Lesson Plan
Therapy Toolkit Lesson Plan
Student will build a personalized therapy toolkit by selecting coping strategies, setting measurable treatment goals, and reflecting on skill use to enhance self-regulation and resilience.
This lesson empowers students to identify and practice coping skills tailored to their needs, clarifies treatment goals, and promotes ownership of their mental health journey.
Audience
11th Grade Student
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Student-driven project with worksheet, journaling, and rubric-based self-assessment.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Gather and make copies of:
- Review each material to understand instructions and flow.
- Prepare a comfortable, private setting for the session.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Greet the student and briefly check in on mood/status.
- Explain session objectives: building a personalized coping toolkit and setting treatment goals.
- Outline the activities and time frame.
Step 2
Toolkit Project
10 minutes
- Provide My Therapy Toolkit Guide.
- Guide the student to identify personal coping strategies and strengths.
- Complete sections on coping categories and tool descriptions.
Step 3
Tool Selection
10 minutes
- Distribute Tool Selection Matrix.
- Help the student rate each coping tool based on ease, preference, and expected effectiveness.
- Select top 3–5 tools to include in their toolkit.
Step 4
Journaling Practice
10 minutes
- Introduce Coping Skills Log.
- Ask the student to plan when and how they will practice each tool.
- Model journaling responses for one coping tool.
Step 5
Self-Assessment & Goal Setting
5 minutes
- Present Plan Completeness Rubric.
- Have the student self-assess completeness and clarity of their toolkit and goals.
- Collaboratively set 1–2 concrete, measurable treatment goals for the coming week.
- Schedule a follow-up to review progress.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Project Guide
My Therapy Toolkit Guide
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Step 1: Identify Coping Tools by Category
List at least two tools for each category. For each tool, include the name and a brief description of how it helps.
Emotional Tools
- Tool Name & Description:
- Tool Name & Description:
Physical Tools
- Tool Name & Description:
- Tool Name & Description:
Creative Tools
- Tool Name & Description:
- Tool Name & Description:
Social Tools
- Tool Name & Description:
- Tool Name & Description:
Cognitive Tools
- Tool Name & Description:
- Tool Name & Description:
Step 2: Select Your Top 5 Tools
From the list above, choose the five tools you think will be most effective and realistic for you to use this week.
Step 3: Plan When and How You'll Use Each Tool
For each top tool, write down a specific time, place, or situation where you'll practice it.
- Tool 1: ____________________________________________________________
- Tool 2: ____________________________________________________________
- Tool 3: ____________________________________________________________
- Tool 4: ____________________________________________________________
- Tool 5: ____________________________________________________________
Step 4: Reflection and Next Steps
- Which tools do you think will be easiest to use, and why?
- What challenges or barriers might you face when using these tools?
- How will you remind yourself to practice these tools each day?
Use this guide during and between sessions to build your personalized therapy toolkit. Refer back to it when you need coping strategies or want to track your progress.
Worksheet
Tool Selection Matrix
Use the tools you identified in My Therapy Toolkit Guide. For each tool, rate how easy it is to use, how much you prefer it, and how effective you expect it to be. Add up the scores to find your strongest options.
| Coping Tool | Ease (1=Hard – 5=Easy) | Preference (1=Low – 5=High) | Expected Effectiveness (1=Low – 5=High) | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 2. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 3. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 4. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 5. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 6. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 7. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 8. ______________________ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
Step 2: Select Your Top 5 Tools
Based on your Total Scores above, choose the five tools you will include in your toolkit this week.
Reflection: Which tool had the highest total score, and why do you think it scored well?
Journal
Coping Skills Log
Use this log to record each time you practice a coping tool. Tracking details and reflecting on outcomes helps you notice patterns, strengths, and areas to adjust. Copy the section below for every new entry.
Entry Date: ______________________
Situation / Trigger (What prompted you to use the tool?)
Coping Tool Used
Steps Taken (Describe exactly what you did.)
Emotions Before (How were you feeling?)
Emotions After (How do you feel now?)
Effectiveness Rating (1 = Not effective – 5 = Very effective): _______
Reflection
- What worked well?
- What could you try differently next time?
Use this log daily or whenever you practice a new tool. Review past entries before your next session to identify progress and plan adjustments.
Rubric
Plan Completeness Rubric
Use this rubric to self-assess the completeness, clarity, and usefulness of your Therapy Toolkit plan. Circle the level that best describes your work for each criterion.
| Criterion | 4 – Excellent | 3 – Good | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Identification | Identified at least two coping tools in all five categories; selected 5 tools that are highly relevant and balanced across categories. | Identified tools in most categories; selected 5 tools, with minor overlap or category gaps. | Identified tools in fewer than five categories; selected fewer than 5 tools or with limited variety. | Identified tools in only one or two categories; selected fewer than 3 tools. |
| Plan Specificity | For each chosen tool, specified a clear time, place, or situation and step-by-step use instructions. | Provided a general plan for each tool, but some details (time, place, steps) are missing. | Plan includes tools and rough context, but lacks clear timing or instructions. | No clear plan; tools listed without context, timing, or steps. |
| Goal Clarity & Measurability | Treatment goals are concrete, measurable, time-bound, and aligned with toolkit use (e.g., "Practice deep breathing 3×/day for 5 minutes"). | Goals are mostly concrete and measurable but missing one element (timeframe, frequency, or measure). | Goals are stated but vague or lacking measurable targets. | Goals are not stated or are completely vague (e.g., "Feel less stressed"). |
| Reflection & Follow-Up Plan | Insightful reflections on ease and barriers; clear strategies for reminders and a scheduled follow-up date. | Reflections cover either ease/barriers or reminders, but one element is missing; follow-up planned. | Reflections are superficial; reminder strategies or follow-up date are unclear. | No reflection on barriers/reminders; no plan for follow-up. |
Scoring Guide:
- Total possible score: 16 points.
- 13–16 points: Excellent plan—ready for implementation.
- 9–12 points: Solid plan—needs minor refinement.
- 5–8 points: Developing plan—requires significant improvements.
- 4 points or below: Beginning—plan needs major work before use.
Use your total score and feedback from this rubric to strengthen your Therapy Toolkit before the next session.