Why Emotional Wellness Is Non-Negotiable for Anyone Working with Kids

Written by Cedric Bertelli, Somatic Practitioner

Cedric Bertelli is the founder of the Emotional Health Institute and co-creator of the EmRes® methodology, which helps individuals resolve debilitating emotional patterns effectively in just one to three sessions.

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Working with children, whether as a parent, teacher, or coach, means being on the frontlines of emotional intensity every day. If we don’t have the tools to manage our own emotional reactions, we end up carrying and passing down stress we don’t even realize we’re holding.

Let’s be honest: most of us were never taught how to handle our emotions, yet we’re expected to guide kids through theirs.

In the U.S., 42% of teens report persistent sadness, and 1 in 5 children has a diagnosable mental health condition (CDC, 2021). Yet, we expect educators, caregivers, and parents to manage not just their own emotions, but also the emotional well-being of the next generation without any formal emotional training.

What’s missing?

• Emotional modeling that shows kids how to regulate

• Tools for dealing with big emotions like rejection, shame, and anxiety

• Support for adults who are expected to stay calm while juggling stress, trauma, and burnout
  

Without this foundation, kids learn to suppress emotions, not resolve them. And so do we.

The tool you wish you had as a kid

Emotional Resolution (EmRes) is a body-based method for resolving disruptive emotional responses as they happen. No digging into trauma. No over-analyzing the past. Just tuning in to your body’s physical sensations and allowing your nervous system to reset naturally.

When the body is allowed to fully process an emotional imprint, it no longer gets triggered in similar situations. You respond with calm instead of reactivity. Presence instead of panic.

And the best part? Kids can learn it too.

EmRes for adults:

• Fewer outbursts, more clarity

• Less guilt, more confidence

• Emotional regulation that lasts
  

EmRes for kids:

• Fewer tantrums, shutdowns, and anxieties

• Improved focus and connection

• Confidence in managing big feelings
  

“We don’t learn emotional regulation through lectures. We learn it by watching others regulate themselves.” – Dr. Dan Siegel, The Whole-Brain Child

Whether in a classroom, kitchen, or on the field, emotions run the show.

Let’s look at what that actually means:

• A teacher notices her heart racing as a student talks back. Instead of scolding, she quietly uses EmRes. She doesn’t freeze or snap. She holds the boundary calmly.

• A coach watches a young athlete break down after missing a shot. He guides them through an Instant EmRes and within minutes, the child resets.

• A parent loses patience with a whining youngster. But this time, she breathes, turns inward, and processes the discomfort. The situation de-escalates. She doesn’t spiral.
  

Each of these moments could’ve gone another way. But because the adult had a tool, the cycle ended with regulation, not regret.

Through EmRes, people who interact with children can employ a new strategy when experiencing strong emotions in themselves and the children they manage. When performed promptly, EmRes is immediately effective and only takes one to two minutes.

1. First EmRes yourself. Just like in an airplane, you put on your own oxygen mask first, before helping others. Resolving your emotional reaction brings you into the current reality and out of the echoes of your unresolved emotional past. 

2. Second, guild the child through resolving their emotional upset using EmRes. This bring them back to calm. They can now return to their task or together you can work out what started the upset and resolve further issues.
   

Again, this only takes a few minutes and everyone is emotionally regulated, calm and can move forward. This can happen in the moment in the classroom, sports field, or kitchen.

EmRes isn’t just a method. It’s a mindset, a way to change how we show up emotionally in our most important relationships.

You don’t have to be perfect – You just have to be present

Emotions aren’t bad; they’re signals. Triggered emotions are just messages from the body telling you there is an unresolved emotion that needs tending, just like a cut finger needs attention as well. No judgment or guilt.

If we never learned how to resolve emotions when they arise in us, we get hijacked by them and become stuck in patterns that drain us and the kids we care about most.

EmRes offers a simple, effective way out. It’s not therapy. It’s not spiritual bypassing or a coping technique. It’s a practical skill for modern emotional life.

If you’re ready to stop overreacting and start responding with calm, clarity, and compassion, EmRes is your invitation.

What emotional patterns are you passing down... and are you ready to break them?

Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Cedric Bertelli

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Cedric Bertelli, Somatic Practitioner

Originally from France, Cedric Bertelli is the founder of the Emotional Health Institute, operating in the USA, France, and Japan. Cedric co-developed Emotional Resolution® (EmRes®), a groundbreaking somatic method for resolving debilitating emotional patterns. Cedric blends practical expertise with influences from neuroscience and philosophy. He trains coaches, therapists, and other professionals in the EmRes® methodology, empowering them to help clients achieve lasting emotional well-being.