Emotional Granularity Training (PDF)

We all have emotional experiences every day, and they help us understand what’s happening inside us. Emotional granularity means being able to name our feelings clearly. Instead of just saying “I feel bad,” we can say, “I feel frustrated” or “I feel anxious.” The Emotional Granularity Training handout (Beyond “Good” and “Bad” Feelings) teaches clients a useful coping skill: how to describe their feelings with precision. It teaches what emotional granularity is and explains why it’s helpful. The handout also gives tips to build their emotional word vocabulary, so clients can move beyond basic words. Using this resource can support mental health by helping kids and teens better understand and manage their emotions. To get the most out of the handout, they can read through it with a therapist, practice using new emotion words during check-ins, and try matching specific words to their feelings in different situations. *This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed. Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of coping skills worksheets and handouts. References: Hoemann, K., Lee, Y., Kuppens, P., Gendron, M., & Boyd, R. L. (2023). Emotional Granularity is Associated with Daily Experiential Diversity. Affective Science, 4(2), 291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-023-00185-2 D., C., & Dunne, J. D. (2021). Cultivating Emotional Granularity. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 703658. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703658