Clinical Terms

Coping Skills

Strategies a person uses to manage stress and difficult emotions in healthier, more sustainable ways.

Coping skills are the strategies a person uses to manage stress, difficult emotions, and hard situations. Some are quick tools for the moment (a grounding exercise, slow breathing); others are bigger lifestyle anchors (rest, movement, connection). Therapy often helps people notice which coping skills are already working, build new ones, and gently let go of the ones that have stopped serving them.

This glossary is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about your mental health, please speak with a licensed professional.