down the scale, exploring different options. Reassure individuals that this can take some time.

Collaborate to decide on strategies that may help with self-regulation, eventually enabling individuals to take control of their emotions, and move themselves up / down the scale.

Record on the Emotions Scale template.

Depending on the needs of the individual(s) you are supporting, you may choose to use the scale multiple times throughout the course of the day, or over a number of days / weeks.

What are the benefits of using this Emotions Scale?

• • Develops emotional literacy, helping individuals to name, describe, and understand their emotions.

• • Improves communication by generating a shared language between individuals and practitioners.

• • Promotes co-regulation and, ultimately, self-regulation through collaborative identification of effective strategies.

• • Positively impacts both individuals and organisations through enhanced emotional dialogue and understanding.

Share the User Guide and talk through how to use the scale with the individual you are supporting.

Use a selection of the Emotions Cards to help individuals identify how they feel, e.g. angry. Discuss where they would position themselves from 0-10 on the scale, and why.

Use the Key Questions to guide the conversation around how to move up / down the scale, exploring different options. Reassure individuals that this can take some time.

Collaborate to decide on strategies that may help with self-regulation, eventually enabling individuals to take control of their emotions, and move themselves up / down the scale.

Record on the Emotions Scale template.

Depending on the needs of the individual(s) you are supporting, you may choose to use the scale multiple times throughout the course of the day, or over a number of days / weeks.