Lesson Plan
Personal Healing Blueprint
Guide a 9th-grade student through a structured 30-minute grief counseling session to identify and process emotions, externalize feelings, and develop personalized coping strategies for self-compassion and resilience.
Adolescents experiencing loss benefit from individual support to acknowledge grief, learn healthy coping, and cultivate self-kindness, fostering emotional healing and long-term resilience.
Audience
9th Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive guided exploration and reflection.
Materials
Prep
Review Session Materials
5 minutes
- Read through Inner Echoes Slides to understand session flow
- Familiarize yourself with prompts in Counselor’s Guided Script
- Print or ready digital copies of Emotion Mapping Worksheet and Self-Compassion Letter
- Prepare a private, comfortable space for the session
Step 1
Welcome and Grounding
5 minutes
- Greet the student and reaffirm confidentiality
- Guide 3–5 deep breaths to center and calm
- Briefly outline the session’s goals and structure
Step 2
Emotion Identification
7 minutes
- Present key themes from Inner Echoes Slides
- Invite the student to share current feelings or memories of loss
- Use open-ended questions from Counselor’s Guided Script to deepen understanding
Step 3
Emotion Mapping
7 minutes
- Introduce the Emotion Mapping Worksheet
- Guide the student to rate emotion intensity and note triggers
- Discuss emerging patterns and externalize feelings through mapping
Step 4
Coping Strategies Development
6 minutes
- Brainstorm a list of healthy coping tools (e.g., breathing, journaling, support network)
- Reference strategy prompts in Counselor’s Guided Script
- Encourage the student to choose 2–3 strategies to try before the next session
Step 5
Self-Compassion and Closure
5 minutes
- Provide the Self-Compassion Letter
- Guide the student to write a brief letter offering themselves kindness
- Allow sharing if the student is comfortable
- Summarize insights, reinforce positive steps, and plan follow-up
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Slide Deck
Inner Echoes
A gentle guide to exploring emotions and finding resilience.
Introduce the session as “Inner Echoes,” explaining that today’s journey will gently guide the student through exploring emotions and building resilience.
Grounding Breath
Take 3–5 deep, slow breaths.
Inhale positivity. Exhale tension.
Guide the student through 3–5 slow, deep breaths. Demonstrate inhalation (count to 4) and exhalation (count to 6), inviting them to focus on the sensation of calm.
Session Goals
• Identify emotions
• Map emotional intensity
• Develop coping strategies
• Cultivate self-compassion
Review the four key goals: emotion identification, mapping intensity, strategy development, and self-compassion. Confirm the student’s understanding.
Identifying Emotions
What emotions are you feeling right now?
Reflect on recent memories of loss.
Present this slide and pause. Ask open-ended questions like “What do you notice in your heart right now?” or “Which memories of loss come up?”
Emotion Mapping
Use the Emotion Mapping Worksheet to:
- Rate intensity (1–10)
- Note triggers
- Observe emerging patterns
Explain the Emotion Mapping Worksheet steps. Walk through one example: e.g., “When I think of…” rates 7/10, triggered by…
Brainstorm Coping Strategies
List healthy tools:
• Deep breathing
• Journaling
• Talking to a friend
• Art or music
Add your own ideas: ____________
Encourage open brainstorming. List common tools but leave space for their own ideas. Remind them to choose 2–3 strategies to try.
Self-Compassion Letter
Write a short letter to yourself
offering kindness and understanding.
Introduce the Self-Compassion Letter. Offer a sample opener: “Dear me, I know you’re hurting and I’m proud of your courage…”
Looking Ahead
Reflect on today’s insights.
Try your chosen strategies.
We’ll discuss your experience next session.
Summarize the student’s insights, reinforce the selected strategies, and confirm the plan for next time. Acknowledge their bravery in sharing.
Script
Counselor’s Guided Script
1. Welcome and Grounding (5 minutes)
Counselor: "Hi [Student Name], I’m really glad you’re here. This is our private space, and I want you to feel comfortable sharing whatever is on your mind. How are you feeling about being here today?"
If the student pauses: "Take your time—there’s no rush. I’m here to listen whenever you’re ready."
Counselor: "Let’s start by taking three slow, deep breaths together. Inhale quietly for a count of four—1…2…3…4—then exhale fully for six—1…2…3…4…5…6. Focus on letting go of any tension."
Repeat two more times.
Counselor: "Great. Today, we’ll:
• Identify how you’ve been feeling
• Map out the intensity and triggers of those feelings
• Brainstorm healthy coping strategies
• End with a letter offering yourself kindness
Does that plan feel okay to you?"
2. Emotion Identification (7 minutes)
Counselor: "When you think back to this past week or any recent moments, what emotions or memories about your loss come up most strongly for you?"
If needed, follow up:
• "Can you tell me more about what that emotion feels like?"
• "Where do you feel this emotion in your body?"
• "What was happening when you first noticed this feeling?"
3. Emotion Mapping (7 minutes)
Counselor: "I’d like you to use this Emotion Mapping Worksheet. First, choose one emotion you mentioned. Then:
- Rate its intensity from 1 (very mild) to 10 (very strong).
- Note what triggered it.
- Look for any patterns."
Counselor: "For example: ‘When I remember [specific memory], I felt an 8 because I missed them a lot.’ Now, take a moment to fill out those three steps."
After they write: "What patterns do you notice when that emotion shows up?"
4. Coping Strategies Development (6 minutes)
Counselor: "Let’s brainstorm some healthy ways to handle these feelings. Some ideas are:
• Deep breathing exercises
• Writing in a journal
• Talking with a friend or family member
• Drawing or listening to music
What other ideas do you have?"
Once you have a list:
Counselor: "Which two or three strategies here feel most doable for you to try before our next meeting?"
Counselor: "How might you remind yourself to use these strategies when you notice those emotions?"
5. Self-Compassion and Closure (5 minutes)
Counselor: "You’ve done important work today. I’d like you to use this Self-Compassion Letter to write a short note to yourself—offering kindness, understanding, and support. You could start with something like: ‘Dear me, I know you’re hurting, and I’m proud of your courage…’"
If the student feels comfortable:
Counselor: "Would you like to share any part of your letter?"
Counselor: "Thank you for sharing. Today, you:
• Named and explored your emotions
• Mapped how intense they feel and what triggers them
• Chosen coping strategies to try
• Practiced offering yourself compassion
I’m proud of your openness and strength. Let’s check in next time on how your chosen strategies worked. You’re not alone—take care until then."
Worksheet
Emotion Mapping Worksheet
Use this worksheet to explore up to three emotions you’ve experienced. For each emotion, rate how strong it feels, note what triggered it, and observe any patterns or physical sensations.
Emotion Mapping 1
1. Emotion Name:
2. Intensity (1 – 10):
3. Trigger or Memory:
Describe what led to this emotion.
4. Patterns / Physical Sensations:
What do you notice in your body or your thoughts when this emotion arises?
Emotion Mapping 2
1. Emotion Name:
2. Intensity (1 – 10):
3. Trigger or Memory:
Describe what led to this emotion.
4. Patterns / Physical Sensations:
What do you notice in your body or your thoughts when this emotion arises?
Emotion Mapping 3
1. Emotion Name:
2. Intensity (1 – 10):
3. Trigger or Memory:
Describe what led to this emotion.
4. Patterns / Physical Sensations:
What do you notice in your body or your thoughts when this emotion arises?
Cool Down
Self-Compassion Letter
Use this time to write a compassionate letter to yourself reflecting on what you explored today. Offer understanding, kindness, and encouragement.
Instructions
- Begin your letter with a supportive opener such as:
"Dear Me, I know you’re hurting, and I’m proud of your courage…" - Write freely about your feelings, acknowledge the strength you showed today, and remind yourself of the coping strategies you’ve chosen.
- Sign off with a phrase that brings you comfort (e.g., "With love," "Take care of yourself," etc.).
Dear Me,
With care and kindness,