Emotions are not problems to be solved. They are signals to be attended to.
— Susan David, Ph.D.
Emotions are not problems to solve — they are messengers to welcome, to listen to, and to care for. They signal that something meaningful is unfolding within us. And yet, for many, emotions can feel overwhelming, confusing, or even off-limits.
This Library section is here to support the development of emotional literacy, tolerance, and trust in your internal experience. You’ll find reflections, materials, and practical tools — like the Feeling Wheel — to help you name what you feel, understand where it comes from, and learn how to support yourself in the midst of it.
For professionals, this section also includes resources and tools to use in clinical work and in teaching about emotions.
Materials for downloading
TOOL for Everyone
The Feeling Wheel
Description: A simple yet very powerful tool to help you identify, name, and reflect on your emotions.
Authors: Dr. Gloria Willcox, 1982
Handout – The Feeling Wheel (Full Color + Printer Friendly) PDF File (1.83 MB)
Working with Emotions in Psychotherapy: The Feeling Wheel
Description: This experiential slide set offers a practical, therapist-friendly approach to working with emotions in clinical settings. Drawing on the work of Gloria Willcox, Paul Ekman, Arnold Beisser, and Brené Brown, it supports clinicians in helping clients name, explore, and integrate emotional experiences with greater clarity and compassion.
The slides introduce core concepts such as the difference between emotions and feelings, the functions of emotions, the paradoxical theory of change, and a four-step emotional reflection process: Where am I? How did I get here? Acknowledge and allow. Where do I want to go?
Author: Tatsiana I. Razzhavaikina, Ph.D. Developed and presented as part of a continuing education offering for mental health professionals in May 2025.
Full Color Slides — The Feelings Wheel PDF File (13.3 MB)
Any use or copying of materials or a selection of materials of the site (page), design elements and design is allowed only with the permission of the copyright holder and only with reference to the source: razzhavaikina.com