Emotion Regulation Strategy – Problem-Solving
Healthy strategies require high-level executive functioning or the ability to manage yourself and your resources to achieve a goal; basically, self-control and regulation. Executive functioning skills increase during adolescence.75 Since healthy emotion regulation strategies increase the likelihood of positive outcomes,83 they are an important set of skills for youth to develop. Three common healthy emotion regulation strategies to understand include acceptance, problem-solving, and cognitive reappraisal.
Problem-solving. Problem-solving refers to the ability to generate new or alternative solutions to issues or situations that provoke a negative emotional response.75 Problem-solving encourages youth to modify their current emotions by focusing their efforts on thoughts and behaviors that will improve their circumstances and redirect them from focusing on their emotional experiences. Positive problem-solving skills have been associated with life satisfaction86 and fewer depressive and anxious symptoms.87 Youth program staff can facilitate problem-solving skills by developing activities that require youth to generate alternative ideas or solutions to dilemmas that arise within the youth program as well as everyday issues outside of the program.
| Understanding and Practicing Problem-Solving This workshop includes activities designed to increase staff knowledge regarding problem-solving. Activities will include examples of techniques staff can use to help youth develop and strengthen their problem-solving skills. |