Navigating Family Challenges Script

This script is designed to guide you through the session with your parent-child pair. Follow this word-for-word or adapt slightly as needed to make sure both the parent and child feel comfortable, heard, and supported. Ensure that the pace matches the unique needs of the participants.

Introduction and Safe Space Establishment (15 minutes)

Teacher:
"Good [morning/afternoon], thank you both for coming today. I want you to know that this is a safe space where we can talk openly about our thoughts and feelings. Our discussion is confidential; everything shared here stays here."

Teacher:
"The objective of today's session is to explore the feelings that come with challenging family situations, specifically when a family member is incarcerated, and to learn ways to cope and communicate effectively."

Teacher:
"Before we begin, let’s take a moment together to relax. I invite you both to close your eyes if you’re comfortable, and take a deep breath in... hold it... and slowly let it out. Let's do that two more times."

Exploring Emotions and Challenges (30 minutes)

Teacher:
"Now, let’s talk about feelings. I have a worksheet here that will help us explore our emotions related to family challenges. I’d like you both to take a few minutes to quietly reflect and jot down any thoughts or feelings that come up regarding having an incarcerated family member. There are no right or wrong answers—this is about expressing what you truly feel."

Pause to allow time for individual reflection, and then invite share from each participant.

Teacher:
"Would either of you like to share something from your worksheet? Remember, sharing is completely voluntary. If you decide to share, try to explain what you are feeling and why that might be."

(Wait for the parent or child to share a brief insight.)

Teacher:
"That's very brave of you to share, thank you. It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions like sadness, anger, or confusion in such situations. Let’s keep this dialogue open. If either of you ever feels overwhelmed, remember that it's okay to pause and take a deep breath."

Guided Communication through Scripted Discussion (20 minutes)

Teacher:
"Now we’ll move into a guided conversation. I’m going to ask a few questions to help both of you discuss how you cope with these challenging feelings and to communicate how you can support each other."

Teacher:
"Let's start by thinking of a time when you felt worried or upset about family changes. How did you cope with that feeling? Parent, would you like to begin?"

(Pause and allow the parent to respond.)

Teacher:
"Thank you for sharing. Now, child, how about you? Maybe you can share what you felt and what helped you during that time."

(Pause and allow the child to respond.)

Teacher:
"I appreciate both of your openness. Sometimes, simply talking about our experiences can be very healing. What are some ways that you think you could support each other when feelings become too overwhelming?"

(Encourage back and forth sharing; offer gentle prompts like: "Can you think of small actions that could help?", "How might you remind each other to take a deep breath when tension rises?")

Teacher:
"Remember, communication isn’t just about speaking—it’s also about listening. What did you hear that resonated with you from the other person’s experience?"

(Pause for responses.)

Teacher:
"These are wonderful insights. Clear, kind, and open dialogue can turn difficult moments into steps toward understanding and healing."

Interactive Activity and Reflection (20 minutes)

Teacher:
"Next, we’re going to engage in an interactive activity. I will display a slide now that outlines a scenario along with some emotion and communication prompts. Please look at the slide and think about a similar situation in your life or a way you might apply one of the coping strategies we discussed."

(Display the slide from the Navigating Family Challenges Slide Deck, particularly the 'Interactive Activity & Reflection' slide.)

Teacher:
"I’d like each of you to take a few minutes to either write down or verbalize your thoughts on the scenario and which coping strategy you feel could work best. How might you use this technique the next time you feel overwhelmed?"

Allow time for reflection and writing.

Teacher:
"Would anyone like to share their reflections? What did you write or think about that you believe could help both of you support each other in real-life situations?"

(Encourage sharing and respectful listening.)

Teacher:
"Thank you for sharing your ideas. I hope this activity has provided you with some practical strategies and a sense of how you can work together during challenging times. Keep these strategies handy and remember, practice makes progress."

Closing the Session (Final Thoughts)

Teacher:
"We’re coming to the end of our session. I want to thank both of you for your courage and openness today. It’s not easy to discuss such personal topics, and your willingness to engage is truly commendable."

Teacher:
"Before we finish, is there anything either of you would like to share about how you feel now, or any questions you have about what we discussed today?"

(Allow for final comments or questions.)

Teacher:
"Remember that this is a journey, and it's okay to seek additional support whenever you need it. I encourage you to revisit the strategies and even the worksheet at home, to keep reinforcing what you learned today. Thank you again for participating. I hope you both leave here feeling a bit more empowered and connected."

This concludes our session. Have a safe and supportive rest of your day.

Navigating Family Challenges Worksheet

This worksheet is designed to help you explore your feelings and thoughts about having an incarcerated family member. Please answer the questions and complete the exercises honestly. There are no right or wrong answers; this is a safe space for you to express yourself.

1. Reflection on Your Emotions

Think about the different emotions you have experienced regarding your family situation. Write down any feelings that come to mind (e.g., sadness, anger, confusion, or even hope):

What are some things that have made you feel particularly strong emotions?

How do you usually react when those feelings arise?

2. Expression Exercise: Drawing Your Feelings

Sometimes drawing can help us understand our emotions better. Use the space below to draw a picture that represents how you feel about your family situation. If you prefer, you can also write about your drawing instead of drawing.

3. Identifying Coping Strategies

Consider the coping strategies you know or have used during difficult times. List some actions or activities that help you feel better, such as talking to someone, taking deep breaths, or engaging in a hobby:

Which strategy do you think works best for you, and why?

4. Setting a Personal Goal

Based on what you’ve reflected on and expressed, write down one goal you have for handling difficult emotions in the future. This goal could be something like practicing a specific coping strategy or opening up more with someone you trust:

Remember, it's okay if your thoughts and feelings change over time. You can come back to this worksheet whenever you need to reflect, express, or plan steps to feel supported.

Take your time, and when you are finished, you can share your reflections with your parent or keep them for your personal record.

Navigating Family Challenges Activity

This activity is designed to help you, as a parent-child pair, practice communication and coping strategies in a safe, guided environment. The activity involves a scenario-based role-play and subsequent discussion. Follow the steps below to engage with the scenario and reflect on your experiences.

Scenario Role-Play (15 minutes)

1. Read the Scenario:

   • Imagine that you have just heard some difficult news about a change in your family related to an incarcerated family member. One of you will take on the role of the person experiencing strong emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, or confusion), and the other will act as a supportive listener.

2. Role-Play Guidelines:

   • Speaker: Express your emotions and feelings clearly. Explain what you are experiencing and why you feel that way. Use the worksheet (linked in the Worksheet) as a guide if needed.
   • Listener: Practice active listening. Validate the speaker's feelings by acknowledging what you heard without trying to immediately solve the problem. You might say, "I hear you, and that sounds really challenging."

3. Switch Roles:

   • After 7 minutes, switch roles so that both the parent and child experience both speaking and listening.

Group Discussion and Reflection (15 minutes)

1. Discussion Prompts:

   • What strategies did you find most helpful when your partner was speaking?
   • Did you notice any moments where a specific phrase or action made the communication feel safer or more understanding?
   • How did switching roles affect your understanding of the situation?

2. Reflection:

   • Take a few minutes individually to write down or discuss with each other what you learned from this role-play about effectively communicating your feelings and supporting one another during challenging times.

Follow-Up Questions (Optional)

• How can you apply these communication strategies in real-life situations?
• What is one new strategy you might try the next time you experience strong emotions related to family challenges?
• How did it feel to actively listen and validate someone else's feelings?

Remember: This activity is about practicing empathy, active listening, and sharing your emotions in a supportive environment. It’s perfectly fine to feel uncomfortable at first—over time, these skills can help create a stronger connection and better understanding between you and your loved one.

When you're done, consider revisiting some of the strategies in the Script to reinforce your learning. Enjoy the activity and be kind to each other throughout the process!