Lesson Plan
Confidence Counseling Plan
In this 30-minute individual counseling session, the student will identify personal strengths, reflect on past successes, set a small achievable goal, and learn coping strategies to boost self-confidence.
Fostering self-confidence empowers 7th graders to engage in class, build resilience, and tackle challenges with a positive mindset, reducing anxiety and improving overall well-being.
Audience
7th Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided reflection, discussion, and personalized journaling.
Materials
- Strengths Reflection Worksheet, - Self-Confidence Journal Sheet, - Goal-Setting Template, - Coping Strategies Guide, and - Pen and Paper
Prep
Prepare Materials and Environment
5 minutes
- Print or have digital access to all student handouts: Strengths Reflection Worksheet, Self-Confidence Journal Sheet, Goal-Setting Template, and Coping Strategies Guide
- Review the Your Confidence Compass counseling plan
- Arrange a private, comfortable space free from distractions
Step 1
Welcome and Check-In
5 minutes
- Greet the student warmly and ask how they’re feeling today
- Introduce a simple self-confidence rating scale (1–5) and have the student share their current score
- Note any concerns or highlights to reference later
Step 2
Strengths Identification
7 minutes
- Introduce the Strengths Reflection Worksheet
- Prompt the student to list three personal strengths and provide concrete examples
- Discuss how these strengths have helped them in the past
Step 3
Reflective Journaling
7 minutes
- Distribute the Self-Confidence Journal Sheet
- Ask the student to write about a specific moment they felt confident and why
- Encourage them to note feelings, actions, and outcomes
Step 4
Goal Setting
5 minutes
- Present the Goal-Setting Template
- Guide the student to choose one strength and set a small, specific goal to practice this week
- Ensure the goal is measurable, time-bound, and achievable
Step 5
Coping Strategies and Wrap-Up
6 minutes
- Share the Coping Strategies Guide with techniques for self-encouragement and positive self-talk
- Help the student select one strategy to use when confidence dips
- Summarize key takeaways, confirm the chosen goal, and schedule a brief follow-up check-in
Slide Deck
Your Confidence Compass
Welcome to your first confidence counseling session!
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Goal: Identify strengths, reflect on wins, set a goal, and learn coping strategies.
Welcome the student warmly. Introduce today’s session title and purpose: to explore and strengthen their self-confidence over the next 30 minutes.
Session Outline
- Welcome & Check-In (5 min)
- Strengths Identification (7 min)
- Reflective Journaling (7 min)
- Goal Setting (5 min)
- Coping Strategies & Wrap-Up (6 min)
Briefly walk through the agenda so the student knows what to expect and feels comfortable.
Welcome & Check-In
• How are you feeling today?
• On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), what is your current confidence score?
Your score: ____
Ask how they’re feeling and introduce a simple confidence rating scale. Record their response to revisit at the end.
Strengths Identification
- Open your Strengths Reflection Worksheet.
- List three personal strengths.
- For each, write an example of when you used it.
Let’s discuss how these strengths have helped you before.
Hand out the Strengths Reflection Worksheet. Encourage the student to list three strengths with examples, then discuss past successes.
Reflective Journaling
- Take your Self-Confidence Journal Sheet.
- Write about a moment you felt confident:
• What happened?
• How did you feel?
• What actions did you take?
• What was the outcome?
Provide the Self-Confidence Journal Sheet and prompt with guiding questions. Encourage honest reflection.
Goal Setting
- Open the Goal-Setting Template.
- Choose one strength you identified.
- Create a small, specific goal (SMART):
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Time-bound
Your goal: ____________________
Introduce the Goal-Setting Template. Help the student pick one strength and craft a SMART goal to practice this week.
Coping Strategies
• Review your Coping Strategies Guide.
• Explore techniques for self-encouragement:
– Positive self-talk
– Deep breathing
– Visualizing success
Which strategy will you use when confidence dips? ____
Show the Coping Strategies Guide. Review techniques like positive self-talk and breathing exercises. Help the student choose one.
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
• Today’s confidence score: ____
• Chosen goal for the week: ____________________
• Selected coping strategy: ____________________
Let’s set a quick follow-up check-in next week to see how it’s going!
Summarize the session by revisiting the initial confidence score and the goal. Schedule a brief follow-up to check progress.
Worksheet
Strengths Reflection Worksheet
Instructions: List three personal strengths and an example of when you used each. Then reflect on how these strengths have helped you.
| Strength | Example of When I Used This Strength |
|---|---|
| 1. __________________________________________ | ________________________________________________________ |
| 2. __________________________________________ | ________________________________________________________ |
| 3. __________________________________________ | ________________________________________________________ |
Reflection Prompt:
How have these strengths helped you in the past?
Journal
Self-Confidence Journal Sheet
Instructions: Think about a specific moment when you felt confident. Respond to each prompt below with as much detail as you can.
- Describe the situation. What was happening and where were you?
- What actions did you take? What did you do to handle the situation?
- How did you feel physically and mentally? Describe your emotions, thoughts, and body sensations.
- What was the outcome? What happened after you took those actions?
- Why do you think you felt confident in this moment? Identify any strengths, skills, or supports you used.
- How can you apply what you learned? What steps can you take to bring this confidence into future situations?
Activity
Goal-Setting Template
Instructions: Use the SMART framework to plan your goal. Complete each section below, then write your final SMART goal at the end.
Specific: What exactly do you want to accomplish?
Measurable: How will you know you’ve achieved it?
Achievable: Why is this goal realistic for you? What resources or strengths will help?
Relevant: How does this goal connect to your personal strengths or values?
Time-bound: When will you complete this goal?
My SMART Goal:
Reading
Coping Strategies Guide
Use these techniques to support your confidence whenever you feel anxious or uncertain.
Positive Self-Talk
Replace negative thoughts with kind, encouraging words:
• When you catch a negative thought, pause and say “I can do this” or “I’ve done this before.”
Deep Breathing
Calm your mind and body by breathing slowly:
- Inhale through your nose for 4 counts.
- Hold for 2 counts.
- Exhale through your mouth for 6 counts.
Practice this before a challenging task.
Visualization
Imagine yourself succeeding in detail:
• Close your eyes and picture where you are, what you’re doing, and how you feel.
Spend 2–3 minutes visualizing success.
Grounding Exercise
Connect to the present moment using your five senses:
- List 5 things you see.
- List 4 things you hear.
- List 3 things you touch.
- List 2 things you smell.
- List 1 thing you taste.
Use this when you feel overwhelmed to bring your focus back.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Release tension by tightening and then relaxing muscle groups:
- Tense each part of your body for 5 seconds.
- Release and notice the difference.
- Move from your head down to your toes.
Journaling
Write down your thoughts and feelings:
• Note any negative beliefs and then write a positive counter-thought.
• End with one thing you did well today.
Mindfulness Meditation
Focus on your breathing for calm clarity:
• Sit quietly, breathe naturally, and notice your thoughts without judgment.
• Aim for 3–5 minutes of quiet focus.
Which strategy will you try this week?