Free to Be Mindful Podcast - Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Helping Kids Manage Emotions

Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Helping Kids Manage Emotions

02/20/25 • 6 min

Welcome to The Consult a Counselor Series, a special segment of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast. Join therapist and host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC, as she answers real-life parenting questions to help you find your calm in the chaos of parenting—and not lose your, well... you know.

TODAY'S QUESTION:

"What are some coping strategies I can teach my child for handling big feelings like anger, sadness, or frustration?"

Big emotions can feel overwhelming for both kids and parents. When frustration, anger, or sadness take over, it’s easy to default to saying, “Calm down!”—but let’s be honest, that rarely works. In this episode, Vanessa shares a real strategy that helps kids manage big emotions in a way that actually makes sense for their developing brains. She breaks down the steps—starting with movement, then using distraction, and finally introducing coping strategies after kids are calm. Plus, she shares why practicing coping skills before emotions run high is the key to long-term success.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

Why traditional “calm down” strategies don’t work in the heat of the moment
The step-by-step approach to helping kids regulate their emotions
How movement can help release built-up energy before calming down
The power of distraction as a reset tool before talking about emotions
Why practicing coping strategies before meltdowns makes all the difference

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE:

Helping kids manage big emotions isn’t about stopping the feelings—it’s about giving them the tools to navigate them. By using movement, redirection, and practiced coping strategies, you’re helping your child develop emotional regulation skills that will serve them for life.

Download Vanessa’s FREE 120 Coping Strategies Guide—complete with videos to help you and your child implement these tools—by clicking this link:

https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

Listen in, and remember... you’re always free to be mindful!

Send us a text

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

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DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

TODAY'S QUESTION:

"What are some coping strategies I can teach my child for handling big feelings like anger, sadness, or frustration?"

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

Why traditional “calm down” strategies don’t work in the heat of the moment
The step-by-step approach to helping kids regulate their emotions
How movement can help release built-up energy before calming down
The power of distraction as a reset tool before talking about emotions
Why practicing coping strategies before meltdowns makes all the difference

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE:

Download Vanessa’s FREE 120 Coping Strategies Guide—complete with videos to help you and your child implement these tools—by clicking this link:

https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

Listen in, and remember... you’re always free to be mindful!

Send us a text

Previous Episode

Redefining Success While Prioritizing Self-Care with Dr. Nikia Smith

This week on the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman sits down with Dr. Nikia Smith, an anesthesiologist with a powerful story about moving from burnout to balance and fulfillment. Dr. Smith opens up about the pressures of her demanding medical career, how it affected her well-being, and the brave steps she took to put her health and happiness first.

In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Smith shares the turning point that led her to seek therapy and rethink what success really means. She talks about the slow build-up of burnout and how it can sneak up on us, especially when we’re trying to meet the expectations of others.

Through her healing journey, Dr. Smith learned to listen to her body, honor her feelings, and define success in a way that truly fits her life. Now, she helps other women—especially women of color in the medical field—spot burnout early and make their mental health a priority before things spiral.

Listen to this powerful episode wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and share it with someone who could use a reminder that their well-being matters!

REFERENCED LINKS:

Website: sheisfireforged.com

Instagram: @sheisfireforged

TikTok: @NikiaSmithMD

Send us a text

Next Episode

A Mental Health Detox Guide

Ever feel like you’re running on fumes, but somehow, you just keep going? Like a phone with 1% battery, no charger in sight—yet you’re still pushing through? Eventually, that phone dies, and if we’re not careful, so do our energy levels, our peace, and our joy.

In this episode, Vanessa gets real about the mental detox high-achieving women and perfectionists desperately need. She shares her personal experience of juggling motherhood, entrepreneurship, and leadership responsibilities while barely having time to recharge. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, stuck in perfectionism, or like you’re constantly giving without refilling your own cup, this conversation is for you.

Join us as we explore three powerful ways to detox your mind—from unplugging digitally, to shifting your mindset, to breaking free from toxic habits. Plus, the episode ends with a guided reflective meditation to help you reset and step into clarity.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

How to recognize the signs that you need a mental detox
Why a digital detox can help you reclaim your energy and presence
The power of rewriting the story you tell yourself to shift your mindset
How to break free from toxic habits that drain you
A guided meditation to help you clear mental clutter and find peace

LINKED EPISODES:

Redefining Success While Prioritizing Self-Care with Dr. Niki Smith

https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast/250

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE:
Taking time to detox your digital life, your mindset, and your habits creates space for clarity, peace, and presence. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in perfectionism, it’s time to reset. Listen in, and remember—you are always free to be mindful.

Send us a text