What is a “feelings detective” definition
Teaching children to become a Feelings Detective® is a lighthearted and engaging way to introduce children to the complex world of feelings, helping make BIG feelings child-size.
Feelings can become overwhelming when we lack the knowledge, tools, and understanding to manage them. Our unique program teaches children the benefits of self-awareness, how to recognise physical and emotional clues, and how to use these messages to regulate their emotions and respond to their needs. Our Feelings Family, made up of seven brightly colored characters representing different emotions, helps children understand that everyone has a Rainbow of Feelings inside and that every feeling is okay.
Self-awareness is a crucial step toward self-regulation. While everyone experiences the same range of emotions, the way we feel and recognise these emotions is unique to each individual.
Many interventions and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs fail to teach this individual perspective on emotions. When our body's emotional response escalates, it becomes increasingly difficult to control our thoughts and actions—a phenomenon we call our Internal Feelings Volcano. Just like adults, children often find calming strategies ineffective during intense emotional reactions. Suggesting activities like drawing, colouring, deep breathing, or thinking happy thoughts to a child in the midst of an emotional meltdown is unlikely to help and may even intensify their BIG emotions.
How was the Feelings Detective® Model created?
Over a decade in educational roles focused on supporting children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has highlighted the need for inclusive and supportive educational environments. Most interventions for these children, such as social skills training, emotional regulation, and behavior management, occurred outside regular classrooms. This segregation often did not support the integration or educational growth of children in SEMH, sometimes even exacerbating their sense of being different from their peers.
Recognising the shortcomings of traditional approaches, I developed the Feelings Detective® curriculum a program that integrates cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with the principles of emotional intelligence. The model emphasises social skills, prosocial behaviours, self-love, and kindness. Unlike traditional therapies aimed at 'fixing' individuals, the Feelings Detective® approach is designed as an educational tool that helps children understand themselves and others around them, just as they are and manage their emotions in healthy ways. It stresses that all feelings are a normal part of the human experience, and teaches children how to cope with emotional challenges to foster confidence, resilience, and contentment.
The Feelings Detective® program stands out for its preventative, educational, and interventional capabilities, successfully helping over 90% of its participants. It's therapeutically crafted to prepare children and families to face everyday challenges and manage emotional difficulties in healthy ways, with a continual focus on recognising and nurturing each child's unique emotional landscape.
The impact we make
Over the past two years, between 2021 and 2023, we have supported over 400 families through our one-to-one and group programs. Here are the statistics from Child and family feedback received during this period:
- 86% say it improved confidence and self-esteem.
- 91% say it improved their relationships with family and friends.
- 89% say it improved their learning and overall school life.
- 97% feel more comfortable talking about their feelings.
- 97% experience reduced BIG feelings, are calmer and happier.
- 95% rated the overall experience 4/5, with five being outstanding or above, and would recommend us to one of their friends.
- 98% of clients come to us through recommendation and referral.
The numbers speak for themselves. The Feelings Detective® curriculum could and should be helping many more children and families.
