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Emma McAdam

When you’re super emotional the thinking part of your brain essentially shuts down. That’s why when you’re upset you say things or do things that you later regret. 

I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Therapist, and welcome to The Coping Skills and Self-Care Course.

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When you’re super emotional the thinking part of your brain essentially shuts down. That’s why when you’re upset you say things or do things that you later regret. 

I’m Emma McAdam, a Licensed Therapist, and welcome to The Coping Skills and Self-Care Course.

In this course you’re going to learn what most people don’t teach about coping skills- that they don’t really work on their own. That’s because coping skills need to be used in conjunction with emotion processing skills and self care skills in order to create lasting change. You’ll learn essential skills to manage intense emotions, calm the stress response, and develop a self-care practice that keeps you from burning out.

This course is for anyone who’s struggling with intense feelings of Anger, Sadness, Anxiety, Stress, or Discouragement. Most people only have one or two skills to deal with emotions- like eating, venting or avoiding them.  Within the first 30 minutes you’ll learn dozens of strategies to manage those intense feelings and help you calm down when emotions run high.

By the end of the course you’ll know over a hundred ways you can self-soothe or cope with emotions. In the first section of this course you’ll learn about four different types of Coping Skills:

  • Emotion Coping Skills,

  • Relaxation Skills,

  • Sensory Coping skills, and

  • Distraction Coping Skills. 

Each section will have an explanation, a list of skills, and an exercise you can try.

In the second section of this course you’ll learn about Self-Care, creating habits that lead to a sustainable life.  You’ll learn to take care of your body and mind in a way that renews your energy, resolves emotions, improves relationships and helps you move forward with joy and purpose.

Coping skills and self care work together to help you handle all that life has to throw at you.  Coping skills help you feel better in the short term, and can keep you from acting impulsively. They are essential when you’re overwhelmed with intense emotions.  But, to be most effective and to find lasting solutions to problems, they need to be paired with Self-Care skills.

So sign up now to begin learning right away.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn to manage depression, anxiety, and other mental illness with coping skills and self-care
  • Learn to manage intense emotions with coping skills
  • Learn dozens of self-care techniques to solve problems and create a sustainable approach to mental health
  • Emotion processing skills- an overview of how to notice, name, explore and make healthy choices about emotions.
  • Over 100 coping skills

Syllabus

Understand the importance of working with their personal medical provider for personal treatment information
Disclaimer
Introduction
Learn 4 different types of coping skills, learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy coping skills, learn 4 exercises to manage emotions.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores emotion processing skills, which are helpful for understanding and responding to feelings in a healthy way
Teaches a variety of coping mechanisms, which can help learners manage intense emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, stress, or discouragement
Presents self-care techniques, which can help learners create habits that lead to a sustainable approach to mental health
Includes relaxation skills, which can help learners calm the stress response and promote overall well-being
Requires learners to consult with their personal medical provider for personal treatment information, which is important for safety
Emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, which is a key skill for maintaining healthy relationships and preventing burnout

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Reviews summary

Practical coping and self-care skills

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in coping skills and self-care, providing practical tools and strategies. Many students found the wide variety of techniques valuable, particularly for managing anxiety and stress. The content is described as clear and actionable, helping learners build a sustainable approach to mental health. While widely praised for its accessibility and usefulness in providing immediate relief and long-term habits, it is emphasized that the course is not a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic care. Overall, reviews indicate a largely positive reception, highlighting the course's effectiveness in introducing key concepts and practices.
Benefits require regular application.
"You really need to put in the effort and practice these skills regularly to see results."
"It's not a quick fix; consistent application is key."
Emphasizes sustainable long-term habits.
"Beyond coping, the self-care section helped me build better routines."
"Loved the emphasis on self-care as a preventative measure, not just reacting."
"The boundary-setting modules were particularly insightful for long-term well-being."
Content is easy to understand and apply.
"The explanations were clear, and the exercises were easy to follow."
"I could start applying the concepts immediately after watching the lectures."
"Liked how the skills were broken down with examples."
Provides numerous techniques to choose from.
"I appreciated having over a hundred skills to try; not everything works for everyone."
"The sheer number of coping methods presented was impressive and allowed me to find what resonates."
"Covers emotion, sensory, relaxation, and distraction techniques extensively."
Offers useful strategies for daily life.
"I learned many practical skills I can use right away when I feel overwhelmed."
"The course gave me concrete steps to manage my anxiety in difficult moments."
"I found the techniques for calming the stress response incredibly helpful."
Supplemental tool, not professional care.
"This course is a great resource, but it's crucial to remember it's not a replacement for professional therapy if you have serious mental health issues."
"Learned useful skills, but I still need to see my therapist for deeper issues."
"The disclaimer is important - this helps, but isn't a cure-all."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Coping Skills and Self-Care for Mental Health with these activities:
Review Basic Anatomy of the Nervous System
Prepare for the course by refreshing your understanding of the nervous system's role in stress and emotional regulation.
Browse courses on Autonomic Nervous System
Show steps
  • Review your notes from previous biology or anatomy courses.
  • Consult online resources or textbooks to refresh your knowledge.
  • Focus on the autonomic nervous system and its role in the stress response.
Practice Grounding Techniques
Reinforce your ability to manage intense emotions by practicing grounding techniques regularly.
Show steps
  • Choose a grounding technique, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method.
  • Practice the technique several times a day, especially when feeling overwhelmed.
  • Notice how the technique affects your emotional state.
Journaling for Emotional Processing
Practice emotional processing by regularly journaling about your feelings and experiences.
Show steps
  • Set aside time each day or week for journaling.
  • Write about your emotions, thoughts, and experiences without judgment.
  • Reflect on your journal entries to identify patterns and gain insights.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'Self-Compassion' by Kristin Neff
Enhance your self-care practice by learning to cultivate self-compassion and reduce self-criticism.
Show steps
  • Acquire a copy of 'Self-Compassion' by Kristin Neff.
  • Read the book, paying attention to the exercises and techniques for cultivating self-compassion.
  • Practice the self-compassion exercises regularly.
Create a Personalized Self-Care Plan
Solidify your understanding of self-care by designing a personalized plan that incorporates various techniques learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify your personal stressors and emotional triggers.
  • Choose coping skills and self-care activities that address your specific needs.
  • Schedule time for self-care activities in your daily or weekly routine.
  • Track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Design a 'Coping Skills Toolbox'
Compile a personalized collection of coping skills and resources to use during times of emotional distress.
Show steps
  • Identify coping skills that resonate with you from the course materials.
  • Gather resources such as guided meditations, calming music, or inspirational quotes.
  • Organize your toolbox in a physical or digital format.
  • Review and update your toolbox regularly.
Review 'The Body Keeps the Score'
Deepen your understanding of the neurological impact of stress and trauma to better inform your self-care practices.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Body Keeps the Score'.
  • Read the book, focusing on sections related to trauma and the nervous system.
  • Reflect on how the book's insights relate to the coping skills discussed in the course.

Career center

Learners who complete Coping Skills and Self-Care for Mental Health will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Mental Health Counselor
A mental health counselor works directly with clients, helping them to address and manage their emotional and mental well-being. This course directly supports the work of a mental health counselor by providing a wide array of coping skills and self-care techniques that can be used to assist clients in managing intense emotions, developing self-soothing practices, and building resilience. The course covers emotion processing, relaxation skills, sensory coping mechanisms, distraction techniques, and self-care practices, all of which build a strong foundation for a holistic approach to mental health, which is critical to the work of a mental health counselor. The course teaches specific skills, like setting boundaries and self-compassion that counselors can help their clients develop to improve mental health in a sustainable way.
Social Worker
Social workers often engage with individuals facing various life challenges, requiring them to possess a deep understanding of effective coping mechanisms and self-care practices. This course provides a valuable framework for a social worker by offering an abundance of specific strategies, such as emotion coping, relaxation, and sensory skills, that can be used to help clients manage intense emotions and stress. A social worker would find value in the course’s emphasis on self-care, as well as the material covering identifying and setting boundaries. These can be applied to their own well-being as well as that of the individuals they work with. By learning the skills in this course, a social worker can help their clients build a more sustainable approach to managing their mental health.
Life Coach
Life coaches guide individuals in achieving personal and professional goals, often addressing emotional and mental hurdles in the process. This course helps prepare a life coach to better assist their clients by teaching various strategies for managing stress and emotions including over one hundred coping skills such as emotion coping relaxation, and distraction techniques. The course's material on self-care practices provides tools for fostering resilience and creating a balanced approach to life. The course content on setting boundaries and self-compassion builds a good foundation for any life coach to assist their clients. This course is ideal for anyone working to assist others in building a more fulfilling life.
Employee Assistance Program Counselor
An employee assistance program counselor provides support and resources to employees dealing with various personal and work-related challenges. This course may be useful for an employee assistance program counselor. The course provides an overview of coping and self-care strategies, emotional processing, relaxation skills, sensory coping, distraction techniques, and sustainable self-care practices. These can be used to assist employees in managing stress and work related anxiety, and they provide a framework for building resilience. An employee assistance program counselor can use the information from this course to empower employees to handle workplace pressures and maintain mental health.
Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors help individuals with disabilities or other challenges achieve their personal and vocational goals. This course may be useful for a rehabilitation counselor. The course's focus on emotion management, coping skills, and self-care techniques are helpful in assisting clients in the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitation counselors would find the course's material on self-care practices, setting good boundaries, and self-compassion valuable. A rehabilitation counselor will be able to use the skills and material presented in this course to address the emotional and mental challenges their clients face, helping them to build a more sustainable life.
School Counselor
School counselors support students' academic, emotional, and social development, often addressing challenges that require effective coping mechanisms. This course may be useful for school counselors, as it provides a comprehensive overview of coping skills and self-care, including emotion processing, relaxation techniques, and distraction strategies that can be beneficial for students. The emphasis on self-care and setting boundaries is particularly relevant to assisting students in building resilience and managing stress. A school counselor can help students learn a variety of coping strategies that can help them throughout their academic careers and beyond.
Human Resources Specialist
Human resources specialists manage various aspects of the employee experience, often dealing with issues related to stress and well-being in the workplace. This course may be useful for a human resources specialist. The course focuses on the role of coping mechanisms and self care to sustain mental health. This course provides an overview of coping, relaxation, sensory, and distraction strategies, as well as self care techniques. A human resources specialist may draw on this material to support employee wellness programs, create resources for managing workplace stress, and develop better policies to support the mental health of employees.
Substance Abuse Counselor
Substance abuse counselors work with individuals who are struggling with addiction. This course may be useful for a substance abuse counselor. The coping and self care skills taught in this course may be helpful for individuals recovering from addiction, with a focus on emotion processing, relaxation techniques, and distraction strategies. The material on self-care and setting boundaries are also helpful in a recovery context. A substance abuse counselor can use this course to enhance their understanding of holistic wellness and the tools needed to help clients find their path to recovery.
Health Educator
A health educator promotes wellness by teaching others how to create healthy habits and understand health related topics. This course may be useful for a health educator. The course material on coping skills, self-care, and emotion processing are directly relevant to health education, where mental health is a key component of overall well-being. The detailed exploration of various coping mechanisms and self-care practices, such as those taught in this course, helps health educators promote more sustainable approaches to mental wellness. A health educator can use this information to build impactful educational materials for their audiences.
Wellness Coach
Wellness coaches work with clients to improve their overall well-being, which includes both mental and physical health. This course may be useful for a wellness coach. A wellness coach can use this course to improve their coaching approach. The course presents strategies for managing intense emotions, calming stress, and developing self-care practices. A wellness coach would find the course's material on emotion processing, setting boundaries, and finding joy, very useful in their work. This course provides tools for building a more sustainable wellness practice for oneself and assisting others.
Case Manager
Case managers help individuals navigate various support services and resources, often working with clients facing complex challenges. This course may be useful for a case manager. The course material on coping skills and self care may be helpful to case managers in the context of client work. The course goes into detail about different types of coping and self care, such as relaxation techniques, sensory coping, and emotion processing. A case manager can apply the knowledge from this course to better support their clients, helping them build a more sustainable approach to mental wellness.
Community Outreach Coordinator
Community outreach coordinators engage with the community to promote programs and resources, often addressing mental health and well-being. This course may be useful for a Community outreach coordinator. The course materials dealing with coping skills and self-care offer valuable information for community programs. The course covers various coping methods and self-care practices, which can be used by a community outreach coordinator to help build resources for community members facing stressors or emotional challenges. This program helps prepare one to build a richer and more sustainable community.
Pastoral Counselor
Pastoral counselors offer guidance and support to individuals within a religious or spiritual context, often addressing mental and emotional well-being. This course may be useful for a pastoral counselor. The course material on coping skills and self-care practices can be beneficial in a pastoral setting. A pastoral counselor can use the course's teachings on various coping skills, relaxation techniques, and emotion processing to help congregants navigate life challenges and build resilience in their faith. The emphasis on self-care and setting boundaries also aligns with a holistic approach to spiritual wellness.
Caregiver
Caregivers provide support to individuals needing assistance with daily activities and health management. This course may be useful for a caregiver. Managing their own emotions and stress is key to successful caregiving. This course directly addresses self care and coping strategies, including sensory coping, emotion processing, and setting boundaries. The practical tools covered in this course can equip a caregiver to better manage their own emotional well-being, enabling them to provide more effective and sustainable care to others.
Teacher
Teachers work with students and may need to support their emotional and mental well-being. This course may be useful for a teacher. The coping skills taught in this course, such as relaxation techniques and emotional processing, can be used by the teacher to support their students. The course's emphasis on self-care and setting boundaries can help a teacher manage their own stress and avoid burnout, which is essential for educators. A teacher can use these concepts to create a more supportive and emotionally aware classroom environment.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Coping Skills and Self-Care for Mental Health.
Explores the effects of trauma on the brain and body, and various methods for healing. It provides a deeper understanding of the physiological basis of emotional distress, which complements the coping skills taught in the course. It is particularly useful for understanding the 'why' behind certain coping mechanisms and self-care practices. This book is commonly referenced by therapists and mental health professionals.
Provides a practical guide to developing self-compassion, a key component of emotional well-being and resilience. It offers exercises and techniques to cultivate kindness and understanding towards oneself, especially during difficult times. This book expands on the self-compassion exercises introduced in the course and provides a more in-depth exploration of the topic. It valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their self-care practices.

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