EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE LAB
IN a world where children are navigating increasing emotional overwhelm, social pressure, anxiety, sensory overload, and disconnection —
Emotional Education is no longer optional.
It is foundational.
IF YOU'RE HERE,
YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE...
• Experiencing big emotions or emotional outbursts
• Easily overwhelmed, sensitive, or reactive
• Finding it hard to regulate or self-soothe
• Navigating anxiety, shutdown, or frustration
• Stuck in patterns that feel hard to shift
• Neurodivergent abilities or sensory sensitive
• Struggling with school, friendships, or transitions
• Lacking confidence, self-trust, or emotional language
• Or simply you're choosing to support and advance their Emotional Development.
No matter what is occurring in your child's world, they don't need to be fixed.
They need to be met, understood, and supported as the unique human they are. That's what we do at The Emotional Intelligence Lab.
This is not about shaping children to fit a system, thats not currently supporting their emotional needs.
It’s about helping them understand their inner world — and giving them the tools to move through life with confidence, regulation, resilience and self-trust.
WHY THIS HAPPENS
Children are not born knowing how to regulate their emotions.
They learn through experience, environment, and guidance.
When emotional experiences aren’t understood or supported, they can show up as:
• behaviour
• overwhelm
• shutdown or reactivity
• disconnection
What looks like behaviour is often a nervous system response that they haven't yet developed understanding or communication for. That's where we come in...
WHAT DOES THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE LAB OFFER YOUR CHILD?
The Emotional Intelligence Lab supports the development of children's internal world — the emotional awareness and regulation that sits underneath behaviour, learning, and connection.
To:
• understand what they’re feeling
• regulate their nervous system
• express themselves safely through creativity, movement and play
• build confidence and self-trust
• communicate emotions and feelings more effectively
• develop resilience and emotional awareness
When this foundation is built early, everything else becomes easier:
relationships, learning, communication, and self-identity.
Not sure where to begin?
We’ll guide you to the most supportive pathway for your child.
HOW THIS WORKS
The Emotional Intelligence Lab is guided through creative exploration — the way children naturally discover, process, explore and express.
Each session follows a gentle structure, while allowing space for each child to move in their own way. It's built on safety, understanding and respect of the child's individual processing styles/needs.
Within a term, children explore themed experiences designed to support emotional development, regulation, and self-awareness.
Sessions may include:
• creative exploration (art, building, movement, play)
• simple nervous system regulation tools (focused breath-work, calming music, time in nature)
• emotional awareness through guided prompts
• group connection and shared experiences
• reflection through language, imagination, and curiosity
For children, the space feels creative, playful, and exploratory - like a creative lab— while building real-life emotional skills beneath the surface. No two children experience it the same way — but each child is supported to build confidence, resilience, and self-trust over time.
WHAT CHANGES, WHAT DEVELOPS
Children begin to:
• regulate more easily
• express and communicate emotions instead of acting them out
• feel safer within themselves - less anxiety
• build confidence, independence and self awareness
• communicate more clearly
• respond rather than react
• develop change resilience
• develop connection and relateability with peers
• learn how to protect their space, thoughts and needs whilst respecting others
Parents often notice:
• less conflict, less behavioural outbursts
• school life improving - academically, more focused, feeling safer, building friends, understanding themselves and school life more
• more calm in the home
• deeper understanding of their child's emotional needs and how to support them
• stronger connection and trust
• communication improves
WHERE THIS FITS IN YOUR CHILD’S LIFE
This work can sit alongside school, homeschooling, or other activities as a foundational layer of emotional development.
Some families begin early — supporting their child before or during the transition into school.
Others arrive when their child is already feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or disconnected.
Both are welcome.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This space is for ALL children.
It is the emotional development foundation every child deserves —
supporting and strengthening who they are, not shaping them into who they “should” be. Children do not learn Emotional Development safely from mainstream schooling, its not part of an Academic Curriculum and as parents, most of us weren't gifted a handbook or taught emotional development growing up. But we have the opportunity to now offer this to our children.
WHEN IS THE BEST AGE TO START?
Children can currently begin this work from around age 5 — especially as they prepare to enter school environments. This stage is incredibly formative.
Supporting emotional awareness and nervous system regulation early helps children navigate new environments with greater confidence, resilience, and stability.
From ages 5–12, children benefit from either:
• Group-based emotional development
• Or personalised 1:1 mentorship support
Group sessions operate in age-appropriate settings (typically 5–7, 8–9, 10–12).
For children experiencing emotional overwhelm or dysregulation, starting with one-on-one support is often the most supportive entry point before transitioning into group work.
For older children and teens, one-on-one support is available — please enquire to explore what this could look like.
PRICING AND ENTRY OPTIONS
Every child is different. The Emotional Intelligence Lab meets them where they are. Explore your options below and book a clarity call or apply.
GROUP LAB - ROLLING EDUCATION
Weekly group sessions designed to allow children time to arrive, regulate, explore, and develop emotional skills through creative and somatic facilitated experiences.
Best suited for:
• children who have basic emotional awareness and understanding
• children ready to learn in a group/peer setting
• building deeper emotional awareness and resilience
• developing confidence and social connection
• children navigating neurodivergent or sensory-sensitivities in school/home life
Ages: 5-12
Session length: 90 minutes
Group size: max. 6 children
Located: Climate Action Campus
180 Avonside Drive, Christchurch
Tuesday: 3.45 - 5.15pm (7-9 yrs) OPEN SPOTS!
Thursday: 3.45 - 5.15pm (5-6 yrs) OPEN SPOTS!
Saturday: 10.30-12.00pm & 12.30-2pm
(mixed ages) OPEN SPOTS!
Online group sessions - COMING SOON!
Join the waitlist for special founding member offers when you fill out the Application Form.
$35 per session
Rolling 8–10 week term enrolment.
Commitment is to the entire term.
Payment options:
• Pay in full (discounted from the start of the term)
• 2 Instalments over the term
• 4 Instalments over the term
• Afterpay available
1:1 MENTORSHIP - SUPPORT FIRST
Private sessions for children who need deeper, individualised support. A relational, tailored space working directly with your child’s emotional world.
Best suited for:
• emotional dysregulation or overwhelm
• anxiety, shutdown, or behavioural challenges
• neurodivergent or sensory-sensitive children
• children needing personalised support
1:1 Mentorship aims to transition into group work within a 6-18 session timeline. This is the foundational, healing space which leads into the group education space. 1:1 still follows the Term based commitment and the transition can be any time during the term.
Ages: 5–12
Session length: 60 minutes
Located: Both Online and in-person
Home based studio - Shirley Christchurch
Monday - Saturday various times that are available enquire within application form. (CURRENTLY THERE'S A WAITLIST.)
$55 per session
Weekly, term-based commitment
Payment options:
• Pay in full depending on recommended sessions
(discounted from the start of the term)
• 2- 4 Instalments over the term
• Pay weekly
• Afterpay available
FAMILY FOUNDATIONS - DEEPENING
For families needing support together.
Sessions support both parent and child to:
• understand behaviour at its root
• learn tools for regulation and communication
• reduce conflict and increase connection
• feel more supported at home
Parent + child sessions
See Family Foundations page for full details
PARENT FEEDBACK
“Absolutely life changing for our family. Our child is calmer, more confident, and we finally feel like we understand what’s going on and how to support them.”
Parent of 9 YR old Luke
STEP 1: BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY
CLARITY CALL OR APPLY HERE
Book a clarity call with Pera to determine whether The Emotional Intelligence Lab is the best fit for your child and family.
The application or call allows us to explore whether 1:1 Mentorship or Group Sessions might be the best place to start.
This is also an opportunity to ask any questions you might have.
Please note this is complimentary and there is no pressure to commit past this point.
STEP 2: ACCEPTED - YAY!
TWO SESSION STARTER PARK
All children commence their journey with a Two-Session Starter Pack. This is to introduce them to the space, the experience and their guide before committing to the full term. This is 1:1 with Pera allowing her to evaluate your child's current stage of Emotional Development and to confirm whether 1:1 or Group Sessions are the best place to start. At the end of the three sessions Pera will advise where to go from here and we begin our journey!
This is $90 for both sessions can be paid in full or per-session.
STEP 3: TERM JOURNEY BEGINS
To note: if 1:1 Mentorship was advised it generally works on a 6, 12 or 18 week rotation. The focus of 1:1 Mentorship is to provide deeper support and development to children needing foundational or specific guidance. This time allows Pera to focus solely on your child's needs before integrating them into Group Sessions - which are still intimate settings of no more than six children at a time.
If you are guided towards 1:1 Mentorship, Pera will inform you throughout as to when she believes your child is ready for Group integration - this is a marvellous moment!
Each Term follows a different Emotional Development theme and commitment rolls on a term by term basis.
Simple as that - watch your child flourish!
PROFESSIONAL NOTICE
Emotional Intelligence Lab is a developmental and integrative support service.
It is not a replacement for medical, psychiatric, or clinical psychological care.
This work complements — but does not replace — medical or therapeutic treatment.
By engaging in this container, you acknowledge responsibility for your child’s wellbeing and participation.
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