Lesson Plan
Coping Toolbox Plan
Participants will learn and practice three coping strategies—deep breathing, grounding, and cognitive reframing—and create a personalized Coping Toolbox to manage stress and schizophrenia symptoms.
Teaching coping techniques enhances self-awareness and emotional regulation, reduces symptom escalation, and fosters peer support for adults with schizophrenia, improving daily functioning and quality of life.
Audience
Adults with Schizophrenia
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided exercises, group discussion, and personalized planning.
Materials
- Coping Strategies Handout, - Mindfulness Exercise Script, - Coping Toolbox Worksheet, - Timer, and - Whiteboard or Flip Chart with Markers
Prep
Review and Setup Materials
10 minutes
- Review Coping Strategies Handout.
- Familiarize yourself with Mindfulness Exercise Script.
- Print or prepare enough copies of Coping Toolbox Worksheet for all participants.
- Arrange seating in a circle to foster peer interaction.
- Set up whiteboard or flip chart and markers.
- Prepare timer for each activity.
Step 1
Introduction and Objectives
5 minutes
- Welcome participants and review group guidelines (confidentiality, respect).
- State session objective: building a personalized Coping Toolbox.
- Brief icebreaker: each shares one word describing their current mood.
Step 2
Mindfulness Breathing Exercise
5 minutes
- Guide group through deep breathing using Mindfulness Exercise Script.
- Encourage focus on bodily sensations and present moment.
- Afterward, invite brief reflections on the experience.
Step 3
Coping Strategies Discussion
10 minutes
- Present three evidence-based strategies on the whiteboard: deep breathing, grounding techniques, cognitive reframing.
- Distribute Coping Strategies Handout.
- Facilitate discussion: personal experiences, benefits, and barriers.
- Ask participants for real-life examples of using these strategies.
Step 4
Coping Toolbox Worksheet Activity
7 minutes
- Distribute Coping Toolbox Worksheet.
- Instruct participants to select two strategies and note personalized cues and step-by-step instructions.
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Peer Supports
3 minutes
- Each participant shares one strategy they commit to using this week.
- Pair participants for peer check-ins and mutual encouragement.
- Thank the group and remind them of the next session.
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Slide Deck
Your Coping Toolbox
30-Minute Group Session for Adults with Schizophrenia
Today’s Goals:
- Learn 3 coping strategies
- Practice deep breathing together
- Create a personalized Coping Toolbox
Let’s get started!
Welcome everyone. Introduce yourself and review group guidelines: confidentiality, respect, and support. Explain that today we will build a personalized Coping Toolbox to help manage stress and symptoms.
Session Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will:
- Understand deep breathing, grounding, and cognitive reframing
- Practice a mindfulness breathing exercise
- Build a personalized Coping Toolbox to use between sessions
Read aloud the objectives, ensuring participants understand what they will gain. Encourage questions if anything is unclear.
Mindfulness Breathing Exercise
- Sit comfortably with feet flat on the floor
- Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly
- Inhale slowly for a count of 4
- Exhale slowly for a count of 6
- Repeat for 5 breaths
Reflect: How did that feel?
Transition to breathing exercise. Hand out the Mindfulness Exercise Script. Guide participants step by step, pausing between instructions.
Coping Strategies Overview
- Deep Breathing: Use breath to calm mind and body
- Grounding Techniques: Anchor yourself in the present
- Cognitive Reframing: Shift unhelpful thoughts to more balanced ones
Introduce the three strategies. Write them on the board. Distribute Coping Strategies Handout.
Deep Breathing
Why it works:
- Activates relaxation response
- Reduces heart rate and tension
Try it when:
- You feel anxious or overwhelmed
- Thoughts race or symptoms escalate
Explain deep breathing in more detail. Invite participants to share prior experiences or barriers.
Grounding Techniques
Examples:
- 5-4-3-2-1 sense exercise
- Hold a comforting object
- Notice textures around you
Helps by:
- Bringing focus to the here and now
- Distracting from distressing symptoms
Describe simple grounding methods. Encourage participants to choose one that feels right.
Cognitive Reframing
Steps:
- Notice a negative thought
- Ask: Is this 100% true?
- Find alternative, balanced thought
Example:
“I always mess up” → “I’ve managed challenges before and can try again.”
Outline cognitive reframing steps. Share an example and ask for participant examples.
Build Your Coping Toolbox
Activity Instructions:
- Choose two strategies from today’s session
- Personalize cues (e.g., “When I feel tense…”)
- Write step-by-step instructions you can follow
You have 7 minutes—go for it!
Distribute the Coping Toolbox Worksheet. Explain the activity and circulate to support participants.
Wrap-Up & Peer Support
Takeaways:
- One strategy to try and when you’ll use it
- A peer partner for mutual check-ins
Thank you for your participation! See you next session.
Bring group back together. Ask each participant to share one strategy they’ll practice this week. Pair participants for peer check-ins.
Worksheet
Coping Strategies Handout
Use this handout to review three practical coping strategies. Practice these steps when you notice stress, anxiety, or distressing symptoms. Write your own examples or notes under each section.
1. Deep Breathing
Why it helps:
- Activates the body’s relaxation response
- Slows heart rate and releases tension
How to do it:
- Sit comfortably with feet flat on the floor.
- Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
- Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4.
- Hold for 1–2 seconds.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6.
- Repeat for 5–10 breaths, focusing on the rise and fall of your belly.
When I might use this strategy:
My notes or prompts to remember:
2. Grounding Techniques
Why it helps:
- Anchors you in the present moment
- Distracts from distressing thoughts or hallucinations
Examples & steps:
-
5-4-3-2-1 Sense Exercise
- Name 5 things you can see.
- Name 4 things you can touch.
- Name 3 things you can hear.
- Name 2 things you can smell.
- Name 1 thing you can taste.
-
Comfort Object
Hold or squeeze an object that feels safe (e.g., a stress ball, smooth stone). -
Describe Your Surroundings
Mentally note colors, textures, shapes around you.
When I might use this strategy:
My notes or favorite grounding prompts:
3. Cognitive Reframing
Why it helps:
- Challenges unhelpful or negative thoughts
- Encourages balanced, realistic thinking
How to do it:
- Notice a negative or distressing thought (e.g., “I always fail”).
- Ask yourself: Is this 100% true?
- Identify evidence for and against the thought.
- Create a more balanced statement (e.g., “I’ve succeeded before and can try again”).
- Repeat the balanced thought when the old thought returns.
When I might use this strategy:
My notes or sample reframed thoughts:
Keep this handout handy. Combine these strategies in your personalized Coping Toolbox Worksheet to build a plan you can use daily.
Worksheet
Coping Toolbox Worksheet
Use this worksheet to build your personalized Coping Toolbox. Choose two strategies from today’s session or from the Coping Strategies Handout and make them your own. Fill in each section below.
Strategy 1: _______________________
1. Personalized Cue
(When I notice I need to use this strategy…)
2. My Step-by-Step Instructions
(Write exactly how you will do it in your own words.)
3. How I’ll Know It’s Working
(Signs, feelings, or changes I expect when it helps.)
4. Possible Barriers & Solutions
(What might get in the way? How can I handle that?)
Strategy 2: _______________________
1. Personalized Cue
(When I notice I need to use this strategy…)
2. My Step-by-Step Instructions
(Write exactly how you will do it in your own words.)
3. How I’ll Know It’s Working
(Signs, feelings, or changes I expect when it helps.)
4. Possible Barriers & Solutions
(What might get in the way? How can I handle that?)
Commitment & Peer Support
My Commitment This Week:
(I will practice Strategy 1 on ___ days and Strategy 2 on ___ days.)
Peer Check-In Partner: _______________________
Check-In Plan:
(How and when we’ll support each other.)
Keep this worksheet somewhere you can see it daily. Reach out to your peer partner if you need encouragement or reminders. You’ve got this!
Script
Mindfulness Breathing Exercise Script
Teacher: "Alright everyone, let’s take a moment to settle in. Please sit comfortably with both feet flat on the floor and your hands resting gently in your lap. You can close your eyes or keep a soft gaze on the floor—whatever feels most comfortable for you."
Teacher: "I’m going to guide us through five mindful breaths. We’ll breathe in through the nose, pause briefly, and exhale through the mouth. Notice each sensation as you breathe—how your belly rises, how your chest moves, the feeling of air flowing in and out."
Round 1:
Teacher: "Ready? Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four. 1... 2... 3... 4… (pause)"
Teacher: "Hold gently for two. 1… 2… (pause)"
Teacher: "And exhale through your mouth for a count of six. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… (pause)"
Rounds 2–5:
Teacher: "Let’s do that again. Inhale four—1…2…3…4… (pause), hold two—1…2… (pause), exhale six—1…2…3…4…5…6… (pause)."
(Repeat this pattern until you complete five breaths, pacing each inhale, hold, and exhale.)
Teacher (after final breath): "Very nice. Gently bring your attention back to the room. If your eyes were closed, you can open them now or lift your gaze."
Teacher: "Take a moment and notice how you feel. What did you experience in your body as you breathed? Was there any change in your heart rate, your tension, or your thoughts?"
Teacher: "I’d like to hear one or two quick reflections. Who noticed something different?"
(Pause for 2–3 participants to share brief observations.)
Teacher: "Thank you for sharing. This simple practice can help calm your mind and body when you’re feeling tense or overwhelmed. We’ll use this technique again throughout our session and whenever you need a quick reset. Ready to move on?*
(Proceed to next activity.)