My Safe Place: Personal Calming Techniques
Develop personal calming techniques
This lesson focuses on helping a student create a personal 'safe place' as a calming technique during times of anxiety. Through a one-on-one session, the student will design their own mental safe place, learn how to use it as a calming strategy, and reflect on its benefits. This lesson is important as it provides the student with a personalized tool to manage stress and promote emotional well-being.
Develop personal calming techniques
Paper, Colored pencils or markers, Discussion Questions, and Worksheet: My Safe Place Design
Step 1
Introduction
10 mins
- Begin by discussing what a 'safe place' means and how it can be used as a calming technique.
- Explain that it is a mental space where they can feel calm and secure.
- Ask the student to share places or things that make them feel safe and calm.
Step 2
Design Activity
20 mins
- Provide the student with paper and colored pencils or markers.
- Guide them to close their eyes and imagine their safe place, focusing on calming elements.
- Encourage them to think about what they see, hear, and feel in this place, emphasizing detailed visual elements like colors, shapes, and lighting.
- Have the student draw or write about their safe place on the paper, highlighting these visual aspects.
Step 3
Reflection and Sharing
10 mins
- Discuss with the student how their safe place can be used as a calming technique during stressful times.
- Encourage the student to describe how they feel when they imagine their safe place, focusing on the visual details.
- Reinforce the idea of using this place as a personal retreat when feeling anxious.
- Recap the importance of having a mental safe place as a calming technique.
- Remind the student that they can visit this place anytime they need to feel calm.
- Thank the student for their creativity and participation.
