Free Clinical Toolkit β Helping Hands Therapy Resources
The Emotional Regulation
Assessment Toolkit
A complete clinical intake framework for identifying the nervous system drivers behind your client's emotional dysregulation β including 20 red flags most clinicians are missing entirely.
8-section clinical intake framework β interview questions, observation checklist, and NS state profiling
Interoception, sensory, sleep, and nutrition screening β the drivers nobody else is asking about
Trauma considerations framework β ACEs, caregiver dysregulation, and NS history
20 clinical red flags β with the mechanism behind each one and what to do about it
Clickable checklists β ready to use in your next evaluation session
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"This is the clinical framework I've been missing for years."
β Verified CERS Student, Pediatric OT
β Verified CERS Student, Pediatric OT
FREE Download
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Emotional Regulation Assessment Toolkit
Delivered to your inbox immediately β ready to use tomorrow.
What you're getting
8-section clinical intake framework
Clinical interview questions with listen-for notes
NS state profiling β sympathetic vs. dorsal vagal
Interoception, sensory, sleep & nutrition screening
20 red flags with mechanisms and CERS module references
Scoring guide β how to interpret your findings
Sound Familiar?
You're Treating Dysregulation β
But Are You Finding the Driver?
- You've been working with a child for months and progress keeps stalling β but you're not sure what you're missing
- Coping skills and strategies aren't transferring outside the session β and you have a feeling the nervous system is why
- You ask about behavior, emotions, and sensory β but nobody ever taught you to screen for sleep, gut health, or blood sugar as clinical variables
- You recognize there's a nervous system piece β but you don't have a systematic framework for identifying what's actually driving it
- Parents leave evaluations with strategies β but not with an understanding of WHY their child is struggling, which means nothing generalizes at home
What's Inside the Toolkit
8 Sections. Everything You Need
to Find the Driver.
Each section targets a different nervous system contributor β together they give you the complete picture before you build a treatment plan.
Section 1
Clinical Interview Questions
7 parent interview questions with listen-for clinical notes β including the one question that reveals whether any clinician has ever asked about sleep, gut health, or nutrition
Section 2
Observation Checklist
What the nervous system looks like in the room β arousal and regulation indicators, physical presentation clues, and the red flags hiding in plain sight
Section 3
Nervous System State Clues
Sympathetic vs. dorsal vagal profiling β identify the predominant NS pattern so your intervention targets the right state from the start
Section 4
Interoception Screening
Child-directed questions and red flag checklist for identifying interoceptive deficits β one of the most commonly missed contributors to emotional dysregulation
Section 5
Sensory Red Flags
Hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity/seeking indicators β including mouth breathing, limited diet, and auditory sensitivity that you may be overlooking
Section 6
Sleep Screening
5 parent questions and 6 red flag indicators β because poor sleep is a primary NS driver that almost never appears in standard emotional regulation evaluations
Section 7
Nutrition Screening
GI dysfunction, blood sugar instability, food selectivity, and gut health β the nutritional contributors to dysregulation that change everything when you find them
Section 8
Trauma Considerations
ACEs, caregiver dysregulation, NS history, and the clinical approach notes that shift your entire treatment framework when trauma is part of the picture
Also Inside
20 Clinical Red Flags
You're Probably Missing
Each one points to an addressable nervous system driver. Each one explains the mechanism. Each one tells you exactly where to look next.
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Mouth Breathing
π΄
Poor Sleep
π«
GI Dysfunction
π½
Constipation
π½οΈ
Limited Diet
π§
Poor Body Awareness
β‘
Chronic Fight-or-Flight
π€
Dorsal Shutdown
π©Ή
Chronic Pain
π°
Anxiety
π
Explosive-Collapsed
π
Hypervigilance
π€
Caregiver Dysregulation
π
Nutrient Deficiency Signs
π§
Auditory Hypersensitivity
π
Transition Difficulty
π§¬
Medical Complexity
π¬
Social Withdrawal
π―
Skills Not Sticking
πΆ
Flat / Blunted Affect
Every red flag comes with the clinical mechanism behind it β and the CERS module that addresses it.
Who This Is For
Built for Clinicians Who Want
to Find What's Actually Driving It
Occupational Therapists who want a comprehensive NS intake framework grounded in polyvagal theory and sensory processing
SLPs & PTs whose clients present with emotional dysregulation alongside communication and motor goals
School-Based Clinicians & Educators who need a practical framework for identifying NS contributors in educational settings
Mental Health Professionals who want to add a nervous system and somatic lens to their emotional regulation work
K
Kathleen Yopp, MOT, OTR/L, CERS, CCTP
Pediatric OT Β· 28+ Years Clinical Experience Β· AOTA Provider #0000001046
I built this toolkit because I spent years feeling like I was treating symptoms while the real drivers stayed hidden. Nobody taught me to screen for sleep, gut health, or interoception as emotional regulation variables β and once I started, everything changed. This is the intake framework I wish I'd had from day one. Use it tomorrow. Let it show you what you've been missing.
What Therapists Are Saying
Game-Changing Isn't an Overstatement
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"This course solidified the education I have and advanced my knowledge through exploring multiple facets of application. It touches on topics not talked about elsewhere β a true game changer."
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"Kathleen was able to take broad subject matters that have taken me years to learn and refine them so clearly. I now feel empowered to take action to support my children in a loving manner."
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"This course helped me understand the role of the vagus nerve in everyday life. Instead of just watching and feeling overwhelmed and defeated β I finally have a framework."
Common Questions
FAQ
Is this really free?
Yes β completely free. Enter your name and email and the toolkit is delivered to your inbox immediately. No payment required.
Who is this toolkit designed for?
Occupational therapists, SLPs, PTs, educators, and other clinicians who work with children or adolescents where emotional dysregulation is part of the clinical picture. No prior polyvagal theory training required.
Can I use this in my evaluations right away?
Yes β that's exactly what it's designed for. The toolkit is organized as a clinical intake framework with clickable checklists, interview questions, and red flag indicators you can use in your next evaluation session.
What is the CERS Certification mentioned in the toolkit?
The CERS Certification (Certified Emotional Regulation Specialist) is the full clinical training that addresses every driver in this toolkit β covering polyvagal theory, sensory processing, interoception, sleep, nutrition, trauma, and more across 12 modules. It's AOTA Approved for 1.0 CEU. You can learn more at helpinghandstherapyresources.com/cers-certification.
What happens after I sign up?
You'll receive the toolkit in your inbox immediately. You'll also receive occasional emails from Helping Hands Therapy Resources with clinical resources, tools, and course updates. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Ready to Find What You've Been Missing?
Get the Free Toolkit β
Use It Tomorrow.
The complete 8-section ER assessment framework, 20 clinical red flags, and the scoring guide β free, delivered immediately.
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