How to Process Difficult Emotions for Returning Trainees (RTT21APR26)

In the context of returning to training, professional life in general, and personal life, it is normal to experience difficult emotions such as anxiety, frustration, disappointment, inadequacy, sadness and overwhelm. Yet many of us have not yet learned the most helpful ways to approach these feelings and they may linger, or we may end up reactive, drained or unable to function at our best.

This interactive course provides a safe environment in which you can explore your emotional world and discover what is helpful and what is not. You will learn how to recognise, regulate and process your emotions and you’ll be better able to respond in grounded and constructive ways. You’ll leave with a set of practical strategies and insights to apply when difficult emotions arise, as well as proactive approaches that reduce the likelihood of future turbulence.

You’ll also discover how emotions can be an ally, guiding wise decisions and helping you flourish in the long term.

This course will help you navigate the ups and downs of work and life. It supports your well-being, enhances cognitive capacity and increases your effectiveness in the workplace and beyond.

This training is approached with sensitivity and with care.

Booking courses

Please ensure that you check your availability before booking a place and add the booking to your diary / calendar. Please ensure that you also book the relevant study leave in advance with your employer.

Please refrain from booking multiple instances of the same course or course type to ensure that places are available to your colleagues. If a course is full, please add yourself to the waiting list and you will receive a notification if a place becomes available.

Joining Instructions

This is a virtual course, the joining instructions for the virtual meeting will be added to the documents section (above) before the course. Please ensure that you are able to access this before the course so that you are ready to join on the day.

Booking cancellation

Participants must make every effort to attend courses they have booked. If your availability changes after booking, please cancel your place through Maxcourse as soon as possible. This will release the place for colleagues on the waiting list.

If you need to cancel within 1 week of the course or the course has started and you are not able to attend, please email england.lsfdcourses.yh@nhs.net to give your apologies.

This course is restricted to trainee doctors and dentists who are taking time out of training or who have returned to training within the last 3 months. IMG trainee doctors may also attend within their first 6 months of working within the NHS. (IMG = International Medical Graduate.) Please only book if you meet these criteria.

Mandatory: Dentist, or Doctor, or Public Health Professional

Learn how to process difficult emotions in healthy and constructive ways, so you can enjoy more calm, clarity and wisdom, for your return to training and for your work and life more broadly.

 • Recognising unhelpful reactions to difficult emotions • Regulating your system • Meeting and processing difficult emotions • Seeing emotions as a compass • Reflecting and responding constructively • Establishing preventative approaches and building greater emotional awareness over time

 After attending this course, attendees will be able to: • Disentangle from common patterns of response to difficult emotions that exacerbate stress • Reduce emotional reactivity, spiralling thoughts and stuckness • Recognise that emotions are normal and contain valuable feedback • Create steadiness when agitated or overwhelmed • Meet, feel and process emotions with mindful presence and compassion • Find the space between emotions, thinking and impulses • Experience more balance and clarity • Reflect and respond constructively when difficult emotions arise • Use emotions as helpful guidance in work and life • Cultivate proactive habits that reduce emotional turbulence