Emotional Regulation Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to facilitate an engaging discussion focused on emotional regulation and coping skills with a 7th-grade student. It aims to help the student explore how emotions affect behavior and decision-making, understand various coping strategies, and build skills for managing their emotions.

Discussion Structure

Introduction (2 minutes)

• Begin with a brief introduction: "Today, we are going to talk about our emotions, how they affect us, and ways we can handle them when they feel overwhelming."
  
  
  

Discussion Prompts (10 minutes)

1. Understanding Emotions
   • What are some common emotions you experience at school or with friends?
     
     
     
   • How do you think these emotions can influence the choices you make?
     
     
     
2. Personal Experiences
   • Can you share a time when you felt a strong emotion (like anger, happiness, or sadness) and how it affected what you did?
     
     
     
   • What did you do to manage this feeling? Was it helpful?
     
     
     
3. Coping Strategies
   • What are some ways you think you could calm down if you start feeling overwhelmed?
     
     
     
   • Have you ever tried any techniques such as deep breathing, counting, or talking to someone? How did that help?
     
     
     
4. Decision-Making
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • How might managing your emotions better help you make choices that are good for you?

Wrap-Up (3 minutes)

• Recap the main ideas: understanding emotions, sharing personal experiences, and exploring coping strategies.
  
  
  
• Encourage the student to think about one or two coping techniques they would like to try when they feel very emotional.
  
  
  
• End with a positive note: "Remember, understanding your emotions and learning how to cope with them is a key skill that will help you in many parts of your life."

Feel free to use this guide as a roadmap, adapting the conversation based on the student's responses and comfort level. Enjoy the discussion!

Coping Skills Script

This script provides a structured role-play scenario designed to help the student practice emotional regulation techniques. Follow the word-for-word script below, pausing as needed to encourage the student to reflect, respond, and practice the techniques.

Teacher Script:

"Alright, today we're going to practice some coping skills that can help when you feel overwhelmed or upset. We'll act out a situation, and you'll have the chance to use some techniques we've talked about. I will read both parts, and then I'll ask you to try some responses. Feel free to ask questions if you're not sure what to do."

Pause and ensure the student is ready to participate

Scenario Introduction:

"Imagine you're in the school cafeteria and you overhear some friends saying something that makes you feel really angry. Instead of reacting immediately, how could you use one of our coping skills to handle the situation?"

Teacher asks: "What do you think you could do first when you feel that anger rising?"

Pause for student response. If the student hesitates, prompt:



"One thing you might try is taking a few deep breaths. Let’s practice that together now. Inhale slowly through your nose... and exhale out of your mouth. Let's do that one more time."

Role-Play Dialogue:

• Teacher (as the student in the scenario): "I feel that anger rising, and my heart is beating fast."
• Teacher (as a friend in the scenario, in a calm voice): "Hey, why don't you tell me what's bothering you?"
• Teacher (as the student again): "I think I'll take a moment to calm down first. I am going to take some deep breaths so I can think more clearly."
  
  
  

Teacher Directions:

"Now, I want you to imagine yourself in this situation. When you feel upset, remember to pause. What coping skill from our discussion do you think might help you the most?"

Allow the student to respond. Validate their answer with encouraging phrases like:



"That sounds like a great idea! Taking a moment to calm down can really help you think clearly."

Practice and Reflection:

"Let’s try the deep breathing practice one more time together. Inhale slowly... hold it for a moment... and exhale slowly. Great job! Now, consider this: once you're calmer, what would be a good way to address the situation with your friends?"

Pause for student ideas. If needed, prompt further with:



"Maybe you could explain how their words made you feel, calmly and respectfully."

Wrap-Up:

"Excellent work today! Remember, using coping skills like deep breathing can help you manage your emotions, especially in challenging situations. Keep practicing, and over time, you’ll find it easier to take control of your feelings."

"Do you have any questions about what we just practiced? Or is there another situation you’d like to run through?"

End the role-play session by summarizing the key steps:



"So, when you're feeling overwhelmed, first pause, take deep breaths, and then think about how to respond. Great job today—I'm proud of your progress!"

This script is designed to be interactive—ensure you check in with the student often for their thoughts and reflections, and repeat or modify steps as needed for better understanding and comfort. Enjoy the role-play and keep up the great work!