What is Shape of Emotion?

Shape of Emotion is a model, process and tool of how we structure, store, represent and regulate our inner feeling states.

A model, process and tool for emotion regulation and emotional fitness

Shape of Emotion is a model, process and tool of how we structure, store, represent and regulate our inner feeling states. It is a way to gently and easily release stuck emotions that can lead to depression, anxiety, increased stress and physical illness. Regular practice of Shape of Emotion will build emotional fitness.*

Working at the intersection of mindfulness and affective science, 5th Place developed Shape of Emotion as one way to address the scale of the mental health problem that stands in the way of learning, potential and hope.

Working directly with the somatic feeling, Shape of Emotion allows for a return to a centred and resourceful state, with or without the intervention of another party.

Shape of Emotion can be used to down-regulate negative difficult emotions as well as up-regulate positive supportive emotions. It can be used by almost anyone of any age. The youngest person we have on record is 6 and the oldest is 77.

Shape of Emotion is safe, gentle and can be used on its own or as a complementary process to any other therapeutic, coaching or care-giving offering. The key differentiator, and why it is a tool for the times, is that Shape of Emotion can be used in groups.

* Building emotional fitness is a holistic process incorporating the 5 pillars of a 5th Place, namely: thinking, feeling, moving, nourishing and relating.

Why we chose to develop Shape of Emotion

In this video Chantal and Matthew discuss why they developed Shape of Emotion, offer an overview of what an Emotional Fitness Class is and also explain why you don't need to label or name your emotions in order to feel better.

Features of Shape of Emotion

  Content   free

There is no need to speak about or share is being felt or the reason why (e.g. traumatic event). No emotional vocabularly is needed

Evidence-based

It is underpinned by solid science and research

Teachable skill

Both adults and children can learn how to use it. It is easy enough for a first-timer to follow a guided session and get relief from their difficult emotions

Not faith based

It is not associated with any religion. It is inclusive of all people, and you don't have to believe in it, to make it work

Works in groups

Everyone working on their own individual emotions at a scale to match the size of the problem (the largest group to date has been 290)

As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…

—Hermes Trismegistus