Understanding and Supporting Emotional Dysregulation

Support your child through big feelings with confidence, calm, and connection.

This gentle, practical parent guide helps you understand why emotional dysregulation happens and exactly how to support your child when their feelings become overwhelming.

If your child often melts down, shuts down, reacts explosively, or becomes easily overwhelmed, this handout gives you the tools to recognise what’s going on in their brain and how to respond in a way that reduces conflict and strengthens connection.

What’s Inside:

✓ A clear explanation of emotional dysregulation (in parent-friendly language)

✓ Dan Siegel’s “Upstairs/Downstairs Brain” model made simple

✓ Signs your child is becoming dysregulated

✓ Why children cannot reason or cooperate in these moments

✓ A step-by-step guide to supporting your child through overwhelm

✓ Co-regulation scripts and calming phrases

✓ Practical regulation tools

✓ A section on how to repair after difficult moments

✓ Support for you as the parent — grounding reminders & self-regulation tips

This guide is perfect for you if:

• Your child has big emotions or goes from 0–100 quickly
• They struggle with transitions, frustration, or sensory overload
• You want to reduce shouting, conflict, and power struggles
• You want to respond calmly and confidently
• You’re looking for trauma-informed, attachment-based strategies that actually work

What makes this guide different?

Created by Willow, BACP Registered Counsellor and Child Specialist, this guide blends therapeutic expertise with real-life practicality.

It’s designed to help parents create genuine, lasting change; not just quick fixes.

Ready for calmer days and a more connected relationship?

Download now and start supporting your child through big feelings with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Handout purchasers receive an exclusive 20% discount on their first parent session or child counselling session with Willow.