Mental Health Professionals

The Grump Meter: A Mindfulness Tool

The Grump Meter helps people find a space between the stimulus—the trigger—and the response—a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Through active listening and conversation with the Grump Meter, people may become aware that they have lost space between the stimulus and response, or they need a bigger space. Mental health professionals often describe the Grump Meter as a mindfulness tool.

 School counselors, therapists, caseworkers, and psychiatrists use the Grump Meter to:

• address social-emotional learning
• work with anger management and coping skills
• help clients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and suicide prevention

You can use the grump meter interactively to:

• practice mindful awareness of feelings--asking “What color are you on?”
• track feelings, using color as a conversation starter.
• assess the intensity of feelings and risk of harm through discussing the color someone is on
• create safe environments for open conversations—when people name the color they’re on, we don’t have to guess and “walk on eggshells.”
• empower children and teens to describe intense moments, feelings, and moods through color
• create interaction, cooperation, and reflection by making Grump Meters and more, integrating art, play, and material textures to use, view, and share.
• empower children/teens to take leadership in their families by using and teaching the Grump Meter.
• stay focused--keep your eye on the ball—check on rapid changes of feeling using the Grump Meter throughout the day.
• develop emotional regulation through the language of color—practice identifying triggers, body cues, feelings, & tools to help oneself & others
• stay focused on Blue!
• find connection, compassion, caring, and community through new conversations.

• We coach and lead trainings and professional development

for mental health professionals.