Video: Child Therapists Share Six Ways to Cope with Difficult Emotions

10 in a series.

Just Breathe. Open Up. You Matter.

This is the meaning behind the Joy Campaign, which aims to prevent youth suicide. Cook Children's launched the effort in April after a record number of suicidal patients were admitted to our hospital. Over the past nine weeks, we've released a series of articles about this issue and the increasing need for mental health resources.

This week, we're giving families a tool to use during difficult times. Six of our therapists and psychologists created the coping skills videos below. They show different techniques kids and teens can use when they feel stress, anxiety and depression. These are the same coping skills our experts teach their patients. We hope these videos give young people a way to express themselves and foster hope for better days ahead.

“Coping skills are essential for children when they are having a hard time processing their emotions, or are unsure of how to handle their feelings,” said Lisa Elliott, Ph.D., psychologist and clinic manager of the Behavioral Health Clinic at Cook Children’s in Denton.

Whether it’s drawing how you feel, writing it down, acting it out, or even taking a moment to breathe, these videos illustrate how to reset your body and mind.

“While dealing with our emotions isn’t always easy, I find it is helpful for children to have resources that are easy to use when they are sad, mad, or even frustrated,” said Kim Cox, clinical therapist at Cook Children Medical Center. “If children know how to help themselves, they are more likely to do so instead of potentially doing something that isn’t safe.”

The coping skills in these videos are simple and don’t require much time or effort. They can be used anytime you want to create a sense of calm and improve mood.