The New PossibilOTs podcast kicks off a new series this week – Supporting Emotional Regulation. Mahek and Larissa  look at the role of occupational therapy (OT) in emotional regulation, particularly in when working with children. They discuss the importance of regulation as a fundamental skill for engaging in daily activities and stress the need to address regulation concerns collaboratively with the child to achieve optimal functioning. They highlight how OTs view dysregulation as communication rather than mere behaviour, illustrating the importance of understanding the root causes behind the child’s actions.

Mahek and Larissa explore strategies for supporting emotional regulation, including parent coaching, improving emotional literacy, sensory processing interventions, impulse control, and using visual supports. They stress the necessity of collaboration among therapists, parents, educators, and other professionals to implement effective strategies tailored to the child’s needs.