Affect Regulation

Often used interchangeably with the construct of emotion regulation, this term more accurately refers to a person’s capacity to adjust the intensity of their energy and emotions. The ability to increase or decrease physiological arousal enables a person to remain within a range that is conducive to daily functioning, or to make more pronounced shifts in energy level in response to situational demands. Exposure to complex trauma often undermines this capacity; bolstering it is a primary focus of complex trauma intervention.