Breathing exercises? No thanks - a nuanced take on coping skills

One of my favorite things about working with kids and teens is their brutal honesty, and nothing is more relatable than the face a kid makes when I mention the term “breathing exercises.” I’m right there with them - breathing exercises are often pitched as a magic solution to very real problems, and given there’s nothing magic about it. I would feel a little bit scammed by the notion as well, and anytime someone has told me to “take a deep breath” my inner teenager rolls her eyes too.