Emotional flooding results from being overwhelmed by feelings that happen in response to stress, anxiety, conflicts in relationships and life’s challenges. Affect dysregulation is at the core of most psychological disorders as well an impediment to attuned connection in relationships.
With the right tools…
- therapists can help highly reactive partners stay calm in stressful situations.
- partners who are easily triggered can learn to tone down and manage their emotional responses.
- clients are enabled to take charge of their own reactivity responses, which should be the ultimate goal of any solid, well-balanced psychological treatment plan.
When applied to relationship therapy, the tools change the emotional dynamic in interpersonal relationships, rather than merely addressing subjects of interpersonal discord. Imago therapists can dip into this toolbox for practical and effective interventions that can help conflicted relationships with spouses, young children, adult children and co-workers.