214. How can we help kids reflect instead of explode?

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Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

Dr. Caroline Buzanko

215 episodes

2 days ago

Practical, science-based strategies to help kids and teens manage anxiety, navigate big feelings, and build resilience.

Overpowering Emotions is the #1 resource for adults who want to confidently support children and teens through emotional challenges.

Children and teens today are struggling with more anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional intensity than ever before—and adults are desperate for tools that actually work. This podcast is here to change that.

Dr. Caroline gives you the knowledge and tools you need to support children and teens through anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and everyday challenges. Whether you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or caregiver, you’ll learn exactly what to do (and what not to do) right away to help young people feel calmer, braver, and more capable.

Each episode delivers:
• Clear, practical steps you can use immediately
• Expert interviews with leading psychologists and researchers
• Real-life examples that make complex concepts easy to understand
• Tools for emotional regulation, anxiety mastery, confidence-building, and resilience
• Effective approaches for home, school, and clinical settings

If you’ve ever wished for a trusted guide to help you navigate child and teen anxiety, emotional outbursts, and overwhelming emotions, you’ve just found it.

Subscribe now and join the movement to help the next generation thrive.

About Dr. Caroline Buzanko
Dr. Caroline is a psychologist, researcher, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in child and teen anxiety. With more than 25 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families, she is known for her ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical, compassionate strategies that make a meaningful impact.

In 2024, Dr. Caroline was honoured as Alberta’s Psychologist of the Year, a recognition that reflects her significant contributions to advancing child and youth mental health practices. Often called the “Yoda of anxiety,” she blends scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and real-world tools to help young people build confidence, emotional regulation, and lifelong resilience.

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All content for Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience is the property of Dr. Caroline Buzanko and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Practical, science-based strategies to help kids and teens manage anxiety, navigate big feelings, and build resilience.

Overpowering Emotions is the #1 resource for adults who want to confidently support children and teens through emotional challenges.

Children and teens today are struggling with more anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional intensity than ever before—and adults are desperate for tools that actually work. This podcast is here to change that.

Dr. Caroline gives you the knowledge and tools you need to support children and teens through anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and everyday challenges. Whether you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or caregiver, you’ll learn exactly what to do (and what not to do) right away to help young people feel calmer, braver, and more capable.

Each episode delivers:
• Clear, practical steps you can use immediately
• Expert interviews with leading psychologists and researchers
• Real-life examples that make complex concepts easy to understand
• Tools for emotional regulation, anxiety mastery, confidence-building, and resilience
• Effective approaches for home, school, and clinical settings

If you’ve ever wished for a trusted guide to help you navigate child and teen anxiety, emotional outbursts, and overwhelming emotions, you’ve just found it.

Subscribe now and join the movement to help the next generation thrive.

About Dr. Caroline Buzanko
Dr. Caroline is a psychologist, researcher, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in child and teen anxiety. With more than 25 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families, she is known for her ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical, compassionate strategies that make a meaningful impact.

In 2024, Dr. Caroline was honoured as Alberta’s Psychologist of the Year, a recognition that reflects her significant contributions to advancing child and youth mental health practices. Often called the “Yoda of anxiety,” she blends scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and real-world tools to help young people build confidence, emotional regulation, and lifelong resilience.

Show more...

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214. How can we help kids reflect instead of explode?

Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

27 minutes 29 seconds

2 weeks ago

214. How can we help kids reflect instead of explode?

How do kids learn to think about their emotions instead of being swept away by them? In this episode, Dr. Caroline breaks down strategic emotion management, helping children and teens build emotional metacognition, the ability to reflect on and make sense of what they feel.

You’ll learn how to guide kids to pause, question, and evaluate their emotions: What is this feeling trying to tell me? Is it helping or hurting me right now?

Dr. Caroline shares practical strategies for teaching emotional literacy, building resilience, and creating space for reflection instead of reaction. She also offers real-life examples, from angry teens to overwhelmed kids, showing how adults can coach emotional awareness at any age. This episode includes simple tools, reflective questions, and step-by-step ways to strengthen emotional awareness and decision-making skills.

Key topics: emotional literacy, metacognition, cognitive reappraisal, resilience, co-regulation, reflective parenting, and emotional intelligence in youth.

Homework Ideas

Practice Helpful Responses

The next time you or a child feel a strong emotion, pause and ask:
What is this emotion trying to tell me?
Is this emotion helpful right now?
What can I do that aligns with my goals and values?
Model this reflective thinking out loud with the child.
Focus on curiosity over correction — “Huh, I wonder what my anger’s protecting right now.”
Co-Regulation Practice!
When kids are upset, start with validation only.
Say “It sounds like you had a tough day.” Then pause.
Once they’re calm, guide reflection with open-ended questions.

Emotion Journal or Chart

Write or draw feelings, what happened, what they thought, and what the emotion might be saying.

For younger kids: use colours or pictures.

For teens: include reflection prompts like “Was my reaction helpful?”

Emotion Decoder

Match emotions to their possible messages (e.g., anger → unfairness; sadness → loss or care).

Available in Dr. Caroline’s Emotional Literacy Book

Scaling Exercise

Rate emotions from 1–10 and discuss how the intensity changes when the situation is reappraised to build perspective and reduce emotional overwhelm.

Resources Mentioned:

The Emotional Literacy Book (https://korulearninginstitute.kit.com/emotionaliteracy)
Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt (for adults exploring emotional reasoning)

Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh

Follow Dr. Caroline

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzanko

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzanko

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/

X: https://x.com/drcarolinebuz

Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/

Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/#resources

Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/

Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

Practical, science-based strategies to help kids and teens manage anxiety, navigate big feelings, and build resilience.

Overpowering Emotions is the #1 resource for adults who want to confidently support children and teens through emotional challenges.

Children and teens today are struggling with more anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional intensity than ever before—and adults are desperate for tools that actually work. This podcast is here to change that.

Dr. Caroline gives you the knowledge and tools you need to support children and teens through anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and everyday challenges. Whether you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or caregiver, you’ll learn exactly what to do (and what not to do) right away to help young people feel calmer, braver, and more capable.

Each episode delivers:
• Clear, practical steps you can use immediately
• Expert interviews with leading psychologists and researchers
• Real-life examples that make complex concepts easy to understand
• Tools for emotional regulation, anxiety mastery, confidence-building, and resilience
• Effective approaches for home, school, and clinical settings

If you’ve ever wished for a trusted guide to help you navigate child and teen anxiety, emotional outbursts, and overwhelming emotions, you’ve just found it.

Subscribe now and join the movement to help the next generation thrive.

About Dr. Caroline Buzanko
Dr. Caroline is a psychologist, researcher, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in child and teen anxiety. With more than 25 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families, she is known for her ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical, compassionate strategies that make a meaningful impact.

In 2024, Dr. Caroline was honoured as Alberta’s Psychologist of the Year, a recognition that reflects her significant contributions to advancing child and youth mental health practices. Often called the “Yoda of anxiety,” she blends scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and real-world tools to help young people build confidence, emotional regulation, and lifelong resilience.