The Window of Tolerance resource offers a clear visualization for helping clients manage emotional arousal, especially useful for trauma survivors.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
The Window of Tolerance metaphor, introduced by Dan Siegel, is an essential concept for understanding emotional regulation, particularly in individuals who have experienced trauma. It describes the range within which one can function effectively and handle emotions without feeling overwhelmed or numb. This resource helps clinicians support clients in identifying and widening their unique window of tolerance.
The Window of Tolerance model aids clinicians in:
Clients with PTSD often fluctuate between states of hyperarousal (e.g., hypervigilance, irritability) and hypoarousal (e.g., dissociation, emotional numbing).
Individuals with C-PTSD frequently experience sustained dysregulation, including chronic emotional overwhelm and shutdown responses.
People with GAD may spend much of their time near or above the upper threshold of their window, marked by constant worry, restlessness, and physiological tension.
Clients with BPD often experience a narrow and unstable window of tolerance, rapidly shifting between emotional extremes.
These clients may spend prolonged periods in hypoarousal, feeling detached or disconnected from reality.
Many clients across diagnoses struggle to remain within a manageable emotional range.
Help clients understand the window of tolerance concept.
Determine when clients step outside their window of tolerance.
Use grounding techniques to help clients return to their window.
Encourage regular activities that expand their window.
Regularly review and adjust strategies as needed.
Encourage clients to reflect on moments of dysregulation and recovery.
The 'Window of Tolerance' was first introduced by Dan Siegel (1999) as a way to conceptualize the optimal zone of arousal in which an individual can function effectively — emotionally regulated, cognitively flexible, and socially engaged. Within this window, individuals are able to process stimuli without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down. When arousal exceeds the upper threshold, clients may experience hyperarousal (e.g., panic, irritability, impulsivity), while dropping below the lower threshold can lead to hypoarousal (e.g., emotional numbing, dissociation, withdrawal).
This model draws on the broader neurobiological understanding of the autonomic nervous system. Siegel’s work is complemented by Porges’ Polyvagal Theory (2011), which describes how shifts in autonomic states — particularly involving the vagus nerve — influence physiological readiness, perception of safety, and social engagement. According to Porges, activation of the dorsal vagal complex is associated with immobilization and collapse (hypoarousal), while sympathetic activation is linked to fight-or-flight responses (hyperarousal).
The model has particular relevance for trauma survivors, who often experience chronic dysregulation of arousal due to disruptions in neurobiological development and autonomic function (Corrigan, Fisher, & Nutt, 2011). Trauma-related conditions such as PTSD and C-PTSD are characterized by narrowed or unstable windows, making it difficult to stay within the optimal zone.
Clinically, the window of tolerance provides a powerful psychoeducational tool. It enables therapists to normalize physiological and emotional responses to stress, reduce shame, and support clients in learning to recognize, track, and influence their own arousal states. Techniques from sensorimotor psychotherapy (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006) and other somatic approaches can be used to help clients expand their windows through grounding, breathwork, and titrated exposure to emotional material. Cognitive strategies, such as those outlined in Murray & El-Leithy’s (2022) work with PTSD, can be layered in to support reappraisal and integration once clients are within their window.
