When a client is triggered, it can often set off a cycle of reactivity that makes them feel anxious, angry, or out of control.
But how do we help a client who might not even realize they’re being triggered in the first place?
In the video below, Zindel Segal, PhD, shares a two-step approach for helping clients identify their triggers so they can regain control of their response.
Check it out – it’s about 5 minutes.
In the provision of detail, it’s very similar to what you’re doing with the thought record as well. You’re getting people to write down the events, “Tell me what happened,” and then you’re getting people inside the event to talk about, “Well what were you aware of in your body? Did you notice that you were gripping the steering wheel more strongly, did you notice that you had a surge of blood flow and your temples were throbbing because there was a lot of blood rushing to your head? What emotions were present, what thoughts were going through your mind?” Interestingly, as a therapist, you’re not saying, “You’ve really got to change this, you got to stop this and cut this down.” So, the triggering initially becomes something that is investigated, and the mindfulness skills really allow people to do this because what they’re doing during their home practice is really very continuous with what you’re asking them to do here. Then, once you have that, then you can start to move inside and look at which particular ideas or thoughts people are able to recognize that precede the reaction that they’re having. But the point of looking at triggers isn’t to necessarily get rid of them, it’s to provide the person with the prospect that there can be more elements of choice available to them than is the case with this reactivity. The other thing that I would add is that the concept of automaticity is very important here because the whole constellation of triggers is something that is automatically packaged and automatically elicited. People may not recognize that automaticity plays a very large role here. Automatic can service in some places but automatic can also become a problem if it starts to drive too much of our emotional lives because then, we’re not really choosing, but we’re just being triggered or we’re just being led to a reaction that is already there waiting to happen. So, what that does is it cuts down our ability to choose.
Dr. Buczynski: As Zindel said, when we’re working with clients’ emotional triggers, it’s important to help them realize that they can take control of how they respond. But right now, I’d like to hear from you; how will you use what you’ve just heard with your clients today? Please leave a comment below, and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Need more strategies for working with clients’ emotional triggers? Acquire skills from 26 top experts in our course How to Work with a Client’s Emotional Triggers.
How have you worked with a client who struggled with identifying and managing their emotional triggers?
Please share your comment below.
I am sort of in the process of developing mindfulness and applying it in these situations so when I do become aware I’ve been triggered I have techniques to soothe or calm my emotions by cultivating a dialogue of compassion with myself. “Hi body, I’m sorry that you have been through so much suffering, I’m here for you, I won’t leave you alone.”
Yes I spent most of my life unaware of how my emotional triggers affected me personally and professionally. Self regulations through awareness was pivotal in transformation on how I respond various life experiences.
I struggle with the reaction part when I know what triggers me and how to not let it ge t to me.
I thought this was a thoughtful presentation that opens out the process in a way that help clients grow in optimism.
I am a self-helper as well. Perhaps u had an expectation of what u’d like 2 have heard heard the person say, and then they said something different? Noticing ur thinking there might help. Or perhaps ur r making judgements about them, or their response? Or, perhaps, u were really needing some kindness, understanding or empathy from them and felt let down. Just ideas for contemplation – getting 2 know what was going on in ur head a little more could open up some room for lessening the impact of what others say.
This is in alignment with an approach I use in my speech-language pathology practice with clients with social language challenges who are needing to think first to make a better choice in what they say or do in their interactions with others. To be able to have tools to lessen any triggering response allows space for thoughtfulness. -Herb Hein, Speech-Language Pathologist, author of Growing G.R.E.E.N. InterActions Social Literacy Program
wait..stop being judgmental, analytical or reactive..try to distract or engage in an activity requiring other focus..it may not feel the same after you’ve slept on it…
This video was really helpful. I think l will use it with my ADHD clients who often feel they have no choice in how to respond when they are emotionally triggered.
Thanks for such a well-expressed and concise summary of how emotional triggers and the challenge of automaticity can be addressed through mindfulness. l particularly liked the point on curiosity and kindness as the container. This is so valuable in the challenge of engaging clients’ awareness of automatic patterns and the possibility of choice. Much appreciated.
Lyn
Thank you very much for the video. It was explained in simple and useful way. I am a therapist and also a victim of harassment and stalking by a group of people who I do not know. this harasment has been going on for 4 years and unfortunately none of my efforts has been useful to reduce the extend of this abuse. After a couple of years and despited moving to other nearby cities, I still feel strong triggers and it has become an automatic response. I would like to hear the role of mindfulness in overcoming the automacity aspect of the reaction. I have strong feelings about stalking and psychological harrassment that are not only related to my situation but also the incapacity and passivness of the juridiciary system and the police in handling the issue. I know many women who are in the same situation, I would like to help them as well. your advice is much appreciated.
I am curious about how awareness can occur if what is triggered is dissociation.
As a published author, psychoeducator, and psych/counseling student with multiple similar degrees (in other words, I am not yet a therapist), I’ve learned that dissociation is helped by mindfulness: the practice of bringing your thoughts back to your breath or some other point of focus (as is also practiced with the help of technology through neurofeedback exercises provided for by some specially trained therapists. This may be beneficial for those having greater difficulty… or who want quick results but please make sure they are not only trauma informed but experienced in treating trauma and dissociation!). Mindfulness builds those brain muscles to develop better awareness by gaining the attentional strength to stay present. I’ve also surmised that a great form of evidence-based therapy for dissociation would be Internal Family Systems (IFS) as well. (It seems as if these practitioners generally don’t like putting labels on people either despite the fact insurance companies require it if I am not mistaken). There are lots of free IFS mediations and teachings available online to get you started, too. Again, I’d definitely still want to look for a trauma-informed therapists, especially one trained in childhood trauma (even in the arena of IFS therapy) because dissociation is usually connected to trauma… particularly from childhood.
I a not a therapist . I am a self-help person . My problem is that there is an impact by what another person says to me which than triggers an strong emotion . That emotion carries a strong energy . So how can I develop a choice of how to react if at all to react ?
I am a medical professional with several degrees, with over 140 clinical hours in nutrition, prevention, emotional and spiritual enrichment in order to be the best version of ourselves. What I find helpful both for myself and patients; develop patience remembering that the other may not be as knowledgeable, or quick or understanding as we are, humility not to judge even in our thoughts but be willing to serve, put self aside, practice humility, this is a virtue that takes us very far in life and in serving and working for others. Strong emotional energy often comes form the desire to be right, desire to control like Doctor heal thyself. My patients seem to recover from physical problems within days or weeks, sometimes on the first visit, are willing to listen if they can really feel ad expenience that we care, and put their good first, I am also talking about letting go, go of self, being right, being in control of the other, wanting them to “get ” it, meet them WHERE THEY ARE. DOROTHY
I am a self-helper as well. Perhaps u had an expectation of what u’d like 2 have heard heard the person say, and then they said something different? Noticing ur thinking there might help. Or perhaps ur r making judgements about them, or their response? Or, perhaps, u were really needing some kindness, understanding or empathy from them and felt let down. Just ideas for contemplation – getting 2 know what was going on in ur head a little more could open up some room for lessening the impact of what others say.
I have tried several things. I had one client label the feelings then identify the source causing the feeling. To help manage emotional struggles I have taught do the opposite.
Is self-compassion part of this process?
This, as with so many other videos you share, is such a great resource for me as a coach.
Thank you!
Dear Ruth ,
You will never know exactly how this is explaining , educating , so that I may help my son . As the years have gone on , I have developed a technique in relation to triggers , that works for me .
This episode deals with exactly how my son , reacts to trauma triggers .There is NO support here in Australia , that is developed as your understanding of this complex issue . Psychologists and Psychiatrists here have been appalling in their approach to this complex trauma , we have been left to Battle On . There is a Stigma here in relation to Mental Health . I thank you sincerely .
Kindest Regards Michelle
Yes, helping a client to separate these things out is very helpful
I work with my clients to identify their maladaptive schema, behavioral modes, and choice of preferred schema coping behaviors. From there, we begin tracking the triggers, working with schema activation awareness, and initiating behavior change. I use Jeffrey Young’s schema theory as well as other schema theorists. Seems to work extremely well.
This advice will be helpful for a group of volunteers at a not-for-profit whose merchandise often attracts high-maintenance customers.
I am working on myself and hopefully partner. The first part is exactly where it’s at for him. I have to look more into this UNstuck.
While I was looking forward to listening to this, I was unable to do so given the terrible audio quality. May I suggest as a kindness to both the presenters and the audience making even a small effort to have decent audio? It’s quite easy to do, nothing special required. Please oh please consider for the future. Thank you.
I had great audio on this (and I am logging in from the Middle East), so I wonder if perhaps it was your connection? I hope you can actually get to hear it, as I thought it was succinct and helpful. I am going to look him up for other videos on YouTube…
I enjoyed Dr. Segal’s video very much and fully agree it is through encouraging clients to be curious and to engage in self-reflection that we uncover core emotional triggers. That is part of my Inner Child Recovery Process for the Treatment of Sex and Porn Addiction. I believe it is repressed pain points from our youth that are triggered by today’s negative events that contribute to addictive behaviors. Dr. Segal is correct that clients identifying core emotional triggers are a key to successfully managing their anxiety.
Very helpful
It is the pause of Tara Brach
Amen
Going back to the old model of the emotional loop. Tying to get the person to see the several points in the loop where they may do something more or different in the type of adaption. This can be done with the restructuring by identifying what emotion is behind their most favored emotional response.
This is a fantastically and succinctly clear presentation. I will use the psychoeducational aspect of this fine teaching. My clients often need to understand what they are aiming for before they will fully engage with mindful approaches. Having good explanations helps to empower my clients in making choices.
Love your site! You do great things and have a great team of people and ideas and educational offerings that are relevant and sound.
Thank you,
Sandy Olson
Although I am not an psychologist, I am a supervisor of a Project Management Team for an Engineering Department where individual personalities merge into what can be very stressful projects. Having limited resources, timelines and unbending Statutory requirements can become overwhelming even to the seasoned veteran. With that said, I believe this information is vital to bring the awareness and remembrance that each of us has a history, and the more we can learn about ourselves and what drives us, and stops us the better we will be able to effectively deal and negotiate with others who have their own set of triggers. For me personally I am moving toward developing a mental list to truthfully identify my triggers and potential responses to better assist my Team in becoming more successful in their projects.
Hi, Kimberley, I do this work with teams all the time. Would love to speak with you to see if I can help. My email is donna.read@prosocialdynamics.com. All the best, Donna
By using a process created by Shira Taylor Gura called the unSTUCK method. Stop, Tell, Uncover, Consider, Kindness. As a certified unSTUCK coach, I use this amazing process to help my clients practice emotional intelligence for themselves and others.