The concept of “emotional muscle” arose from clinical work in relation to therapeutic impasse and as a criterion for moving toward a “good goodbye. “It was applied to work at Allen Creek Preschool, a non-profit psychoanalytic school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, dedicated to the emotional and cognitive growth of families and their children from 0-6 years of age. The idea of building emotional muscle makes immediate intuitive sense to parents, children, teachers, therapists, and patients. It is a bridge between the abstract concepts and findings of developmental researchers and the everyday practicalities of family life, school, and the consulting room. The concept of “emotional muscle” promotes multidisciplinary understanding of personality structure and growth and contributes to the use of multi-modal therapeutic techniques.