Counselor Toolbox Podcast with Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes produces 2 episodes each week in the form of live webinars (https://allceus.com/webinar ) and offers CEUs based on the podcast at AllCEUs.com/counselortoolbox

1. Addressing Emotional
Triggers
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
Executive Director, AllCEUs Counselor Education
Host: Counselor Toolbox Podcast
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 1

2. Objectives
 Review common needs
 Identify ways to prevent and mitigate emotional
upset
 This presentation focuses more on the hows than
the whats.
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 2

3. Emotional Triggers
 Emotional triggers are things that cause you to
react with anger (fight) or fear (flee/freeze) or
f*** it (depression)
 Common emotional needs:
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 3
 Acceptance
(Rejection)
 Predictability
(Unknown)
 Control
(Powerlessness)
 Success (Failure)
 Attention (E)
 Space (I)
 Consistency (J)
 Order (J)
 Variety (P)
 Flexibility (P)
 Sights
 Sounds
 Smells
 Safety (Maslow)
 Other…?

4. Primary Prevention
 Primary prevention identifies modifiable risk and
protective factors
 Ex. Washing your hands
 Helps people deal with life on life’s terms and
minimizes vulnerabilities
When people are healthy, safe, loved, supported and
have a sense of self-efficacy then things that might
otherwise seem overwhelming may feel more
manageable.
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 4

5. Primary Prevention
 Interventions
 During the assessment, identify:
Areas of life that are going well (Hardiness)
Strengths (Enhance)
Risk factors/Triggers (Minimize)
 Emotional
 Mental
 Physical
 Environmental (People, pictures, sounds, smells)
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 5

6. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors
 Self Efficacy
Enhanced by developing an early intervention plan during
the assessment (What are 3 things you can address this
week…)
Small successes increase self efficacy
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 6

7. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors
 Physical Health (Handouts)
Sleep: Why it’s important and sleep routine worksheet
Nutrition: Why it’s important and food diary (online)
Pain: Why it is important, ergonomics, suggestions for
non-drug pain management
General Health (diabetes, thyroid, heart, autoimmune):
Why they are important and how they can impact mood
and distress tolerance
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 7

8. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors cont…
 Social Support
List 3 supportive people—How can you nurture these
relationships?
List 3 people who can be destructive—In what way are they
destructive and how can you deal with them in the short
term?
 Assertiveness Skills
 Economic Security
 Work Satisfaction
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 8

9. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors cont…
 Emotionally and Physically Safe Environment
What is stressful in your current environment? How can
you address that? (Media, people, sounds, sights etc.)
What could you do to make your space more relaxing and
trigger happy memories and feelings?
 Pictures
 Colors
 Aromatherapy
 Organization
 White noise
 Curtains/blinds
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 9

10. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors cont…
 Psychological Flexibility
 What does a rich and meaningful life look like to me?
 What things can I do to start working toward that?
 What things do I need to stop doing to start working toward that?
 What thoughts can I have that will help me have the courage,
strength, contentment and motivation to turn off autopilot and
start making conscious choices?
 (Hint: Efficacy, empowerment, compassion, acceptance,
tolerance, willingness, patience…)
 Key question: Are my current thoughts and behaviors getting me
closer to or further away from what is important to me?
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 10

11. Primary Prevention
 Protective Factors cont…
 Self Esteem (Worksheet to be processed)
How would your best friend describe you?
How would your child describe you?
How would you describe yourself?
Describe the person you want to be.
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 11

12. Secondary Prevention
 Early Intervention
 Prevents it from getting worse
 Once someone is triggered, what can they do?
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 12

13. Secondary Prevention
 Interventions
 Distress Tolerance
I’m upset and feeling out of control. What do I need to
do? (Stop and get into your wise/thinking/acting mind.)
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 13
Activities
Comparisons
Contribute
Emotions
Push away
Thoughts
Sensations
Imagery
Meaning
Prayer
Relaxation
One at a time
Vacation
Encouragement

14. Secondary Prevention
 Interventions
 Mindfulness Part 1
What are the FACTS of the situation?
What am I thinking?
What am I feeling emotionally?
What are my urges?
How do I feel physically?
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 14

15. Secondary Prevention
 Interventions
 Mindfulness Part 2
 Am I using emotional reasoning? (Do the facts support my
feelings?)
 Am I confusing high and low probability events?
 What response choices do I have right now that will help me
use my energy constructively?
 How could I embrace the bad with the good or change my
perspective?
 Rejection (relationship problems or ends)
 The unknown (health problems)
 Loss of control (politics)
 Failure (quit a job)
 What could I have noticed earlier prevent this upset?
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 15

16. Secondary Prevention
 Interventions
 Coping and Problem Solving Skills
In the past when this has happened, how have I…
When this is NOT happening, what is different?
What parts of this situation are in my control?
Who can I call to get support?
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 16

17. Summary
 Addressing emotional triggers involves helping
people
 Enhance their happiness, sense of connection/support,
efficacy
 Understand and heal their body to support their mood
 Improve their environment
 Learn to practice the pause with distress tolerance
skills
 Develop mindful awareness of their thoughts, feelings
and urges and their rich and meaningful life.
AllCEUs Unlimited CEUs $59 | Addiction Counselor Certificate Training $149 | Specialty Certificates $89 17