Major focus area

Occupational Therapy -> Self-regulation

Short description

The Zones of Regulation is a framework used in occupational therapy to teach self-regulation and emotional control. It categorizes feelings and states of alertness into four colored zones, helping individuals understand how their emotions affect their actions and how to use strategies to stay in a more regulated state.

Long description

The Zones of Regulation uses four distinct colors to represent different emotional states:

- Blue Zone: Indicates low states of alertness, such as feeling sad, tired, or bored.
- Green Zone: Represents a calm state of alertness, optimal for learning and everyday activities.
- Yellow Zone: Signifies a heightened state of alertness and emotions such as stress, frustration, or excitement.
- Red Zone: Indicates extremely high levels of alertness and intense emotions such as anger or terror.

Occupational therapists introduce this concept to help individuals identify their feelings and understand the physiological effects these emotions can have on their bodies. Therapy includes activities that encourage recognizing which zone they are in at any given time and learning strategies to move between zones effectively. These strategies might involve sensory supports, calming techniques, cognitive interventions, or visual supports.

The Zones framework is highly adaptable and can be used with individuals of all ages, providing them with a visual and concrete way to think about controlling their emotions and impulses. It is particularly effective in educational settings, helping students manage their emotions to improve their engagement and performance in the classroom.