Session 1 Discussion: Exploring Coping Skills

Purpose:
This discussion helps students reflect on experiences they’ve already had with coping skills, define what coping skills are, and rate their effectiveness. It connects directly to the Session 1 Lesson Plan and the Session 1 Coping Skills Introduction Worksheet.

1. Personal Experience Share (5 minutes)

Question: Think of a time in the past week when you felt stressed, upset, or overwhelmed. What did you do to feel better? Describe the situation and the strategy you used.

Follow-up Prompts:

• How did you notice your emotions changing before you tried that strategy?
• Did you try anything else? Why or why not?

2. Defining Coping Skills (3 minutes)

Question: Based on the examples we’ve shared, how would you define the term "coping skill" in your own words?

Follow-up Prompts:

• What makes it different from just having fun or relaxing?
• Can a coping skill ever be unhelpful? Why?

3. Selecting a Top Skill (5 minutes)

Question: Which coping skill mentioned so far do you think is the most helpful? Explain why you chose that one.

Follow-up Prompts:

• Have you ever rated it less helpful? What changed?
• How quickly did you notice the effect when you used it?

4. Rating and Reflection (5 minutes)

Question: Take one skill from your worksheet. Rate its helpfulness from 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful), and explain your rating.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What would make this skill more helpful next time?
• Would you try it again? Why or why not?

5. Looking Ahead (3 minutes)

Question: What is one new coping skill you’d like to try before our next session? Describe how you might use it in a real situation.

Follow-up Prompts:

• Where and when could you practice it this week?
• Who might support you in remembering to use it?

Wrap-Up:

• Summarize key words on the board (e.g., self-awareness, practice, rating).
• Reinforce that trying new skills takes practice, and it’s okay if some work better than others.
• Remind students to bring their reflections and ratings to the next session.

Session 1 Coping Skills Introduction Worksheet

Section 1: Identify Your Coping Skills

List three coping skills you have used in the past. For each skill, describe when and how you used it.

1. Skill 1: _________________________
   When I used it:

1. Skill 2: _________________________
   When I used it:

1. Skill 3: _________________________
   When I used it:

Section 2: Rate Your Skills

For each coping skill above, rate how helpful it was on a scale of 1 (not helpful) to 5 (very helpful). Then explain your rating.

1. Skill 1 (rating _____):
   Explanation:

1. Skill 2 (rating _____):
   Explanation:

1. Skill 3 (rating _____):
   Explanation:

Section 3: Reflection

Which coping skill was most helpful? Explain why it was effective and how it made you feel.

Section 4: Looking Ahead

What is one new coping skill you would like to try before our next session? Describe the skill and when/where you will practice it.

Session 2 Discussion: Reflecting on New Coping Strategies

Purpose:
This discussion builds on the Session 2 Lesson Plan and the Session 2 New Coping Strategies Worksheet. Students will reflect on trying a new strategy, share reactions to the guided practice, and plan next steps.

1. Checking In on Your New Skill (5 minutes)

Question: Last session, you picked one new coping strategy to try. Did you practice it this week? Describe what happened.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What was easy or challenging about using the strategy?
• How did it affect your stress or mood?

2. Choosing a Strategy to Explore (4 minutes)

Question: Looking back at all five strategies on the worksheet, which one appeals to you most now? Why?

Follow-up Prompts:

• Which feeling or situation might it help with?
• Have you ever tried something similar before?

3. Guided Practice Reflection (6 minutes)

Question: During our guided mindfulness grounding exercise, what sensations or thoughts did you notice?

Follow-up Prompts:

• What part was easiest to focus on? Most difficult?
• How did your body feel before versus after?

4. Real-Life Application (7 minutes)

Question: Think of a real situation (e.g., test anxiety, conflict with a friend) where your chosen strategy could help. Describe how you would use it step by step.

Follow-up Prompts:

• Where and when would you practice it first?
• Who could remind or support you?

5. Commitment and Next Steps (4 minutes)

Question: What is one specific time this week you will set aside to try your chosen coping skill? Write down the day, time, and place.

Follow-up Prompts:

• How will you know if it’s working?
• What will you do if it doesn’t go as planned?

Wrap-Up:

• Summarize key ideas: practice, planning, reflection.
• Encourage students to record their experiences for our next session on tracking progress and tackling social-emotional challenges.

Session 2 New Coping Strategies Worksheet

Section 1: Review of Strategies

Read the five new strategies we discussed.

1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense then relax different muscle groups to release tension.
2. Mindfulness Grounding: Focus on what you see, hear, and feel right now to stay present.
3. Positive Self-Talk: Use kind and encouraging statements to challenge negative thoughts.
4. Journaling: Write down your thoughts and feelings to help process them.
5. Guided Imagery: Imagine a calm, safe place or scenario to reduce stress.

Section 2: Choose Your Strategy

Which strategy will you try this week?
Strategy: _________________________

Why did you choose this strategy?

When and where will you practice it?
Day/Time/Place:

What steps will you follow when you practice this strategy?

Section 3: Reflection on Guided Practice

During our in-session mindfulness grounding exercise, reflect on your experience.

What sensations or thoughts did you notice?

How did your body or emotions change from the start to the end?

What part of the exercise was easiest for you? Most challenging?

Session 3 Discussion: Tracking and Applying Coping Skills

Purpose:
This discussion connects to the Session 3 Lesson Plan and the Session 3 Coping Practice Tracker Worksheet. Students will reflect on their logged practice, identify patterns and barriers, brainstorm solutions, and plan application in new scenarios.

1. Reflecting on Your Tracker Entries (5 minutes)

Question: Review your tracker. Which entry surprised you the most? Why?

Follow-up Prompts:

• Did any outcome differ from what you expected?
• What did you learn about when you remember to use your strategy?

2. Noticing Patterns (4 minutes)

Question: Across your logs, what situations did you use your coping skill most? How did that feel compared to other times?

Follow-up Prompts:

• Was there a time you wanted to use it but forgot? What was happening?
• How did your rating of helpfulness change in those moments?

3. Overcoming Barriers (6 minutes)

Question: Think of one barrier you noted (e.g., forgetting, distracting environment). What could you do next time to overcome that barrier?

Follow-up Prompts:

• Can a peer or teacher help you remember? How?
• Could you adjust the strategy to fit your setting better?

4. Applying to New Scenarios (8 minutes)

Question: Imagine one challenging scenario (e.g., test anxiety, getting into an argument, change in routine). How would you apply your chosen coping skill step by step in that situation?

Follow-up Prompts:

• What might you notice first that signals it’s time to use your skill?
• How will you adapt if the first step doesn’t work?

5. Planning Your Next Practice (4 minutes)

Question: When and where will you practice your strategy next? Write down a specific day, time, and place.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What reminder will you set for yourself?
• How will you track this new practice on your worksheet?

Wrap-Up:

• Summarize key takeaways: noticing patterns, solving barriers, applying skills flexibly.
• Encourage students to keep their tracker updated and bring reflections to Session 4, where we’ll explore additional strategies and build a personal coping toolkit.

Session 3 Coping Practice Tracker Worksheet

Section 1: Practice Log

Record up to three times you used your chosen coping strategy this week.

Entry 1:

• Date: _________________________
• Situation (What was happening?):

• Strategy Used: _________________________
• Outcome (How did you feel afterward?):

Entry 2:

• Date: _________________________
• Situation:

• Strategy Used: _________________________
• Outcome:

Entry 3:

• Date: _________________________
• Situation:

• Strategy Used: _________________________
• Outcome:

Section 2: Rate and Reflect

For each entry above, rate how helpful your strategy was and note any barriers or surprises you encountered.

Entry 1 Rating (1–5): _____
Barriers or Surprises:

Entry 2 Rating (1–5): _____
Barriers or Surprises:

Entry 3 Rating (1–5): _____
Barriers or Surprises:

Section 3: Patterns and Insights

Looking at your entries, what patterns do you notice? What did you learn about when and how you use this strategy?

Section 4: Planning Ahead

Choose one specific time and place in the next two days to practice your strategy again. Write your plan and one reminder you’ll set for yourself.

Day/Time: _________________________

Place: _________________________

Reminder (e.g., phone alarm, sticky note):

What will you look for to know if it’s working?

Session 4 Discussion: Refining Your Personal Coping Toolkit

Purpose:
This discussion connects to the Session 4 Lesson Plan and the Session 4 Personal Coping Toolkit Worksheet. Students will share and refine their toolkits, explore combining strategies, and plan real-life application.

1. Reviewing Your Toolkit (5 minutes)

Question: Look at your personal coping toolkit. Which strategy do you think you will use first? Why?

Follow-up Prompts:

• What feeling or situation makes this strategy a good first choice?
• How confident do you feel about trying it?

2. Understanding Strategy Matches (5 minutes)

Question: Pick one feeling or situation from your toolkit (for example, test anxiety or peer conflict). Explain how each strategy you listed for that feeling helps address it.

Follow-up Prompts:

• Which part of that feeling is each strategy best at tackling (thoughts, physical sensations, emotions)?
• How might you choose between them in the moment?

3. Combining Strategies (6 minutes)

Question: Think of a scenario where you could use two or more strategies from your toolkit together. Describe step-by-step how you would combine them.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What order will you use the strategies in? Why?
• How will you notice if one strategy isn’t working and switch to another?

4. Peer Feedback (7 minutes)

Question: After sharing your toolkit with a partner, what is one suggestion you received that could improve it? How will you adjust your toolkit based on that feedback?

Follow-up Prompts:

• Did your partner suggest a new strategy or tweak your steps?
• How will this change help you feel more prepared?

5. Planning Next Use (4 minutes)

Question: When and where will you try your full coping toolkit this week? Write a specific day, time, and place, and note one reminder you’ll set for yourself.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What signal will tell you it’s time to use your toolkit?
• How will you track whether it helped?

Wrap-Up:

• Highlight that a toolkit is flexible—you can adjust it as you learn more.
• Encourage students to try their revised toolkits and bring reflections to Session 5 for celebration and further planning.

Session 4 Personal Coping Toolkit Worksheet

Section 1: Your Strategies

List 3–4 coping strategies you want to include in your personal toolkit.

1. Strategy 1: _________________________

1. Strategy 2: _________________________

1. Strategy 3: _________________________

1. Strategy 4 (optional): _________________________

Section 2: Matching Feelings or Situations

For each strategy above, write the feeling or situation you will use it for.

1. Strategy 1: __________________ for _________________________

1. Strategy 2: __________________ for _________________________

1. Strategy 3: __________________ for _________________________

1. Strategy 4: __________________ for _________________________

Section 3: Step-by-Step Plan

Outline how you will use each strategy when you need it.

Strategy 1 Steps:

Strategy 2 Steps:

Strategy 3 Steps:

Strategy 4 Steps (optional):

Section 4: Testing Your Toolkit

Plan when and how you will try your full toolkit this week.

When & Where (Day/Time/Place):

What reminder will you set?

How will you know if your toolkit helped? Describe what to look for in your thoughts, feelings, or actions.

Session 5 Discussion: Celebrating Progress and Planning for the Future

Purpose:
This discussion builds on the Session 5 Lesson Plan and the Session 5 Progress Reflection Worksheet. Students will share successes, reflect on challenges, celebrate growth, and plan ongoing use of coping strategies.

1. Sharing Your Successes (5 minutes)

Question: Looking at Section 1, which is one of the three ways you used your toolkit that made you feel most proud or surprised? Describe what happened.

Follow-up Prompts:

• How did using your toolkit in that moment change how you felt?
• What strengths did you notice in yourself?

2. Reflecting on Challenges Overcome (5 minutes)

Question: In Section 2, you noted challenges you faced. Describe one challenge you overcame and how you did it.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What strategy helped you the most in overcoming that challenge?
• What did you learn about yourself?

3. Setting Long-Term Goals (7 minutes)

Question: In Section 3, you set two long-term coping goals. Share one goal and explain the steps or reminders you plan to use to achieve it.

Follow-up Prompts:

• Who will support you in working toward this goal?
• How will you track your progress?

4. Building Your Support Network (5 minutes)

Question: Who is one person you identified to support your ongoing practice? How will they help you remember or stay motivated?

Follow-up Prompts:

• How can you reach out to them when you need help?
• What will you say or do to remind them of your plan?

5. Commitment to Continued Use (4 minutes)

Question: What is one specific plan you will put in place this week to continue using your coping toolkit? Write down the day, time, and place.

Follow-up Prompts:

• What will be your reminder?
• How will you reflect on this in our check-in or with someone you trust?

Wrap-Up:

• Acknowledge each student’s progress and commitment.
• Remind them that coping is an ongoing skill and it’s okay to adjust their toolkit over time.
• Encourage sharing successes and seeking support beyond the program.

Session 5 Progress Reflection Worksheet

Section 1: Celebrating Your Successes

List three times this month you used your personal coping toolkit. For each entry, describe what happened, which strategies you used, and how it made you feel.

1. Success 1 – What happened:

Strategies I used:

How I felt afterward:

1. Success 2 – What happened:

Strategies I used:

How I felt afterward:

1. Success 3 – What happened:

Strategies I used:

How I felt afterward:

Section 2: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Describe two challenges you faced when using your toolkit and how you overcame them. For each, note what you learned.

Challenge 1:

Strategy I used to overcome it:

Lesson learned:

Challenge 2:

Strategy I used to overcome it:

Lesson learned:

Section 3: Long-Term Coping Goals

Write two long-term goals for using your coping toolkit. For each goal, outline the steps or reminders you will use to stay on track.

Goal 1:

Steps/Reminders:

Goal 2:

Steps/Reminders:

Section 4: Building Your Support Network

List two people who can support your ongoing use of coping strategies and explain how they will help you stay committed.

1. Person: _________________________
   How they will help:

1. Person: _________________________
   How they will help:

Section 5: Commitment to Continued Use

Plan one specific time this week when you will use your personal coping toolkit. Write the day, time, place, and the reminder you will set for yourself.

When & Where (Day/Time/Place):

Reminder I will set:

How I will know it helped (what to notice in my thoughts, feelings, or actions):