There are moments when emotions run high, and calming down in these moments isn’t always easy. This is especially true for clients who are still learning emotional regulation. Heart-focused breathing offers a simple, effective way to steady both the body and mind by combining slow breathing with emotional focus.
The Heart-Focused Breathing handout walks clients through a gentle practice that involves slow, steady breathing while focusing attention on the heart area. It offers tips on getting started and gives ideas on “heart feelings” to focus on, such as appreciation and compassion.
Practicing the technique helps kids and teens build an internal “pause button” they can use anytime stress or overwhelm kicks in. To turn this skill into a habit, they can pair one round of heart-focused breathing with a familiar moment, like right after waking up or before a test.
As confidence grows, they can personalize the practice: breathing to the rhythm of a favorite calm song or imagining their heartbeat as a soft drum.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of coping skills worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Eisenbeck, N., Luciano, C., & Valdivia-Salas, S. (2018). Effects of a focused breathing mindfulness exercise on attention, memory, and mood: The importance of task characteristics. Behaviour Change, 35(1), 54-70. https://doi.org/10.1017/bec.2018.9
- Tsakona, P., Kitsatis, I., Apostolou, T., Papadopoulou, O., & Hristara-Papadopoulou, A. (2025). The effect of diaphragmatic breathing as a complementary therapeutic strategy in stress of children and teenagers 6–18 years old. Children, 12(1), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12010059
