Emotional regulation is a key focus of many NDIS Behaviour Support Plans. Difficulties regulating emotions can contribute to behaviours of concern such as aggression, withdrawal, self-injury, or heightened anxiety. Positive Behaviour Support addresses emotional regulation by identifying both the internal and external factors that influence how a person experiences and expresses emotions.
Under the NDIS, emotional regulation strategies are not one-size-fits-all. What supports one individual may not be effective for another. Behaviour Support Practitioners work to understand how a person recognises emotions, communicates distress, and responds to changes in routine or environment.
Effective emotional regulation strategies often include proactive supports rather than reactive responses. These may involve predictable routines, visual supports, sensory adjustments, communication tools, and skill-building approaches that help individuals recognise and manage emotional responses before distress escalates.
For adolescents and adults, emotional regulation strategies may focus on self-awareness, coping mechanisms, and structured problem-solving. For individuals living with dementia, strategies often centre on environmental familiarity, reassurance, and reducing sources of confusion or discomfort.
Within NDIS Positive Behaviour Support, emotional regulation strategies are documented clearly within Behaviour Support Plans and shared with support networks to ensure consistency. When implemented correctly, these strategies reduce distress, improve wellbeing, and support greater participation in everyday activities while maintaining dignity and respect.