The Window of Tolerance

The "window of tolerance" is a concept used in trauma-informed therapy to describe the optimal range of arousal in which an individual can effectively cope with stress and regulate their emotions. It is a state of being in which a person feels calm, focused, and able to engage in daily activities without being overwhelmed or dissociating. The window of tolerance is represented by a range between two extremes: hyperarousal and hypoarousal, outlined by this worksheet.