Shrinkle #18 · Body and stress · 6 letters
Window of tolerance
The zone where you can feel strong emotions and still think and cope. Above it you may feel panicky or on edge; below it you may feel numb, flat or shut down.
In the room
A therapist might help a client notice early signs they are leaving that zone, and gently widen it over time with calming skills.
Something a client might say
“Once my heart started racing, I couldn't think straight or even talk.”
An illustrative line, not a real client.
Online vs in the room
Online, it is sometimes used to mean how much someone will put up with from other people. In therapy it describes the range of arousal where a person can feel emotions and still think clearly.
Where it comes from
The term was coined by psychiatrist Daniel Siegel.
Related ideas
Hyperarousal · Hypoarousal · Grounding
Made by Alembic Labs. Educational, not clinical advice.