Helping with Emotional Distress Masterclass
Self Paced Course
Help Your Clients Work With Their Emotions — Not Against Them
In your practice, you've sat with clients who are overwhelmed, shut down, or caught in cycles of distress they can't find their way out of.
The statistics remind us how urgent this work is:
- Emotional dysregulation is one of the most common presenting issues across anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship difficulties
- Nearly half of young females and one-third of young males aged 16–24 experience significant psychological distress within any 12-month period
- Attempts to control or suppress difficult emotions often make them stronger — yet control remains one of the most common strategies clients (and clinicians) reach for
Here's what the research tells us:
The two processes most consistently linked to good outcomes are helping clients develop acceptance and working collaboratively with them on goals and feedback. Not control. Not suppression. Not just breathing exercises.
When clients learn to work with their emotional experience — rather than fighting it — everything changes.
A Six-Step Framework for Emotional Distress
What You'll Learn:
✓ A clear, practical six-step framework you can begin using immediately — Accept, Track, Cope, Practice, Perspective, Values
✓ The neuroscience and evolutionary theory behind emotional distress — including Polyvagal Theory and Lisa Feldman Barrett's theory of constructed emotion
✓ The evidence base for what actually works — for both adolescents and adults
✓ Experiential exercises you can lead in session, including Making Peace with Your Feelings
✓ Practical down-regulation strategies: breathing, grounding, touch, senses, imagery, and connection
✓ How to use the DNA-V model to help clients develop self-compassion and a broader sense of self
✓ How to connect emotional regulation work to values — giving your clients a reason to do the hard work
Why This Approach Works
DNA-V is a unified framework that brings together ACT, positive psychology, Polyvagal Theory, and developmental science. At its heart is a simple but powerful insight: emotions are not problems to be eliminated. They are messages. And when clients learn to receive those messages with awareness and skill — rather than shutting them down — they become capable of so much more.
This masterclass gives you a practical, evidence-based, six-step approach to helping clients do exactly that. It's grounded in the latest research, taught with real clinical honesty, and designed to be used immediately.
What's Included:
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11 video lessons covering theory, evidence, and six practical clinical steps
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Experiential exercises you can try on yourself and use directly with clients
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Downloadable worksheets including coping skills tools, the DNA-V session discussion tool, and the six-step emotion coping guide
Mindfulness and guided meditation recordings for use with clients -
Academic readings and additional resources to deepen your understanding
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One year access to all course materials
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Certificate of completion for your continuing education requirements
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Approximately 90 minutes of focused, clinically relevant learning
This Course Is Perfect For You If:
- You work with individuals, young people, or families experiencing emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, or trauma
- You want evidence-based strategies that go beyond breathing exercises and generic coping plans
- You're familiar with ACT or DNA-V and want practical tools for working with difficult emotions
- You want to understand why your clients respond the way they do — not just what to do about it
- You're looking for flexible, self-paced learning that fits around your clinical schedule
Risk-Free Guarantee
If you don't find this course valuable for your practice,
contact us within 30 days for a full refund.
Pricing:
Regular Price: $89 AUD
Special Rates:
Students: $69 AUD (with valid student ID)
For participants from lower income countries, or
participants requiring payment by invoice
please email us: office.louisehayes@gmail.com
Sign Me Up!This masterclass is brought to you by Dr Louise Hayes — clinical psychologist, researcher, and co-developer of the DNA-V framework. For more DNA-V resources and training visit www.louisehayes.com.au and www.dnav.international
"I loved the exercises which brought the concepts and approach to life. Louise is so skilled and knowledgeable and so human. Thanks for this experience!"
Majella, Accredited CBT Therapist UK
"Engaging and extremely useful content. Brilliant and enjoyable learning experience."
Sanja, Head of People
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