Teaching the client to see emotions as informative signals about needs and values, rather than as problems that must be eliminated.
Step-by-step guide
- Ask which emotion was present and what it seemed to be saying
- Decode the signal: anxiety as threat, sadness as loss, anger as boundary violation
- Ask which need stands behind the emotion
- Discuss how one can respond if the emotion is a signal
- Translate the need into one possible action
When to use
- Module 1, with every important emotion
- When the client treats emotions as enemies
Key phrases
What is this emotion trying to tell you?
Follow-up questions
What need could stand behind it?
If this were a signal, how could you respond to it?
Does the signal fit the actual situation?
Alternative phrasings
If your anxiety could speak, what would it be protecting?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Not every emotion accurately reflects reality
- ⚠️ Motivational awareness is the first step; the signal still needs to be checked against the situation
Source: Mennin & Fresco, 2014; Mennin et al. 2018
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.