The Processing Coping Style

Children will experience a variety of different emotions as they live and play in the world. They will need coping skills to help them manage their feelings in safe and healthy ways. But there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” strategies. Not all skills will work for all kids or all the time. The strategy that will work will be different, depending on their emotions, where they are, and their personal preferences.

Processing Coping Skills focus on exploring a child’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. These skills help kids examine what’s happening, and making plans to help manage overwhelming situations in the future.

Exploring thoughts

Journaling, making a thankful jar, exploring the power of the word “yet”, etc.

exploring feelings

Identifying feelings, noticing where I feel things in my body, different sizes of my feelings, using colors or shapes to explore feelings, etc.

EXPLORING BEHAVIORS

Making a plan for tough situations, identifying what I can and can’t control, create a calm space in my home, etc.

Please note: Kids may need more support from a trusted adult to fully benefit from these skills.

Processing Coping Style Products

To see research studies about coping skills that fall into the category of processing, visit the evidence-based page.

*Please note, while I do place coping skills into styles, but these are not hard and fast categories. Something like using colors to identify feelings could fall into either processing or relaxation. The styles are there to help bring order to the mountain of coping skills ideas, but aren’t meant to be rigid categories that can’t be changed.