The Opposite Affect technique in Balance Psychotherapy invites clients to bring awareness to a difficult emotion or bodily sensation — such as fear, shame, or anger — and then to gently introduce its opposite quality as a way of restoring inner balance. Instead of trying to eliminate distress, we create space for a new, regulating experience to emerge alongside it. For example, fear may be balanced by courage, harshness by kindness, or chaos by calm. This process activates the body’s natural capacity for regulation and integration, helping the client move from overwhelm toward wholeness. The opposite affect is not forced; it is sensed — a felt quality that opens the door to healing, spaciousness, and self-compassion.

🍃 www.balance-psychotherapy.org🍃 Emotional Regulation Therapy Journal - Balance & Clarity Series by Kasia Makuch-Cole also available on Amazon.