Counselor Dialogue Guide

Check-In & Rapport Building (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Hi [Student Name], it’s great to see you. How are you feeling today?"
(wait for response)

Teacher: "Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you’re here. Before we start, I want you to know this is a safe space—anything you say stays between us, and there are no right or wrong answers. Does that feel okay?"
(wait for response)

Teacher: "What’s been on your mind this week?"




Notes for Teacher:
• Keep your tone warm and relaxed.
• Nod and maintain gentle eye contact.
• Jot down key words to use later.

Open-Ended Exploration (5 minutes)

Teacher: "When you think about [repeat student’s topic], what emotions come up for you?"




Teacher: "Can you describe what that felt like in your body?"




Teacher: "What thoughts or memories pop into your mind when you notice that feeling?"




Teacher: "Thank you for sharing that. It sounds like you really felt [name emotion]. That makes a lot of sense given what you described."

Notes for Teacher:
• Use gentle prompts and silence; allow the student to think.
• Validate feelings: “I hear you,” “That sounds tough,” or “I’m glad you noticed that.”
• Record two or three key phrases to place on the mind map.

Mind Mapping Activity (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now we’ll do a mind map to see how these ideas connect. Here’s your Emotion Mapping Worksheet."

Teacher: "First, write your main emotion in the center—like ‘anxious’ or ‘frustrated.’ I’ll write ‘anxious’ so you can see an example."



Teacher: "Next, let’s add branches for related thoughts. What thought comes up first when you feel [main emotion]?"




Teacher: "Great. Now draw a branch for any physical sensations—like a tight chest or racing heart. What do you notice in your body?"




Teacher: "Finally, let’s add situations or triggers. Can you think of a recent situation that brought on this feeling?"




Teacher: "Nice work—see how everything connects? Feel free to add colors, symbols, or doodles to make it yours."

Notes for Teacher:
• Encourage creativity: “What color feels right here?”
• Offer support: “Would you like me to draw one branch while you draw the next?”
• Praise effort: “This is really insightful!”

Reflection Prompts Review (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Let’s look at your Daily Reflection Prompts. I’ll read two, then show you how I might answer them."

Prompt 1: “What helped me notice my emotions today?”
Teacher (model): “Talking through my day helped me notice I felt stressed when I saw my homework load.”

Prompt 2: “How can I support myself if this feeling comes back?”
Teacher (model): “I can take three deep breaths or step outside for a minute when I feel that stress returning.”

Teacher: "Which prompt feels most helpful for you to write about tonight?"




Teacher: "Perfect choice. You can start your journal with that prompt when you get home."

Notes for Teacher:
• Keep modeling brief—focus on clarity.
• Let the student choose; this builds ownership.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Before we finish, let’s review the main connections from your mind map."
• "You linked [Emotion] to thoughts like [Key Thought] and sensations like [Physical Sensation]."
• "Your trigger was [Situation]."

Teacher: "You did a great job exploring today. Our next step is a quick 5-minute check-in on [day/time]. Does that work for you?"




Teacher: "Awesome. Remember to spend just 5–10 minutes tonight on your chosen prompt. You’re building a great habit of noticing and managing feelings."

Teacher: "Thanks for your honesty and effort today. I’ll see you at our check-in!"

Notes for Teacher:
• Keep tone upbeat and supportive.
• Confirm follow-up details.
• Offer a final word of encouragement.

Emotion Mapping Worksheet

Use this worksheet to visually map your main emotion and explore related thoughts, physical sensations, and triggers. Feel free to add colors, symbols, or doodles to make it your own.

1. Center Emotion

Write your main emotion in the center circle below (e.g., anxious, frustrated, happy).

( Draw a circle around your word )

2. Thoughts Branch

Draw 3 branches extending from your center emotion. On each branch, write a thought or belief that comes up when you feel this emotion.

2. ___________________________




3. ___________________________

3. Physical Sensations Branch

Draw 2 branches for the physical sensations you notice when experiencing this emotion. Label each branch.

• ___________________________




• ___________________________

4. Triggers & Situations Branch

Draw 2 branches for situations or triggers that bring on this emotion. Describe each briefly.

2. ___________________________

5. Creative Elements

Use the space below to add colors, symbols, or small drawings that represent your emotion or the connections you discovered.

Daily Reflection Prompts

Use these prompts each day to deepen your awareness of emotions and practice healthy responses. Choose one or more to reflect on tonight.

1. What emotion stood out to me today, and what triggered it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. How did my body feel when I experienced this emotion?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What thoughts went through my mind in that moment?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Which coping strategy did I use, and how effective was it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. What can I do differently tomorrow when I notice this emotion returning?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. One thing I’m grateful for today and how it impacted my mood: