The window of tolerance is your nervous system’s sweet spot, where you can think clearly, manage your emotions, connect with others, and cope with challenges. But stress can push you outside this window into a fight, flight, or freeze state. When that happens, you can take steps to regain equilibrium.
Our Window of Tolerance info sheet explains these nervous system states, what they feel like, and how life events affect them. Other covered topics include:
- healthy habits that expand the window of tolerance (getting good sleep, exercising, etc.)
- strategies for getting back into the window of tolerance when dysregulated
Use this resource when working with anxiety, trauma, and intense emotions. For deeper clinical work, ask clients to identify common triggers that push them outside their window of tolerance. Then focus on coping skills that can help them ground and stabilize when faced with these situations.
When processing trauma in session, regularly check in with clients to learn when they’re outside their window of tolerance so you can tailor therapy accordingly.
