Difficulty regulating emotions — feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or emotionally numb — underlies many mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, BPD, trauma, and relationship problems. Learning to regulate emotions effectively is one of the most transformative skills psychology can offer.
Our registered psychologists in Melbourne provide evidence-based emotional regulation treatment across four clinic locations and via Telehealth.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Emotional regulation refers to the processes by which individuals influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express them (Gross, 1998). Emotional dysregulation occurs when these processes are ineffective — producing emotions that are too intense, too prolonged, or too rapidly shifting.
Emotional dysregulation presents in many ways:
Emotional regulation difficulties may be affecting your life when you notice:
Emotional dysregulation is a transdiagnostic factor — it underpins many different mental health conditions and is one of the most common treatment targets in evidence-based psychology (Aldao et al., 2010).
Emotional regulation difficulties often develop from a combination of biological emotional sensitivity and early environments that did not support or model effective emotion regulation (Linehan, 1993). The coping strategies that develop — suppression, impulsivity, avoidance — provide short-term relief but worsen dysregulation over time.
Effective treatment builds:
DBT skills training produces significant improvements in emotional dysregulation across a range of presentations (Neacsiu et al., 2014).
Our psychologists use the most effective approaches for building emotional regulation:
DBT was specifically designed to address emotional dysregulation and includes a dedicated Emotional Regulation module covering: understanding emotions, reducing vulnerability, changing emotional responses, and applying opposite action. DBT skills training is effective across a range of presentations beyond BPD (Neacsiu et al., 2014).
Builds the capacity to experience emotions fully — without struggling against them or being controlled by them — and to act in line with values rather than emotional impulses. Particularly useful for emotional avoidance and emotional suppression (Hayes et al., 2012).
Builds mindful awareness of emotional experience — observing emotions as events without identifying with them or being controlled by them. MBCT reduces emotional reactivity and the rumination that prolongs negative emotional states (Segal et al., 2013).
Works directly with emotional experience — helping clients access, understand, and transform problematic emotional states through experiential techniques. Particularly effective for shame, grief, and complex emotional patterns rooted in early attachment (Greenberg, 2015).
Your psychologist will assess your specific emotional regulation patterns and build a treatment plan tailored to your presentation.
Your first appointment explores your emotional patterns — what emotions you struggle most with, what triggers them, and what you currently do to cope.
Skills training is a core part of emotional regulation work. You will leave each session with concrete, practical tools to use between sessions.
Emotional regulation treatment typically involves 12–20 sessions. The skills developed become lifelong resources.
We offer appointments in-clinic at our Mooroolbark, Wheelers Hill, Reservoir, and Melbourne CBD locations, as well as Telehealth sessions from anywhere in Australia.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Is emotional dysregulation a diagnosis?
Not by itself — it is a symptom pattern that occurs across many conditions (BPD, ADHD, PTSD, depression, anxiety). Your psychologist will assess the full context and identify any underlying conditions to be addressed alongside the regulation skills work.
Is this the same as anger management?
Anger management is a specific form of emotional regulation work focused on anger. Emotional regulation treatment is broader — addressing the full range of emotions including fear, shame, sadness, and anxiety — and builds a comprehensive skill set.
Can I access Medicare rebates?
Yes. Emotional dysregulation typically occurs in the context of a diagnosable mental health condition that is within the scope of Medicare-rebated psychological therapy via a Mental Health Care Plan.
You don’t have to feel at the mercy of your emotions. Our team can help you build real, lasting skills.
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Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Schweizer, S. (2010). Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(2), 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.11.004
Greenberg, L. S. (2015). Emotion-focused therapy: Coaching clients to work through their feelings (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association.
Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 271–299. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.271
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
Neacsiu, A. D., Rizvi, S. L., & Linehan, M. M. (2014). Dialectical behavior therapy skills use as a mediator and outcome of treatment for borderline personality disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(9), 832–839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.017
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
