What Does It Mean to Process Our Emotions?

As a coach, I’ve witnessed how transformative it can be for clients to process their emotions. This practice is about more than simply “feeling” something—it’s about honoring emotions as vital messages from within, guiding us toward a more authentic and balanced life.

In my own work, I draw on insights from teachers like Karla McLaren and the principles of somatic therapy.

I often remind clients that emotions are not problems to solve; they’re signals to acknowledge. Anger, for instance, often arises when our boundaries are crossed, while sadness invites us to grieve what we’ve lost. By tuning into these signals, we can begin to understand what our inner selves are trying to communicate.

McLaren’s approach resonates deeply with my work. She teaches us to approach emotions with curiosity and respect. I often ask clients to pause and explore: What is this emotion asking of you? This practice not only builds self-awareness but also empowers us to respond to challenges with intention rather than reactivity.

What I’ve found especially powerful is how our bodies hold these emotions.

Unprocessed feelings don’t just disappear—they settle into us, creating tension, pain, or even exhaustion. I encourage clients to notice where emotions show up physically. Is it a tightness in the chest? A heaviness in the shoulders? The next task is to release the energy of the emotion. This can happen through exercise, dance, boxing, or even vocal expression (think primal scream or singing). Releasing this pent-up energy allows expression of the emotion. Later, when we are calm again, we can begin to figure out how to communicate our emotions through language where appropriate. 

For me, helping clients process their emotions is about creating a safe space to integrate their feelings—not “fix” them. This work is deeply human. It’s about listening to what arises, allowing emotions to complete their natural cycle, and finding the resilience to move forward in healthy and resilient ways. When we embrace our emotions, we embrace the fullness of who we are—and that is where true growth begins.