Lesson Plan
Introductory Counseling Session Lesson Plan
To build rapport with a 7th-grade student in a 1:1 counseling setting, introduce the core areas of self-advocacy, emotional communication, and classroom self-confidence, and collaboratively establish an initial, achievable monthly confidence goal.
Establishing a strong, trusting relationship is crucial for effective counseling. This session empowers the student by involving them in goal setting, fostering a sense of ownership over their growth in vital life skills.
Audience
7th Grade, Individual Student
Time
30 Minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and collaborative goal-setting.
Materials
Intro Session Slide Deck, My Story Activity, and Confidence Compass Worksheet
Prep
Session Preparation
15 Minutes
- Review the student's background information (if available) to tailor the conversation.
- Print copies of the My Story Activity and Confidence Compass Worksheet.
- Familiarize yourself with the Intro Session Slide Deck content to ensure a smooth flow.
- Prepare a welcoming and comfortable space for the session.
- Review all generated materials as needed.
Step 1
Welcome & Icebreaker
5 Minutes
Goal: Establish a warm, welcoming environment and begin building rapport.
- Greet the student with a friendly welcome and introduce yourself.
- Briefly explain the purpose of this first meeting: to get to know each other and talk about how we can work together.
- Transition into the My Story Activity to encourage initial sharing in a low-pressure way. Invite the student to share something interesting or positive about themselves or their week.
Step 2
Introducing Counseling & Core Areas
5 Minutes
Goal: Provide a clear understanding of counseling and the session's focus areas.
- Use the Intro Session Slide Deck to introduce what counseling is (a safe space, confidential, focused on their strengths and growth).
- Explain the three core areas we'll be exploring: self-advocacy (speaking up for themselves), identifying and communicating emotions (understanding and sharing feelings), and classroom self-confidence (feeling good about participating in class).
- Emphasize that these are areas we can work on together to help them feel more empowered.
Step 3
Exploring Goals & Needs with Confidence Compass
10 Minutes
Goal: Understand the student's perspectives and initial thoughts on the goal areas.
- Introduce the Confidence Compass Worksheet as a tool to help us explore these areas.
- Go through each section (Advocacy, Emotions, Self-Confidence). For each, ask open-ended questions:
- "What does advocating for yourself mean to you? When might it be hard?"
- "How do you usually know what you're feeling? Is it easy or hard to tell others?"
- "When do you feel most confident in class? What makes you feel less confident?"
- Encourage the student to write or draw their thoughts on the worksheet as you discuss.
Step 4
Setting a Monthly Confidence Goal
5 Minutes
Goal: Collaboratively set one small, actionable goal for the upcoming month.
- Based on the discussion from the Confidence Compass Worksheet, guide the student to choose one specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal related to classroom self-confidence for the next month.
- Example: "I will raise my hand to answer one question in my English class this week."
- Discuss why this goal is important to them and how they will know they've achieved it.
Step 5
Wrap-up & Next Steps
5 Minutes
Goal: Summarize, reinforce positive engagement, and set expectations for future sessions.
- Briefly recap what was discussed and the monthly confidence goal they set.
- Reassure them that this is their space and their journey.
- Explain what the next session might look like (e.g., checking in on their goal, diving deeper into one area).
- End on a positive and encouraging note, thanking them for sharing.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Our Space!
Today, we'll:
- Get to know each other.
- Talk about what counseling is.
- Explore some goals you might have.
- Set an awesome confidence goal for the month!
Welcome the student warmly. Use a friendly tone to introduce yourself and the purpose of the session. Emphasize that this is a safe and supportive space just for them.
What is Counseling?
It's a place where you can:
- Talk about your thoughts and feelings.
- Learn new skills.
- Set goals and work towards them.
- Feel supported and understood.
It's your safe space to grow!
Explain counseling in simple, relatable terms. Focus on it being a place for growth and support, not just for 'problems.' Reassure them about confidentiality.
Our Focus: You & Your Goals
We'll explore:
- Self-Advocacy: Speaking up for yourself.
- Identifying & Communicating Emotions: Understanding and sharing your feelings.
- Classroom Self-Confidence: Feeling good about participating in class.
Introduce the three main areas we'll be discussing. Keep it light and introductory. Ask if they've heard these words before or what they think they mean.
Let's Share: My Story!
Time to get to know each other better!
We'll use the My Story Activity to share something interesting or positive about ourselves.
Transition to the 'My Story' activity. Explain that this is a fun way to share a bit about themselves without pressure.
Your Growth Map: The Confidence Compass
Guiding our conversation about:
- Self-Advocacy
- Emotional Communication
- Classroom Self-Confidence
We'll use the Confidence Compass Worksheet to explore your ideas.
Introduce the 'Confidence Compass' as a tool to help them think about their strengths and areas they want to grow in regarding the three goal areas. Explain it's a guide, not a test.
Your Monthly Confidence Goal
Let's set one small, awesome goal for the next month!
This goal will be:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Explain that setting small, achievable goals is key to building confidence. Work collaboratively to define a SMART goal for the month.
Looking Forward!
Great job today!
- We got to know each other.
- We explored important goals.
- You set an awesome first confidence goal.
I'm excited for our next session!
End on a positive note. Reassure them about upcoming sessions and reinforce their participation.
Activity
My Story Activity
Welcome! To help us get to know each other a little better, let's share a quick 'My Story.' Think of something interesting or positive that has happened to you recently, or something you are really good at, or a hobby you love.
It could be:
- A fun thing you did over the weekend.
- Something you're excited about.
- A skill or talent you have.
- Your favorite subject in school and why.
Take a moment to think, then you can share it with me! If you like, you can write or draw a little about it below.
Worksheet
Confidence Compass: Charting Your Course
Welcome to your Confidence Compass! This worksheet will help us explore your strengths and what you hope to achieve during our time together. We'll look at three important areas.
1. Self-Advocacy: Finding Your Voice
Self-advocacy is about speaking up for yourself and your needs. It means letting others know what you think, feel, and need in a respectful way.
- What does 'speaking up for yourself' mean to you?
- Can you think of a time when it was easy or hard to speak up for yourself? What happened?
- What's one thing you might want to get better at when it comes to advocating for yourself?
2. Identifying & Communicating Emotions: Understanding Your Feelings
This is about knowing what you're feeling and being able to share those feelings with others.
- How do you usually know what you're feeling (e.g., happy, sad, frustrated)? What clues does your body give you?
- Is it easy or hard for you to tell others how you're feeling? Why or why not?
- What's one way you could practice sharing your feelings more clearly?
3. Classroom Self-Confidence: Believing in Your Awesome Self
Classroom self-confidence is about feeling sure of yourself in school, whether it's answering questions, working in groups, or presenting.
- When do you feel most confident in class? What makes you feel that way?
- When do you feel less confident in class? What situations make you feel unsure?
- What's one small step you could take to feel a little more confident in the classroom?
My Monthly Confidence Goal!
Based on our conversation, let's pick one small, super achievable goal that will help you feel more confident in the classroom over the next month. We'll check in on it next time!
My Goal Is:
I will know I've achieved it when... (How will you measure your success?)