When Kids Feel Big Feelings: How Therapy Can Help Them (and You) Navigate Emotional Waves

Parenting a child with big feelings can feel like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. One moment, everything’s fine, and the next, it’s an emotional tsunami over a spilled cup of juice or a homework assignment. If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath—you’re not alone. Big feelings in kids are more common than you think, and while they can be overwhelming, they’re also an incredible opportunity for growth—for your child and for you as a parent.

Kids experience emotions with an intensity that can feel all-consuming, and they often don’t have the tools to manage them yet. That’s where therapy comes in. Through approaches like play therapy, sand tray therapy, or parent coaching, kids learn to identify, express, and regulate their feelings in a way that feels safe and manageable. Therapy provides a space where they can work through their emotions without fear of judgment, building skills that will help them not just in childhood, but for the rest of their lives.

For parents, therapy offers something equally valuable: validation and guidance. It’s easy to second-guess yourself when your child’s emotions seem bigger than life, but therapy can remind you that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Sometimes, just having a professional support you in understanding your child’s emotional world can make all the difference. Parent coaching can also help you learn strategies to respond to those big feelings without feeling like you’re walking on eggshells—or losing your cool in the process.

Big feelings can be overwhelming, but they’re also a sign that your child is learning, growing, and experiencing the world in all its complexity. Therapy helps kids build the emotional resilience they’ll carry into adulthood, equipping them to handle challenges, relationships, and life transitions with more steadiness. For parents, it’s a reminder that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone—and that supporting your child’s growth is one of the most impactful things you’ll ever do.

Here at Roots, we have some really compassionate clinicians who work with kids and parents with these approaches listed above. If you wanted to dig in a little further without therapy, you might try Dan Siegel (The Whole Brain Child, No Drama Discipline) or Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk). or Eli Harwood (Raising Securely Attached Kids).