1️⃣ Facial Expressions
Facial expressions are one of the first ways humans communicate.
You can teach this using:
🪞 Mirror Work
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Ask learners to look in a mirror.
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Show a “happy” face.
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Show a “worried” face.
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Show a “confused” face.
Discuss:
What changes?
Eyebrows?
Mouth?
Eyes?
This builds emotional recognition.
2️⃣ Body Language
Sometimes the body shows emotions before words do.
Examples:
• Arms crossed → feeling defensive or unsure
• Head down → feeling sad
• Fidgeting → nervousness
• Stepping back → feeling unsafe
You can use:
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Role play
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Freeze-frame acting
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Silent demonstrations
Ask:
What do you think this person is feeling?
3️⃣ Gesture Communication
Gestures can support understanding.
Examples:
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Thumbs up 👍
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Hand on heart ❤️
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Open palms = safe
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Slow breathing hand motion
Teach workers to:
✔ Model calm gestures
✔ Avoid aggressive pointing
✔ Use open, welcoming posture
4️⃣ Emotion Cards
Instead of just word cards, use:
• Photo emotion cards
• Line drawings
• Emoji boards
• Colour-coded emotions
For example:
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Red = angry
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Blue = sad
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Yellow = happy
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Green = calm
Learners can point instead of speak.
5️⃣ Emotion Scales
Very powerful tool.
Use a 1–5 scale:
1️⃣ Calm
2️⃣ Slightly worried
3️⃣ Anxious
4️⃣ Very anxious
5️⃣ Overwhelmed
This helps people express feelings without long explanations.
You can also use:
• Thermometer visuals
• Traffic light system (Green / Amber / Red)
6️⃣ Movement-Based Learning
Some learners process emotions physically.
Try:
• Walking to the “emotion corner”
• Acting out scenarios
• Using soft objects to represent feelings
• Stretching exercises to show tension vs calm
Physical learning supports:
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Dyspraxia awareness
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Sensory learners
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Trauma-informed approaches
7️⃣ Art & Creative Expression
Some people cannot explain feelings verbally.
Use:
• Drawing emotions
• Colouring how you feel
• Music to describe mood
• Clay modelling
Ask:
What colour is your mood today?
8️⃣ Social Stories
Short, simple scenarios:
“When I feel worried, my heart beats fast.”
“When I feel overwhelmed, I can ask for a break.”
These help:
✔ Emotional regulation
✔ Autism support
✔ Predictability
✔ Self-advocacy
9️⃣ Video & Visual Learning
Use:
• Short clips of facial expressions
• Silent acting videos
• Body language examples
Pause and ask:
What do you notice?
What is the person feeling?
How can we respond kindly?
🔟 Sensory Awareness
Sometimes behaviour is sensory, not emotional.
Teach workers to ask:
Is this anxiety?
Or is this noise sensitivity?
Or is this overload?
Understanding this reduces mislabelling behaviour.
🌱 Helping People Express Emotions Safely
Teach:
• “I feel…” statements
• Break cards
• Safe word systems
• Communication passports
• Visual choice boards
For example:
Instead of shouting, teach:
“I need space.”
“I need quiet.”
“I am overwhelmed.”
🤝 Teaching Workers Emotional Intelligence
Workers need to:
✔ Notice non-verbal cues
✔ Slow down
✔ Lower their voice
✔ Match pace
✔ Stay regulated themselves
Co-regulation is powerful.
If staff are calm, service users feel safer.
🧩 Why This Matters in Your Training
This approach supports:
• Autism
• Learning disabilities
• Anxiety disorders
• Trauma survivors
• Non-verbal individuals
• Children and adults
It moves beyond “lecture only” and into practical skill-building.
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