Understanding Emotions: What They Are and How to Work With Them

Emotions are a fundamental part of being human, shaping how we experience the world and connect with ourselves and others. Yet they can often feel overwhelming or confusing, especially when we’re not sure how to process them. By understanding what emotions are and how they work, we can begin to engage with them in a way that fosters balance, self-awareness, and healing. Practices like craniosacral therapy and coaching offer unique pathways to explore and transform our relationship with emotions, supporting both personal growth and emotional well-being.

What Are (and Aren’t) Emotions?

Emotions are complex responses to internal or external experiences. They combine psychological, physiological, and even biochemical processes. For instance, the thought “I might fail this presentation” could trigger fear, which might manifest as a racing heart or a tight chest. While emotions are distinct from thoughts and bodily sensations, they’re deeply intertwined with both, creating a rich, layered experience.

In craniosacral therapy, this connection between the mind, body, and emotions is a key focus. Often, unresolved emotions are held in the body as tension or restriction, even if we’re not consciously aware of them. Similarly, in coaching, emotions are seen as signposts that point to deeper values, needs, or blocks. By understanding these layers, we can create space for emotional release, clarity, and forward movement.

How Are Emotions Made?

Neuroscience tells us that emotions are not just “in the head” but are deeply embodied. Candace Pert’s research on neuropeptides revealed that emotional information is carried throughout the body, making emotions a whole-body experience. When we encounter a stimulus, our brain processes it based on past experiences and beliefs, which then triggers physiological responses through the autonomic nervous system. These responses form the foundation of what we experience as emotion.

This understanding is central to both craniosacral therapy and coaching. In CST, we engage directly with the body to support the release of emotional patterns held in tissue and fascia, allowing the body to process and integrate stored experiences. In coaching, the focus might be on identifying how emotional triggers are shaped by thought patterns or past narratives, helping clients shift their perspective and move forward. Both approaches honor the body-mind connection and work with it in complementary ways.

How Do We Sense Emotions?

Emotions are often felt as sensations in the body. Anger might feel like heat or pressure, sadness might create heaviness, and excitement might bring a fluttering or lightness. This interoceptive awareness - our ability to sense what’s happening internally - is key to recognizing and working with emotions.

Tuning into these sensations is a shared element of craniosacral therapy and coaching. In CST, the therapist helps the client gently notice and connect with their body’s subtle signals, which can guide the release of stored tension and emotions. In coaching, clients are encouraged to pause and check in with their bodies during moments of reflection or decision-making. These practices help build a stronger awareness of emotional states and their underlying causes.
 

What Can Emotions Teach Us?

Emotions carry valuable information about our needs, boundaries, and experiences. Fear might signal the need for safety or caution, while sadness can point to something we deeply value. Even challenging emotions like anger or frustration reveal areas where change or action may be needed.

In both craniosacral therapy and coaching, the goal is not to suppress or “fix” emotions but to understand and integrate them. In CST, this might mean creating a space for the body to release old emotional patterns without force, simply by holding a space of safety and presence. In coaching, it could mean exploring the story behind an emotion - identifying what it’s trying to communicate and using that insight to guide authentic choices.

Working With Emotions

Working with emotions requires patience and compassion. In craniosacral therapy, this process is often nonverbal, as the body’s natural rhythms guide the release of emotional or physical tension. Clients may experience subtle shifts as long-held emotions are acknowledged and integrated into their current experience.

In coaching, working with emotions often involves reflective dialogue and somatic practices. For example, a client experiencing sadness might be guided to explore how it feels in the body, uncover its underlying cause, and shift their perspective on what it is communicating. By acknowledging and working with the emotion rather than resisting it, clients can develop greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. Both approaches empower individuals to engage with their emotions in a way that feels authentic and constructive, fostering a deeper sense of clarity and resilience.

My Journey with Anger

For much of my life, I found anger challenging to navigate. Like everyone, I would feel anger when I was treated unfairly or spoken to rudely, but my instinct was always to suppress it. Part of me feared conflict - after all, “nice” people don’t make a scene - and part of me didn’t trust that I had the skills to express my anger without saying something hurtful. In truth, my struggle with anger wasn’t just about the emotion itself, but about the fear of what I might do if I let it take control.

Through therapy, coaching, and meditation, I’ve learned to view anger not as something to be feared or suppressed, but as a messenger - one that carries valuable insights. Rather than reacting impulsively, I now recognize that I have a choice in how I respond. Anger, when observed with awareness, reveals what truly matters to me - what I’m willing to stand up for and where my boundaries lie. And in those moments when anger does get the better of me, I see it as an opportunity to explore the deeper wounds or triggers that still need my attention. In this way, my anger has become not just a challenge, but a source of wisdom and vitality.


Moving Forward

Emotions are not obstacles to overcome but signals to understand. Whether you’re addressing long-held emotional patterns in the body through craniosacral therapy or exploring emotional triggers and values in coaching, the goal is the same: to foster a deeper connection with yourself and the wisdom your emotions hold.

By approaching emotions with curiosity and compassion, we can transform them from sources of discomfort into opportunities for growth and healing. If you’re ready to engage with your emotions and explore what they have to teach you, craniosacral therapy and coaching offer supportive, transformative paths to greater self-awareness and balance.