What began as one therapist’s response to the challenges she saw in clinical and classroom settings has grown into a globally embraced framework for emotional well-being. The Zones of Regulation® empowers learners, families, and communities with the tools and language of self-regulation — transforming how we understand, support, and connect with one another.
We see regulation not as a fixed trait, but as a learnable, shareable skill. That’s why The Zones focuses not only on individual strategies, but also on the environments and relationships that support them.
We’re proud to be The Regulation Skills Experts™ but more than that, we’re proud to be part of a community helping people grow emotionally, socially, and meaningfully.
We believe that regulation is essential for leading a healthy and meaningful life. At The Zones of Regulation, we empower learners of all ages to understand the full range of their feelings, as well as explore tools and strategies to support their well-being.
The Zones of Regulation is a comprehensive, evidence-based framework that builds emotional and behavioral regulation skills through a lens of inclusion, accessibility, and science.
Grounded in cognitive behavioral theory and designed with real-world application in mind, The Zones gives learners of all ages — and their support networks — a common language and set of tools for understanding and managing emotions.
Feelings are complicated. They come in different sizes, intensities, and levels of energy that are unique within our brains and bodies. To make them easier to talk about, think about, and regulate, The Zones of Regulation organizes our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four colored Zones – Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red.
The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them. We learn to regulate our Zones to meet our goals and task demands, as well as support our overall well-being.
The Zones supports everyone, including neurodivergent learners, by fostering awareness, resilience, and meaningful connection.
The Zones of Regulation was created by Leah Kuypers, MA Ed., OTR/L, an occupational therapist and educator passionate about bridging the gap between brain science and daily life. While working in schools and clinical settings, Leah consistently saw the same two-fold issue arising. On one end, learners struggled to navigate big emotions without clear support while adults struggled to help the learners without clear strategies.
She envisioned a framework that could teach the how of regulation — building awareness, offering tools, and encouraging a shared understanding.
Leah began developing The Zones framework in 2008, drawing on her expertise in occupational therapy, education, and neuroscience. Today, Leah leads a growing team of trainers, content creators, and community builders, all committed to empowering regulation for all.
Meet Leah
Whether you’re a parent, educator, therapist, or administrator, you play a powerful role in building a world where emotional regulation is understood, valued, and taught.
Explore how you can bring The Zones of Regulation into your community:
