A Guide to Emotions
Emotions are central to psychological wellbeing, affecting how we view ourselves, relate to others, and respond to events. In therapy, helping clients understand the nature, function, and impact of emotions is important for developing meaningful case conceptualisations and effective treatment plans. This guide introduces clients to key emotional concepts, including what emotions are, how they differ from one another, and the reasons people experience them. It also explores why emotional difficulties arise, how they contribute to mental health issues, and how different therapeutic models make sense of emotional disturbances.
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Languages this resource is available in
- English (GB)
- English (US)
Techniques associated with this resource
Introduction & Theoretical Background
Emotion tells people what is important, and knowing what is important tells them what they need to do and who they are.
(Elliott et al., 2004, p.24)
Emotions play a crucial role in psychological functioning and mental health, influencing how individuals interpret their experiences, relate to others, and navigate daily life. For this reason, helping clients understand the nature and function of emotions, as well as how they contribute to mental health difficulties, is often important for case formulation and intervention.
Emotions are typically viewed as transient, multidimensional 'episodes' or 'feeling states' that arise in response to internal or external stimuli (Damasio, 1994; Hoffman, 2016; Moors & Scherer, 2013). They encompass cognitive components (thoughts and images linked to an emotion), motivational urges (action tendencies such as fight, flight, or affiliation), physiological responses (changes in arousal), and expressive behaviours (facial expressions, vocal tone). Emotions are also distinct from moods which tend to be longer-lasting
Therapist Guidance
This is a Psychology Tools guide. Suggested uses include:
- Client handout. Use as a psychoeducation resource.
- Discussion point. Provoke a discussion and explore client experiences.
- Therapist learning tool. Improve your familiarity with a psychological construct.
- Teaching resource. Use as a learning tool during training.
References And Further Reading
- Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. Penguin.
- Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain. G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
- Ekman, P. (1992). An argument for basic emotions. Cognition and Emotion, 6, 169–200. DOI: 10.1080/02699939208411068.
- Elliott, R., Watson, J. C., Goldman, R. N., & Greenberg, L. S. (2004). Learning emotion-focused therapy: The process-experiential approach to change. American Psychological Association.
- Gross, J. J., & Jazaieri, H. (2014). Emotion, emotion regulation, and psychopathology: An affective science perspective.Clinical Psychological Science, 2, 387-401. DOI: 10.1177/2167702614536164.
- Hoffman, S. (2016). Emotion in therapy: From science to practice. Guilford Press.
- Izard, C. E. (1977). Human emotions. Springer.
- Kring, A. M., & Bachorowski, J. A. (1999). Emotions and psychopathology. Cognition and Emotion, 13, 575-599. DOI: 10.1080/026999399379195.
- Moors, A., & Scherer, K. R. (2013). The role of appraisal in emotion. In: M. Robinson, E. Watkins, & E. Harmon-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of cognition and emotion (pp. 135-155). Guilford Press.