Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience Podcast By Dr. Caroline Buzanko cover art

Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

Overpowering Emotions: Tools for Child & Teen Anxiety and Resilience

By: Dr. Caroline Buzanko
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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.© 2026 Dr. Caroline Buzanko All Rights Reserved. Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • 234. Why Do Kids Lose Control of Their Emotions — And What Signals Do We Miss First?

    234. Why Do Kids Lose Control of Their Emotions — And What Signals Do We Miss First?
    Mar 31 2026
    Children rarely melt down without warning. Their bodies, thoughts, and behaviour usually send signals long before emotions explode. The challenge for parents, educators, and mental health professionals is learning how to spot those signals early.In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline continues the conversation on self-monitoring strategies for kids and teens. She walks through practical ways adults can help children notice emotional clues in their body, identify the exact feeling they’re experiencing, and respond before frustration, anxiety, or anger takes over.You’ll hear how tools like feelings wheels, body maps, coping cards, emotion rating scales, and self-coaching journals help young people build emotional awareness and confidence. Dr. Caroline also shares simple routines adults can use at home or in the classroom to help children practise emotional regulation daily.This episode also highlights a powerful shift: moving kids from “I can’t” to “I can’t yet.”Educators, parents, and clinicians will walk away with practical strategies that help children:recognise early emotional warning signsunderstand body signals tied to feelingschallenge negative thinking patternspractise self-coaching during difficult momentsbuild confidence managing anxiety, frustration, and overwhelmHelping kids manage big emotions starts with helping them notice the clues.Homework Activities for Adults Supporting Kids1. Daily Emotion Check-InAsk children:Morning: “How are you feeling today?”Mid-day: “Has that feeling changed?”Evening: “If you could pick three feeling words for today, what would they be?”Purpose: Children start noticing that emotions shift during the day.Resource needed:feelings wheelemoji chart2. Body Mapping ActivityHave kids draw a simple outline of a body.Ask them to mark where they feel emotions:Examples:butterflies in stomachtight chestclenched fiststired eyesPurpose: Children begin recognising body signals linked to emotions.Resource needed:printable body map templatecoloured pencils or markers3. Emotion Rating ScaleAsk kids to rate emotions from 1–10.Questions:“How nervous were you before the test?”“Where is that feeling now after you used a coping strategy?”Purpose: Children learn that emotions change after using coping tools.Resource needed:emotion scale chart4. Self-Coaching JournalHave children write statements they can use during difficult moments:Examples:“I am brave.”“I can try.”“I’m scared but I’ll be okay.”Purpose: Builds inner dialogue that counters negative thoughts.Resource needed:journal or notebook5. “I Can’t Yet” ChallengeCreate two lists:List 1: Things I can doList 2: Things I can’t do yetEncourage kids to move items from the second list to the first over time.Purpose: Builds persistence and confidence.Resource needed:worksheet or posterEnjoying 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.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ 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/
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    15 mins
  • 233. The Hidden Skill Kids Need to Control Their Behaviour

    233. The Hidden Skill Kids Need to Control Their Behaviour
    Mar 24 2026
    Children rarely “choose” big reactions. Most of the time, they simply don’t notice what is happening inside their body until it’s too late.In this episode of Overpowering Emotions, Dr. Caroline Buzanko explains how to teach kids one of the most important emotion regulation skills: self-monitoring.When children learn to recognize early body signals—tight shoulders, a racing heart, frustration rising—they gain the ability to pause and respond differently. That shift changes behaviour at school, improves friendships, and reduces daily power struggles at home.Dr. Caroline walks through practical ways adults can guide children to notice emotional signals, understand what their body is communicating, and choose strategies before reactions escalate.You’ll learn:• Why emotional awareness is the starting point for behaviour change • How “Hulk brain” takes over when kids miss early warning signs • The power of body-clue mapping and emotional awareness activities • How to create simple self-monitoring systems kids will actually use • Ways parents and teachers can reinforce progress without pressureThese tools help children move from reacting automatically to responding with intention.If you support children who struggle with frustration, overwhelm, impulsive reactions, or emotional outbursts, this episode offers clear strategies you can begin using right away.Homework Activities for Adults Supporting KidsActivity 1: Body Clue MappingGoal: Help kids recognize early emotional signals.Steps:Print or draw a simple outline of a body.Ask the child to mark where they feel sensations during different emotions.Label the feelings connected to those sensations.Examples:Frustration → tight shoulders Anxiety → stomach knots Anger → hot faceThis builds awareness of body signals tied to emotions.Resources needed: • Printable body outline • Coloured pencils or markersActivity 2: Emotional Weather Check-InGoal: Help kids describe emotional states.Steps:Ask the child to choose weather that matches how they feel.Sunny = calmCloudy = worriedStormy = angryAdults can then ask:“What kind of gear would help for this weather?”Example: Stormy → break, water, breathing.Resources: • Weather chart or visualsActivity 3: Self-Coaching PracticeGoal: Build internal dialogue for regulation.Kids create their own phrases such as:“I can handle this.” “One step at a time.” “I can count to five.”Practice during calm moments first.Resources: • Small cue cards • Backpack or desk reminderActivity 4: Emotional Monitoring ChartGoal: Track awareness and progress.Steps:Choose one challenging moment (homework, transitions, bedtime).Create a simple chart.Kids record whether they noticed their feelings.Adults praise awareness, not perfection.Resources: • Printable chart • Stickers or markersActivity 5: If-Then Coping PlansGoal: Prepare responses to emotional triggers.Example:If I feel my heart racing Then I will count to 10 and take a drink of water.Write plans on small coping cards.Resources: • cue cards • markerEnjoying 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.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ 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/
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    23 mins
  • 232. Impulse Control vs Distress Tolerance | Which Skill Matters More?

    232. Impulse Control vs Distress Tolerance | Which Skill Matters More?
    Mar 17 2026
    Self-monitoring is the skill that quietly changes everything: focus, impulse control, distress tolerance, and even conflict at home and school. In this Overpowering Emotions episode, Dr. Caroline teaches educators, parents, and mental health professionals how to build self-monitoring as a trainable skill—not a sticker chart, not a punishment, and not a “catch them when they’re already melting down” plan.You’ll learn how to start with behaviours kids already know (think: a task they can do on autopilot), set a clear target using Dr. Caroline’s SOAP criteria, create a simple tracking system, and use cues like timers or classroom chimes to help kids “pause and check.” You’ll also hear how to reinforce the right thing early on: accurate awareness, even when the child wasn’t on task.If you support kids with ADHD, anxiety, big feelings, classroom disruptions, or sibling conflict, this episode gives you practical language, ready-to-use examples, and a step-by-step way to grow independence—without nagging, shame, or power struggles.Homework activities for adults (plus resources to prep)Homework A: Pick the “easy win” targetChoose a behaviour during a task the child already knows well (not new learning).Write the target using SOAP:Specific: exactly what they will doObservable: you can see/hear itAppropriate: fits the settingPersonal: fits the child’s levelResource: a one-sentence target + a short list of examples/non-examples.Homework B: Build a simple self-monitoring formPick ONE method:Checklist (multi-step tasks like chores/writing)Rating scale (how well did I stay in my seat?)Tally count (each time I raised my hand)Resource: a paper tracking card or a simple note page; add smiley faces/stickers for younger kids.Homework C: Add a cueUse a timer, smartwatch, chime, or an adult signal (thumbs up).Start frequent (short intervals), then stretch it out gradually.Resource: phone timer or classroom chime; choose a cue word (“focus check,” “chore check”).Homework D: Reinforce accuracy, not perfectionWhen the cue goes off, compare adult rating + child rating.Reward matching ratings, even if the child marked “No, I wasn’t on track.”Resource: a small, immediate reinforcer list (attention, short break, points, sticker, choice).Homework E: Baseline + graph (optional, powerful)Track the behaviour for 3–5 occasions across several days.Graph it so the child can see progress.Resource: a simple bar chart on paper, or dots on a chart.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.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ 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/
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    38 mins
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