Emotional Wellness: Practical Strategies and Clinical Interventions For Emotional Health

Thrive • October 31, 2022
By Thrive Wellness Reno Outpatient Clinical Lead & Therapist Lynn Carver, LCSW

By allowing individuals to face adverse circumstances with resilience, emotional wellness influences overall quality of life. Overlapping with mental and physical health, emotional wellness also impacts general well-being. When a person’s emotional health is suffering, mental health therapy can help them process their pain, manage their emotions, and develop skills for lasting emotional wellness. 

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL WELLNESS?

Emotional wellness is the ability to handle stress , adapt to change, and prevail through difficult times. A state of being, emotional wellness can ebb and flow. Those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) , trauma , and mental or physical illness are more at risk for acute emotional struggles, such as emotional dysregulation , which coincides with many mental and behavioral health disorders. Additional factors that can deteriorate emotional wellness include: 

STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

By focusing on bettering the fundamental elements of one’s life, a person can promote emotional wellness and protect against prolonged periods of emotional pain. 

Ways to support emotional wellness include:

These strategies for improving emotional health may seem simple, but depending on the intensity, frequency, and duration of a person’s emotional suffering, the process may be more complex and require deep therapeutic work.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EMOTIONAL WELLNESS 

The mind, body, and emotions are interrelated . Unfortunately, this means that a person can become stuck in a negative feedback loop that propels their overall health into a downward spiral. However, changing any one factor — whether it’s one’s thoughts, body sensations, or emotional outlook —  can stop the downward spiral and promote wellness.

Some examples of this include: 

  • Changing one’s thought patterns from catastrophizing to describing without judgment can settle the mind, emotions, and body sensations 
  • Engaging in an activity that elicits positive emotions can evoke positive thoughts and body sensations
  • Using distress tolerance skills that encourage acceptance of undesirable circumstances can calm one’s body sensations, emotions, and thoughts

Professional mental health support can guide individuals in implementing these shifts and advancing their emotional health. 

WHEN TO SEEK CLINICAL SUPPORT FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH 

If a person is experiencing depression , anxiety , or difficulties adjusting to loss or change, they may benefit from attending therapy, which can help foster their emotional wellness. Additional signs that a person’s emotional health could benefit from clinical treatment include experiencing periods lasting two or more weeks of:

Similarly, a person may benefit from professional help for emotional health if they find it difficult to:

  • Create and maintain healthy relationships
  • Hold a job or attend school
  • Keep oneself and others safe 
  • Leave their house
  • Manage their anger

TREATMENT TO SUPPORT EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Emotional pain is an inevitable part of life, but persistent emotional suffering can be improved or eliminated through therapeutic support. 

Treatment modalities for emotional struggles include:

  • Individual psychotherapy: Traditional talk therapy that involves a single client and their therapist.
  • Family psychotherapy: Therapy that involves a family and therapist. 
  • Group psychotherapy: A therapist-led group of individuals facing similar mental or behavioral health struggles. 
  • Psychotropic medication management: Medication prescribed to the client to help with their mood, often implemented alongside mental health therapy. 
  • Skills coaching : An intervention that emphasizes the integration of practical strategies and can involve real-time coaching from the therapist outside of regular sessions.  
  • Substance abuse treatment: A specialized form of therapeutic support that helps individuals who struggle with addiction. 
  • Occupational therapy : A practice that helps empower individuals to participate in meaningful daily activities by teaching them different types of skills.
  • Recreational therapy: A modality that leverages therapeutic recreational experiences .

EMOTIONAL HEALING AT THRIVE

Our multidisciplinary specialists are skilled in a variety of therapeutic interventions for treating emotional struggles and any associated mental or behavioral health conditions. By approaching client care in a way that accounts for the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and emotions, our clinicians work to help individuals achieve holistic healing. To learn more about our outpatient therapy services for mental and behavioral health, reach out

About the Author

Thrive Wellness Reno Outpatient Clinical Lead & Therapist Lynn Carver, LCSW

Lynn Carver, LCSW, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She is an intensively-trained dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapist and is also trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), child-centered play therapy (CCPT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) modalities. Lynn is also an experienced DBT educator who has trained clinicians, line staff, families, local agencies, and multiple army bases across the nation.

Her experience spans all levels of care — outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, and residential — and also includes supervising clinical interns, serving in various leadership roles within agencies, and teaching undergraduates in the school of social work at UNR by Letter of Appointment (LOA). In addition to her traditional career experience, Lynn has provided pro-bono services through the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) and various community-oriented organizations.

Lynn specializes in treating children and adults with borderline personality features, trauma histories and behavioral concerns, and eating disorders as well as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and attachment issues. Her passion is helping clients create a life worth living unique to them by partnering with them to identify and reduce behaviors that interfere with their quality of life. She strives to help individuals and families learn, practice, and build mastery around more effective responses to emotional pain. In every endeavor, she is committed to continually acknowledging and advocating for the unconditional worth and value of all people.

Outside of work, Lynn enjoys being a grandmother to five granddaughters and one grandson. She loves spending time at the beach and her personal favorite quote is “Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer,” by best-selling author and marketing executive Scott Stratten.

Download our free wellness guide.

Discover the power of small, sustainable changes with "How to Thrive: 10 Simple Habits for Healthy Living." This guide offers practical, easy-to-follow habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
November 14, 2025
The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
November 11, 2025
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 The first 50 people to return their donations will receive a complimentary ornament gift!  Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
More Posts

Start your healing journey today

NEXT STEPS

Are you ready to find hope? We can't wait to connect you with the care you need. To get started with us, please reach out using the link below.   

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →