Introduction to the Waterglass Analogy Course
By Ben Rea, LCSW
When you’re overwhelmed, it can feel like one small thing might send everything crashing down.
You’re holding it together—but barely. Work stress, parenting demands, health challenges, inner critics… and then someone forgets to text you back or leaves dishes in the sink, and you snap.
You’re not broken. You’re full.
That’s the heart of the Waterglass Analogy, a simple visual tool I created to help clients understand emotional load—and learn how to manage it with more compassion, clarity, and skill.
Now, this framework is available as a self-guided online course designed to support emotional regulation, stress resilience, and self-awareness.
What Is the Waterglass Analogy?
Imagine your nervous system as a glass of water. Each drop represents a stressor: a fight with your partner, a tough day at work, childhood wounds, traffic, shame, grief.
Most of us walk around with glasses already half—or completely—full.
When one more stressor hits the surface, it spills over—not because we’re weak or irrational, but because we’ve reached capacity.
This analogy helps you shift from blame (“Why am I like this?”) to awareness (“Oh, my glass is full.”). And that shift creates space for change.
What You’ll Learn in the Course
The Waterglass Analogy Course includes bite-sized lessons and reflection exercises that help you:
Identify what’s filling your glass
Learn how trauma, anxiety, or ADHD affect your threshold
Track when you’re nearing spillover
Build skills for emptying your glass (regulation techniques)
Use values-based action to create a sustainable rhythm
Set boundaries and recognize emotional patterns early
This course blends concepts from mindfulness, ACT therapy, trauma-informed care, and real-life practice from years of clinical experience.
Who This Course Is For
This course is for you if:
You’re a high-functioning adult who secretly feels on edge
You want tools that go deeper than quick fixes
You’re tired of overreacting, shutting down, or spiraling
You want a visual, accessible way to understand your emotions
You’re in therapy and want a structured resource between sessions
It’s also great for clinicians, teachers, or caregivers supporting others with big emotions.
Course Format + Access
Video Modules (watch at your own pace)
Downloadable Worksheets
Reflection Prompts
Optional journaling and mindfulness guidance
Lifetime access so you can return whenever you need a reset
Available now for purchase directly through my Waterglass Course Page
Start Simply
You don’t need to be less emotional. You just need to understand what fills you—and how to care for yourself through it.
Whether you're doing personal healing, parenting with stress, or managing mental health challenges, this course gives you the language and tools to take a new kind of ownership.
Contact me if you’d like to learn more
Call 805-903-2604 for professional support
Your emotional load doesn’t have to spill. You can hold it—with strength, grace, and support.
