Emotional Regulation Therapy
- Anxiety counseling for every age, and EMDR with our EMDR-trained therapist
- In-person in New Lenox and telehealth across Illinois
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- No waiting list, and we reply within 24 hours
Reviewed by Sidra Shoaib, LPC, Anxiety & Emotional Regulation Counselor · Updated October 2026
Helping Teens and Young Adults Master Their Emotions
Understanding Emotional Regulation Therapy and Dysregulation
Emotional regulation therapy at Davis-Smith Mental Health in New Lenox, IL, helps teens, young adults, and adults who feel like their emotions are running the show. Maybe your teen goes from calm to explosive in seconds. Maybe they shut down completely when things feel overwhelming. Perhaps you are a young adult who knows your reactions are too big for the situation, but cannot seem to stop them. Big emotions are not a character flaw. They are a signal that something needs support. We are here to help. Serving clients throughout Will County, including Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport. Telehealth available throughout Illinois.
Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy way. When someone struggles with emotional regulation, also called emotional dysregulation, everyday situations can feel overwhelming and reactions can feel impossible to control. For teens, especially, whose brains are still developing, emotional regulation is one of the hardest skills to master. According to the American Psychological Association, the adolescent brain is still developing the prefrontal cortex responsible for decision making and emotional control. This means teens are naturally more sensitive to stress and emotional overload. Emotional regulation therapy gives teens and young adults the tools to understand their emotions, recognize their triggers, and respond in ways that actually serve them. Emotion regulation is a skill, not a personality trait, which means people can learn it with practice and time. In therapy, we build understanding of what sets off each emotion and practice positive strategies for handling it without shutting down or blowing up.
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
In-network with
- Aetna PPO
- Cigna / Evernorth
- BCBS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- Initial assessment $200
- Ongoing sessions $150
Insurance and rates
Insurance Accepted
Davis-Smith Mental Health is in network with Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna and Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR. Not every therapist is in every network, so we check your plan with you before your first session. If you’d rather pay privately, we can give you a Superbill to use with your out-of-network benefits.
WHEN TO REACH OUT
Signs Your Teen May Need Emotional Regulation Therapy
Recognizing when big emotions are affecting your teen’s daily life is the first step toward getting help. If your child or teen is experiencing any of the following, emotional regulation therapy may help:
Breaking or Throwing Items
Destroying or throwing items when emotions feel out of control, creating unsafe situations at home.
Mood Swings
Rapid and extreme changes in mood, often shifting from calm to angry quickly.
Violence
Physical aggression towards others or themselves poses a risk of harm.
Low Self-Esteem
Feeling worthless or constantly down on themselves, especially after emotional reactions.
Academic Failure
Poor performance in school due to unmanaged anger and stress, affecting future opportunities.
Substance Abuse
Using drugs or alcohol to cope with emotions can exacerbate anger issues.
Emotional Shutdown
Completely withdrawing or going numb when emotions feel too big to handle, often mistaken for not caring or being difficult.
Emotional Outbursts
Intense reactions that feel out of proportion to the situation, leaving everyone, including your teen, feeling confused and exhausted afterward.
Yelling and Screaming
Loud verbal outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation, creating tension.
The Power of Therapy
How Counseling Can Help with Anger and Aggression
Counseling provides a supportive environment where your child or teen can learn to manage their anger and aggression. Here are some of the ways counseling can assist in reducing these behaviors:
Decreasing Tension
Helping to reduce the overall stress levels that contribute to anger.
Increasing Self-Esteem
Building a positive self-image to help them feel better about themselves.
Managing Conflict
Improving problem-solving skills to handle disagreements constructively.
Improving Communication
Teaching effective ways to express feelings and needs.
Decreasing Anger and Aggression
Teaching techniques to manage and reduce outbursts.
Learning New Coping Skills
Developing strategies to handle stress and frustration in a healthier way.
Increasing Overall Functioning
Enhancing stability and day-to-day functioning.
Improving Academic Performance
Providing tools to manage emotions, leading to better focus and success in school.
New Client
How getting started works
It can be overwhelming coming to counseling. Here’s every step, from your first call to the sessions that follow.
Step 1
Reach out
Request a session online or call (815) 409-5940 to schedule your first appointment.
Step 2
Fill out your intake forms
Your welcome email has everything. Finish the forms at least 48 hours before your appointment, on a phone, tablet or computer, and share your preferred times and therapist.
Step 3
We check your benefits
If you’re using insurance, we check your benefits before confirming your appointment, so you have a good idea of your cost before your first visit.
Step 4
Your first session
Check in on the iPad in our waiting room. Your therapist walks you through confidentiality, answers your questions, and gets to know you and your goals.
Step 5
Plan next steps together
Most people start with weekly sessions, at least three to build a connection, then adjust together as things improve.
Warm, Real, and Built Around You
Our Approach to Emotional Regulation Therapy
At Davis-Smith Mental Health, we understand that big emotions in teens and young adults are almost always a signal of something deeper going on underneath. Our emotional regulation therapy is personalized to address the unique needs of each individual. Our therapists take time to build real trust because teens with emotional dysregulation often have walls up for good reason. We never rush that process.
We use evidence based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help teens identify the thoughts and patterns driving their emotional reactions. We work collaboratively with each client to develop coping skills that are practical and actually fit their real life. We also help clients navigate anxiety and depression since emotional dysregulation and these conditions often go hand in hand.
Our goal is never just to reduce outbursts. It is to help your teen understand themselves better, build genuine confidence, and develop the kind of emotional intelligence that will serve them for the rest of their life. We believe every teen has the capacity to grow. Sometimes they just need the right space and the right support to get there.
We proudly serve clients in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport with telehealth available throughout Illinois.
Personalized care
Licensed, caring therapists
Every therapist on our team works with anxiety. We will match you with the right therapist for you.
Anxiety at the center
Anxiety is the foundation of everything we do.
EMDR-trained care
EMDR helps clients process what talk therapy alone can’t reach.
Every age and stage
From children and teens to young adults and adults.
In-person and telehealth
Our New Lenox office or secure online therapy for clients in Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emotional Regulation Therapy
Find the Support Your Family Needs
Tell us a little about what is going on. We will match you with the right therapist and reach out to schedule.
Trouble seeing the form? Open it in a new window or call us at (815) 409-5940.
What People Are Saying About Us
5.0 Based on 5 Google reviews
“Davis-Smith Mental Health truly cares about their clients. The therapists are compassionate, skilled, and genuinely committed to helping you grow and heal. It’s clear that Jessica has built a team that shares her values and dedication. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful support and real results.”
Kasia Budyn · Posted on Google
“Jessica provides a safe and welcoming environment for all the teens she sees. She tailors treatment to each teen and is incredibly patient and open to their needs. I have seen first hand the work she does and the connection she has with kids. I cannot recommend her enough as someone who will care for your teen and your family!”
Google User · Posted on Google
“Davis-Smith Mental Health is a trusted resource for providing compassionate, high-quality therapy for teens and emerging adults. I know confidently that clients are supported with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Jessica leads her team with integrity and intention. She clearly prioritizes the well-being of her staff, which allows them to show up fully for the clients they serve. Their commitment to the healing journey is evident in every interaction. I’m grateful to have them as a referral partner and deeply value their work in the mental health community.”
Sherri Wick · Posted on Google
“Jessica is a dedicated therapist and absolutely loves working with teens. You are able to feel the love from the moment you walk through the door. She and her staff will provide a safe and private environment for that one on one attention you deserve.”
Melanie K. Hall · Posted on Google
“Jessica and her team are so passionate and helpful! I would recommend this practice to anyone looking!”
Biljana Krzywinski · Posted on Google
More ways we can help
Other Ways We Help
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety is the most common reason families come to us, and it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether your teen is avoiding school, your young adult can’t stop overthinking, or worry has taken over your daily life, we can help. Our therapists use CBT and EMDR to help clients understand what’s driving their anxiety and build real tools to manage it.
Teen Anxiety Counseling
The teen years are when anxiety tends to hit the hardest. School pressure, social stress, comparison, and the weight of figuring out who they are can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and stuck. We work with teens to understand what’s behind the anxiety and give them real skills they can actually use, at school, at home, and in the moments that feel like too much.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched approach for trauma, and it’s also used for anxiety. It works by helping the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults.
Depression Therapy
Depression and anxiety often show up together. If your teen has lost interest in things they used to enjoy, is sleeping too much or too little, or seems hopeless about the future, therapy can help. We work with clients to find what’s underneath the depression and build a path forward that actually feels possible.
Trauma Counseling
Trauma is one of the most common drivers of anxiety in teenagers and young adults. It doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It can show up as constant worry, anger, trouble concentrating, or emotional shutdown. Our therapists help clients work through trauma at their own pace, in a space where they feel safe.
Relationship Counseling
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it. It changes how they show up in every relationship. We help teens, young adults, and adults work through the ways anxiety and other challenges are impacting their connections with family, friends, and partners.
Life Transitions
Starting high school. Leaving for college. A new job, a divorce, a move. Life transitions can trigger anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, even when the change is something you wanted. We help clients work through the uncertainty and build confidence in who they’re becoming.
Young Adult Counseling
The years between 18 and 30 come with a unique kind of pressure. A lot of young adults are dealing with anxiety they’ve carried since their teenage years but never had the chance to address. We help them get unstuck and start building a life that feels like theirs.
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You don’t have to figure this out alone
If something told you to keep reading this far, trust that feeling. Whether it’s for yourself, your teen, or your young adult, the hardest part is deciding to start. We are here when you are ready.
there is courage in change ♥
- Anxiety counseling for children, teens and adults
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- Telehealth for clients in Illinois
- In-person in New Lenox
- EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma
- We truly care about every client
- There is courage in change