While working as an occupational therapist and autism resource specialist in public schools, I was struck by how often students’ challenges in regulation skills impacted their academic and social participation, as well as their sense of well-being. I worked with learners to address sensory regulation differences, however, their emotional regulation, social cognition, executive functioning, and impulse control continued to stand in the way of their successes.
The solution was clear to me. Learners of all ages needed to be taught regulation competencies aligned to their developmental continuum and be given the opportunities to practice the skills in a safe and supportive environment. I developed an approach to address regulation in a systematic and pragmatic way. I named this approach “The Zones of Regulation.” The curriculum was first written as a capstone and went on to be published in 2011 by Think Social Publishing, Inc., selling over 300,000 copies worldwide. In 2024 I published The Zones of Regulation (R) Digital Curriculum, which represents the evolution and next phase of my life’s work.
Thank you for being part of our Zones Community!
Leah Kuypers
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.
An essential overview of The Zones of Regulation and the steps to implement it effectively in your setting.
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Leah earned a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Graduate Certificate in Autism, and a Master’s in Education from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She has practiced as an OT and specialist in school and clinical settings, specializing in regulation and social-emotional learning. Through this work, she was inspired to create The Zones of Regulation (Think Social Publishing, 2011) which has been enthusiastically received by educators, therapists, and parents around the world.
She enjoys providing training and consultations to parents, schools, and professionals by offering workshops on regulation and the Zones framework to groups locally, around the United States, and internationally. To date, over 300,000 copies of The Zones of Regulation book have been sold and the framework has been implemented in districts around the world to support students’ social emotional learning. On a personal note, Leah currently resides in Minneapolis, MN with her husband, son, and daughter. To have fun, Leah loves traveling, hiking, skiing and most anything outdoors.
Molly is not only the Operations Director at The Zones of Regulation, she is also Leah’s sister. She grew up in a family of educators, and has been involved in education in one way or another her entire life. Molly started her career as a teacher in elementary and middle schools and spent several years teaching adolescents. She also coached at all age-levels for 20 years. Molly has always been an advocate of teaching life skills through education and coaching to help young people learn how to apply self-awareness, self-management, and social skills for their future. She came on board with the company at the start of the business, being the second employee. She oversees the business operations and is integral to coordinating all The Zones of Regulation training opportunities. Molly holds an MA in Education, an Urban Education Certification, as well as a BS in Secondary Education. She currently resides in Minneapolis, MN with her husband and son.
Adam Berkin started his career as a classroom teacher working in elementary and middle schools in New York City and Massachusetts. He also taught pre-service teachers at Bank Street College of Education. After being in the classroom for several years, he moved into educational publishing, working for a range of publishers including Scholastic, Curriculum Associates, Pearson Education, and Time for Kids. As Director of Education at The Zones of Regulation, Adam develops Zones curriculum materials, oversees strategic partnerships, and helps to ensure the fidelity and rigor of our curriculum and professional development materials and programs. Adam lives in Arlington, MA with his wife and two sons.
Emily Walz is a licensed Special Education Teacher (M.S.Ed- Special Education LD/EBD/DCD) with 15 years of teaching experience working with unique learners in New York City and the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area. In her teaching career she has worked predominantly with elementary and middle school learners with special needs in both resource/inclusion and self-contained settings and has come to specialize in social emotional learning. Emily has held the role of school-based Social Emotional Learning Coordinator and is deeply passionate about the impact that SEL instruction has on equity and inclusion in schools. In her role at The Zones of Regulation, Emily is primarily working toward developing resources and capacity around implementing The Zones schoolwide as well as training and consulting with schools and districts in the U.S and abroad. She lives on a sunny corner in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two sons.
Annie brings a wealth of experience as a school psychologist, researcher, and evaluator to her role as the Director of Research & Impact. Before joining The Zones of Regulation, she served as a Research Scientist at the University of Minnesota, where she led research and evaluation efforts in school mental health and social-emotional learning. Annie began her career as a school psychologist, where she utilized The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum extensively in her practice. She is passionate about advancing learners’ well-being through social-emotional learning. In her role, Annie focuses on advancing evaluation efforts and building research partnerships to assess the quality and impact of The Zones of Regulation.
Hannah Money brings over 10 years of graphic design experience to the Zones team. She started as a part-time contractor, and quickly moved into a full-time position. She has learned so much about the education world, and her passion for The Zones and its mission has continued to grow. As the Lead Graphic Designer, Hannah has been involved in projects including the logo and graphics design, updating branding materials, creating resources, and ensuring The Zones of Regulation is a cohesive and recognizable brand. She is excited to be a part of this amazing team helping The Zones continue to grow.
Elizabeth Sautter, M.A. CCC, is a licensed speech and language pathologist and social-emotional coach. She is the co-owner of Communication Works, a private practice offering speech, language, and social support in California. She is the author of Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick and developer of Make it Stick Parenting, an online course for parents of neurodivergent children (elizabethsautter.com). Elizabeth works closely with the Zones of Regulation team as a Collaborative Trainer and has co-authored The Zones of Regulation Storybook Series and games.
April 2023
The Nuts and Bolts of The Zones of Regulation
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November 2021
Fostering Self-Regulation & Emotional Control with Zones
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November 2021
The Zones of Regulation: How to Help Kids Manage Strong Emotions
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October 2020
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June 2020
How To Get Your Child To Talk About Their Feelings Instead Of Acting Out Or Shutting Down
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