Lesson Plan
Counseling Refresher Lesson Plan
Review confidentiality, assess current coping skill use, and gather updated personal insights to recommit to growth and plan next steps.
Even experienced counseling students benefit from brief refreshers to reinforce trust, track coping skill practice, and realign goals for continued well-being.
Audience
6th–8th Grade Students familiar with counseling
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Quick review, skills check-in, reflective sharing.
Prep
Review and Print Materials
5 minutes
- Reacquaint yourself with the Confidentiality Overview Handout.
- Print one copy each of the Coping Skills Pre-Test Worksheet, Get-to-Know-You Questionnaire, and Counseling Cool-Down Reflection Sheet.
- Prepare notes on common coping skills to guide discussion.
Step 1
Review & Reconnect
3 minutes
- Welcome the student back and check in briefly on how they’re doing today.
- Revisit counseling confidentiality: what stays private and when safety concerns require sharing.
- Invite any new questions about confidentiality.
- Reference the Confidentiality Overview Handout.
Step 2
Coping Skills Self-Check
5 minutes
- Hand out the Coping Skills Pre-Test Worksheet and ask the student to rate their familiarity with each skill.
- Prompt the student to note any skills they’ve tried or practiced since their last session.
- Collect the worksheet to identify strengths and areas for further focus.
Step 3
Coping Skills Discussion
4 minutes
- Review the student’s ratings and ask which skill(s) they used recently and how it felt.
- Discuss successes, challenges, and barriers in practicing those skills.
- Help the student select one skill to focus on before the next session.
Step 4
Updated Personal Check-In
5 minutes
- Use the Get-to-Know-You Questionnaire prompts to gather current highlights, challenges, or changes since their last session.
- Ask:
- What’s been going well?
- What’s been stressful or hard?
- What support do you need right now?
- Listen actively and note details for goal setting.
Step 5
Cool-Down & Next Steps
3 minutes
- Provide the Counseling Cool-Down Reflection Sheet.
- Ask the student to reflect on today’s session and rate their comfort.
- Summarize key takeaways and agree on one concrete goal or skill to practice next.
- Thank the student for their continued participation.
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Worksheet
Coping Skills Pre-Test Worksheet
Below is a list of common coping skills. For each one, circle the number that best describes how familiar you are with it:
1 = Not familiar at all 2 = A little familiar 3 = Somewhat familiar 4 = Familiar 5 = Very familiar
- Deep breathing exercises
1 2 3 4 5 - Mindful meditation
1 2 3 4 5 - Journaling your thoughts
1 2 3 4 5 - Physical activity or exercise
1 2 3 4 5 - Talking with a friend or trusted adult
1 2 3 4 5 - Listening to music
1 2 3 4 5 - Creative activities (drawing, coloring)
1 2 3 4 5 - Progressive muscle relaxation
1 2 3 4 5 - Positive self-talk (encouraging words)
1 2 3 4 5 - Other (please name): ___________
1 2 3 4 5
Reflection Questions
- Which of the above skills are you most interested in learning more about?
- Is there a coping skill you already use regularly? If yes, which one and how often?
- Have you practiced any of these skills since your last session? If yes, which ones and what was your experience?
Worksheet
Get-to-Know-You Refresher Questionnaire
Please take a few minutes to reflect on what’s happened since our last session and share what you need right now. There are no right or wrong answers.
- What is one positive thing that happened since we last met?
- Describe a challenge or stressor you’ve experienced recently.
- Which coping skills have you tried since our last session? How did they work for you?
- Is there a skill you’d like more practice or guidance with? Which one and why?
- What support or resources would help you right now?
- Any other thoughts, questions, or concerns you’d like to share today?
Activity
Confidentiality Discussion Activity
Use this activity after reviewing the Confidentiality Overview Handout. Work together to make sure you understand when and why counselors keep or share information.
1. In Your Own Words
What does confidentiality mean to you in a counseling session?
2. True or False
Circle T (True) or F (False) for each statement. Then explain your answer in one sentence.
- Everything I say in counseling stays 100% private, no matter what.
T F
Explanation:
- A counselor must tell someone if I say I’m thinking about hurting myself or someone else.
T F
Explanation:
- If I share a secret about another student, the counselor will keep it confidential.
T F
Explanation:
3. Scenarios
Read each scenario. Would the counselor keep the information private, or share it? Explain why.
Scenario A: You tell your counselor you get teased at lunch, and it makes you feel sad.
- Keep private or share?
- Why?
Scenario B: You say you’ve been having thoughts about hurting yourself.
- Keep private or share?
- Why?
Scenario C: You reveal that a friend cheated on a test yesterday, and you’re worried they might get in trouble.
- Keep private or share?
- Why?
4. Your Questions
What else would you like to know about confidentiality? List any questions or concerns below, and we’ll discuss them together.
Quiz
Counseling Intro Quiz
Cool Down
Counseling Cool-Down Reflection
Thank you for taking part in today’s refresher session. Please share your thoughts below so we can plan next time.
- How do you feel right now after our session? (e.g., calm, relieved, motivated)
- On a scale of 1–5, how comfortable did you feel sharing today?
1 2 3 4 5
(1 = Not comfortable at all, 5 = Very comfortable) - What is one skill or strategy you plan to practice before our next session?
- What is one concrete step you will take to use this skill?
- What support or reminders will help you stick with this practice?
- Do you have any questions, concerns, or anything else you’d like to share before we finish?