Ep. 86 Emotional Health Tools for Educators with Dr. Melissa Ewing

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer welcomes back conference favorite Dr. Melissa Ewing, a PhD-trained clinical psychologist and professor at Dallas Baptist University with ministry experience and a passion for integrating scripture with brain science. They discuss why emotions can feel overwhelming, including generational messages about stuffing feelings, the amygdala's danger response, and the role of the prefrontal cortex in reasoning and impulse control. Dr. Ewing defines emotional regulation as recognizing, naming, expressing, and managing emotions, and explains how it supports mental health and relationships. She offers practical tools organized into four areas: renew your mind by replacing automatic negative thoughts with truth and scripture, refocus your heart through worship and gratitude, recharge your body with sleep, hydration, movement, and wise choices, and rest your spirit through Sabbath rhythms, boundaries, and reducing technology.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

02:22 Why Emotions Feel Bigger

09:24 What Emotional Regulation Means

11:28 Renew Mind and Refocus Heart

23:08 Summer Promo

26:42 Music and Boundaries

28:48 Grace at Work

31:23 Recharge Your Body

37:22 Rest and Wrap Up

We've added several tools here to help you:

Coping Skills Checklist