Emotional Intensity thermometer
Sometimes, it’s not so much about which emotion we are feeling, but more about how intense it is. Think about annoyed vs. furious. Although they are in the same emotion family of anger, they are still vastly different experiences. The same goes for how comfortable you feel in a session. I created this thermometer to help clients quickly communicate how intense the conversation is in the moment as we go through a variety of topics. The score you provide tells me if we need to kick it up a notch, take a break and use some coping skills, or have a total shift in the conversation. I actively work with clients to manage the session’s intensity through checking in and using coping skills throughout session so we can turn down the heat if needed.
Breakdown of each score
Calm: Totally relaxed, safe, happy, and lighthearted. Talking is a breeze.
A Little Uncomfortable: You’re mostly calm, but we are starting to talk about something that causes you to feel an emotion other than happiness. Talking is still easy, but starting to heat up.
Hard, But Still Okay: Talking is now more of a challenge, but you know you can keep going. This is what I call the “sweet spot” in therapy because you’re making progress in processing difficult memories and emotions, but they don’t overwhelm you.
On The Edge: The conversation is pretty difficult, and you need to take a break to turn down the heat. After using a few coping skills together, you might be ready to continue exploring the topic at a slower pace.
Overwhelmed: This is the most difficult level, but sometimes the most helpful. Reaching this level can sometimes signal that a breakthrough is on the horizon or a client is finally letting themselves face their traumas. It’s not uncommon for clients to experience this from time to time.
