Managing Big Emotions: Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Shutdowns

Tantrums, meltdowns, and emotional shutdowns can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what to do, and worried about what it means for their child. In this interactive parent workshop, Kris Downing, LCSW, a clinical director and therapist trainer at Just Mind Counseling with more than 25 years of experience working with children, will help parents better understand what’s happening beneath these intense emotional moments—and how to respond in ways that actually help.

During the session, Kris will invite parents to share their real-life experiences—what a tantrum looks like in their home, the thoughts and worries that arise in the moment, and how these situations feel in their own bodies. Using those examples, she will walk through practical ways parents can support their children through co-regulation, helping them move from overwhelm back to calm and connection. Kris is also the author of the children’s book Tummies Flip, Hearts Skip: A Book About How Feelings Feel, which helps kids understand and talk about big emotions.