Frequently Asked Questions

TEG-Blue makes emotional patterns visible. It maps what the nervous system is actually doing — in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the systems around us — so we can see what was previously invisible. The framework is built on a simple premise: emotion is biological information, and when we learn to read it, everything from personal relationships to organizational dynamics becomes clearer. TEG-Blue synthesizes 145+ theoretical contributions from 41 research traditions across 24 scientific domains into interactive tools and educational content.

TEG-Blue was created by Anna Paretas-Artacho, an independent researcher and systems designer based in Barcelona, Spain. The framework is the result of years of cross-disciplinary research synthesizing neuroscience, psychology, and systems thinking into an accessible emotional intelligence system. Anna has published validation research on Zenodo with a registered ORCID iD (0009-0005-2394-7162).

TEG-Blue uses a gradient-based model rather than categories — people move along a continuous spectrum, not into fixed boxes. The framework is built on the principle that "state determines capacity" — what someone can perceive, feel, think, and do depends on their nervous system state, not their character or intelligence. It offers a dual-lens approach (understanding yourself AND others) and combines scientific rigor with accessible language.

Yes. TEG-Blue integrates established theories including polyvagal theory (Stephen Porges), attachment theory, neuroscience, and dual-process cognition. The framework has been validated through a published computational study of 10,000+ natural conflict narratives, pre-registered on OSF (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19472342). Key finding: de-escalators showed 78% higher complexity marker rates than escalators, suggesting self-awareness predicts whether individuals return to safety or escalate when challenged. All content is systematically cross-referenced with peer-reviewed literature. You can explore the full research foundations at teg-blue.org.

This is the core insight of TEG-Blue: what someone can perceive, feel, think, and do depends on where their nervous system lands at any given moment — not on their character, intelligence, or intentions. When the nervous system perceives safety, more capacity is available. When threat is perceived, capacity narrows. Understanding this helps explain why the same person can behave so differently in different situations.

The Inner Compass maps nervous system states along a gradient: Connection (teal) — safety perceived, open, relational, full empathy; Protection (yellow) — threat perceived, defensive but recoverable; Control (orange) — chronic threat managed through others, strategic behavior; Domination (pink) — power as only safety, empathy offline. These are states anyone can occupy, not fixed personality types.

TEG-Blue has three core components: 1) Inner Compass — maps the four nervous system modes; 2) Mapping System — 12 levels explaining how patterns form, scale, and restore; 3) Emotional Tools — practical instruments for pattern recognition (scales, flags, clarifiers).

The components answer different questions: Inner Compass asks "Where am I/they right now?" The Mapping System explains "Why am I/they here?" The Emotional Tools help with "What can I do / what should I expect?" Together, they provide complete emotional intelligence — recognizing patterns, understanding origins, and knowing what's relationally possible.

The 12 levels progress through four arcs: Individual (L1-3) covers the four-mode gradient, ego-persona formation, and inner layers; Systemic (L4-7) explains how patterns become collective — invisible rules, worth filters, bias architecture, and how protection becomes harm; Repair (L8-10) covers return pathways, neurodivergence, and generational bridges; Integration (L11-12) addresses paradoxes and the two information systems (somatic vs cognitive).

The tools are organized by what you need: Feelings Exploration (Feelings Navigator, Inner Compass Tool); Discernment & Clarifiers (3 Types of Emotional Hurt, Hurt vs Harm, Honest Self-Love, Emotional Maturity Signals, How Anger Works). More tools are in development.

The scientific layer — including theoretical foundations, F1-F12 frameworks, and research methodology — lives on teg-blue.org, our open science site. The .com site focuses on practical tools and application; teg-blue.org is for researchers, academics, and anyone who wants to examine the evidence.

Yes — health is mobility, not position. A well-regulated nervous system moves fluidly through states as circumstances change. Getting stuck in any mode is the problem. The framework helps identify where you tend to get stuck and why, which is the first step toward greater flexibility and choice.

Start with the Start Here page for a quick orientation. From there, most people begin with the free tools (Honest Self-Love, Emotional Maturity Signals) to experience the framework practically. Then explore the Inner Compass to understand the four modes, before going deeper into the Map Levels.

No. TEG-Blue is designed for non-linear exploration. You can start wherever feels most relevant to your current questions. The Inner Compass is good for immediate self-location; the Tools are good for practical pattern recognition; the Map Levels are good for understanding why patterns exist. The Circuit Board ties everything together with your personal data.

Several tools and resources are always free: Honest Self-Love, Emotional Maturity Signals, Map Level 1 (The Emotional Gradient), all hub pages with summaries and overviews, the About and Contact pages, and all legal pages. This gives you a real taste of the framework before deciding on deeper access.

If you're understanding where you are right now: use the Inner Compass Tool. If you're confused about whether something was harmful: try 3 Types of Emotional Hurt or Hurt vs Harm. If you're wondering whether something is confidence or arrogance: try Honest Self-Love. The Emotional Tools hub page shows all tools organized by what you need.

Yes. Professionals (therapists, coaches, HR practitioners) typically start with Full Access for all practical tools and content. For research-level depth — including clinical framing, F1-F12 frameworks, and methodology — visit teg-blue.org, our open science site designed for researchers and academics.

Emotional tools aren't something you binge — you reach for them when life gets hard. Monthly subscriptions create a "I'm paying but not using it" guilt cycle. Yearly access lets you pay once and use it when you need it, without pressure or shame about how often you log in.

There are three tiers: Essentials (€39/year — all emotional tools), Explorer (€49/year — Essentials + Inner Compass pages), and Full Access (€59/year — Explorer + all 12 Map Levels). Each tier includes everything from the one before it.

Yes. You can upgrade at any time, and your payment will be prorated for the remaining time in your current billing cycle.

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.). Payments are processed securely — we never store your full card details. All prices are in Euros (EUR).

For annual subscriptions: prorated refund within 30 days if you haven't substantially used the platform. For Founding Supporter: refundable within 14 days if you haven't accessed premium content. Monthly subscriptions (if offered): no refunds for partial months. We want you to feel confident in your purchase.

While we don't have formal discount codes, several free tools are always available (Hurt vs Harm, Accountability Scale, Maturity Signals, Filter of Worth). All hub pages are free too. TEG-Blue is built by one person, and pricing keeps the work alive, not to lock people out.

Contact us directly for organizational needs. We can discuss options for teams, educational institutions, or professional practices that want to integrate TEG-Blue into their work.

Starter tier and above include: Bookmarks (save pages and tools), Personal Notes (journal reflections), Progress Tracking (document your journey), Assessments (save tool results), and Patterns Library (track personal patterns over time). These features help you build a private record of your exploration.

Currently, notes and assessments are stored within your account for your ongoing use. Export functionality is on our development roadmap. For now, you can copy text from your saved notes for personal use.

Yes. Your bookmarks, notes, assessments, and patterns are private to your account. No one else — including TEG-Blue staff — can see your personal reflections or tool responses without your explicit consent. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Your account data is retained for 2 years after deletion in case you want to return. If you'd like your data deleted immediately, you can request this through your account settings or by contacting us. See the Privacy Policy for full data retention details.

Yes. Your account works across all your devices — desktop, tablet, phone. Just log in with the same email, and your bookmarks, notes, and progress will sync automatically.

We collect: account information (email, display name), payment info (processed through Stripe — we don't store card details), tool responses and assessments you save, usage data (pages visited, features used), and device information (browser, OS). We only collect what's necessary to provide and improve the service.

We use industry-standard encryption for data transmission (HTTPS/TLS) and storage. Payments are handled by Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. We're based in the EU (Spain) and comply with GDPR requirements for data protection.

Only you. Your tool responses, Circuit Board inputs, notes, and patterns are private to your account. We don't sell or share personal data with third parties. Aggregated, anonymized data may be used for research and platform improvement.

TEG-Blue uses Supabase (a PostgreSQL-based service) for data storage and Vercel for hosting. Both are established providers with strong security practices. For any data transferred outside the EU, we use Standard Contractual Clauses as required by GDPR.

Yes. You can delete your account through your account settings. Under GDPR, you have the right to request complete deletion of your personal data. Some records (like payment history) must be retained for 7 years for tax compliance, but your personal content and tool responses can be fully deleted.

As we're based in Spain (EU), GDPR applies. You have the right to: access your data, correct inaccuracies, request deletion, restrict processing, data portability, object to processing, withdraw consent at any time, and lodge complaints with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). Contact us at hello@teg-blue.com to exercise these rights.

We use essential cookies for authentication (keeping you logged in) and analytics cookies to understand how the platform is used. Analytics data is aggregated and doesn't identify individuals. You can manage cookie preferences in your browser settings.

TEG-Blue works best on modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (latest versions). We recommend keeping your browser updated for the best experience and security.

Currently, TEG-Blue is a web-based platform accessible through any mobile browser. The site is fully responsive and works well on phones and tablets. A dedicated mobile app is something we're considering for the future.

TEG-Blue requires an internet connection to access content and save your progress. Offline access is not currently available but is on our consideration list for future development.

Contact us at hello@teg-blue.com with details about the issue, including what you were trying to do, what happened instead, and your browser/device information. Screenshots are helpful. We take technical issues seriously and respond as quickly as possible.

Yes. TEG-Blue is actively developed. Founding Supporters get access to all future content. For regular subscribers, new features within your tier are typically included in your subscription. Significant new components may be offered as upgrades.

The TEG-Blue framework and content are proprietary (Copyright Anna Paretas-Artacho). Some related tools and utilities may be shared on GitHub (github.com/emotionalblueprint). Content is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 for non-commercial sharing with attribution.

No. TEG-Blue is an educational system for understanding emotional patterns. It's built on nervous system science but is NOT a substitute for professional mental health care. It won't diagnose you, prescribe treatment, or provide crisis support. If you're struggling, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional.

No. TEG-Blue is educational — it helps you understand patterns and develop emotional literacy. It can complement therapy by giving you language and frameworks to discuss with your therapist, but it's not a replacement for professional support, especially for trauma, crisis, or mental health conditions.

TEG-Blue is not designed for crisis support. If you're in crisis, please contact a crisis hotline, go to your nearest emergency room, or reach out to a mental health professional. The content here is for educational exploration when you're in a stable enough state to reflect.

Some content discusses difficult topics: trauma, abuse dynamics, harmful relationship patterns, and emotional pain. We aim to present this compassionately but directly. If certain topics are triggering for you, please approach with care and consider working with a professional for support.

TEG-Blue can be useful for self-understanding, but it's not a treatment tool. If you have a mental health condition, we recommend using TEG-Blue alongside professional care, not instead of it. Some content may be more or less relevant depending on your situation.

TEG-Blue names patterns, not people. Recognizing that you've operated from Control or Domination doesn't make you a bad person — it means your nervous system found those strategies necessary at some point. Awareness is the first step toward different choices. The framework keeps the door open for everyone willing to see honestly.

Yes — the dual-lens approach (You/They) is designed exactly for this. Understanding where someone else is on the gradient helps clarify what's relationally possible: what to expect, what boundaries are needed, and what return to baseline looks like from here.

Yes, with appropriate licensing. If you want to formally integrate TEG-Blue tools into your practice, review the licensing information on the Legal page or contact us to discuss professional licensing options.

Content is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 for non-commercial use with attribution. For professional/commercial use (sharing in paid sessions, workshops, or courses), you'll need appropriate licensing. Contact us to discuss your specific use case.

TEG-Blue has published validation research (available on Zenodo) and is built on established clinical theories (polyvagal theory, attachment theory, etc.). However, it's an educational framework, not a diagnostic or treatment tool. Practitioners should use their professional judgment about how to integrate it into their work.

Yes! Visit teg-blue.org for research collaboration opportunities. If you're a researcher interested in validating, extending, or studying the TEG-Blue framework, we welcome partnerships.

Currently, TEG-Blue is self-guided through the platform. Professional training programs are something we're exploring for the future. Sign up for the Substack newsletter to be notified about professional development opportunities.

Yes. The framework explicitly addresses neurodivergence — Map Level 9 focuses on "Neurodivergence & Emotional Evolution." The gradient approach avoids rigid categories, recognizing that neurodivergent nervous systems may process and express emotions differently. The framework validates all nervous system expressions as meaningful information.

TEG-Blue recognizes that baseline positions and escalation pathways vary. Some nervous systems run "hot" (quicker to protection mode), some have narrower windows of tolerance, and some process social cues differently. The framework focuses on understanding your nervous system as it is, not measuring against a neurotypical standard.

We aim to provide multiple entry points: visual tools (Interactive Compass), written explanations at different depths, practical instruments (scales, clarifiers), and progressive disclosure (you can go as deep as you need). If you have specific accessibility needs, contact us — we want to improve.

TEG-Blue is designed for adults (16+ per our Terms of Service). Some content discusses mature themes including trauma and relationship dynamics. Parents or guardians should use their judgment about whether the content is appropriate for younger users.