Creekside Blog
Creekside Collaborative Therapy, PLLC is a trauma-informed group private practice with an office in Greenwood Village, Colorado (telehealth services are also available). We are a multidisciplinary practice of therapists, prescribers (PMHNP’s), and interns who provide high quality mental health services to clients in the Denver metro area and beyond.
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Creekside Collaborative Therapy
6000 Greenwood Village Blvd #105,
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Benefits of Journaling for Mental Health - Kiana Portillo - May 28th 2025
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A coping skills toolbox is a collection of resources and strategies for assisting with self-soothing and management of difficult emotions during challenging or stressful situations.
Whether it be a physical box to hold tools or as simple as a notes page on your smart phone, gathering a collection of resources and strategies to have all in one place can make all the difference in a moment of high stress, anxiety, sadness, or even anger.
The benefits of a coping skills toolbox include:
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Easy accessibility
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Increased sense of empowerment & control
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Increased self-awareness
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Increased emotional regulation (present and future)
Oftentimes when emotions are high, the last thing our brains feel ready to do is use our critical thinking skills and working memory to recall coping mechanisms that might work and choose one to utilize. By putting them all in one spot, or box, we can take away that challenge for our stressed brains and provide an easy way to take a sustainable, healthy path towards regulation.
Here is a step by step guide to make your own coping skills toolbox and have fun doing it:
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Find a container. It can be a shoe box, a plastic tub, a cardboard box... The options are endless!
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Brainstorm coping strategies. Make a list of activities or items that might help you feel calm and regulated– think about what has worked for you in the past, ask your loved ones for ideas, and maybe do some online research.
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Gather a wide range and variety of tools. Some of the best types of coping skills to integrate include: a. Sensory items (stress balls, putty, fidgets, ice/heat packs, mints, sour candies, lotions, essential oils) b. Distracting activities (puzzles, coloring pages, books, movies, headphones to listen to music, a journal) c. Relaxation techniques (breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, journaling prompts, stretching guides, guided meditation) d. Safe supportive people (make a list of their names and maybe even phone numbers) e. Affirmations (write them down on a notecard) f. Things that make life purposeful and worth living (you can include photos, written reminders, or any tokens that remind you of people, places, and things you love)
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Decorate your toolbox (optional but recommended for the sake of fun and creativity)
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Store it somewhere easily accessible
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Practice regularly!!​
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