Exploring Coping Skills with Teens 10 Week Lesson Plan

This is a 10 week lesson plan designed to help teens find and try different coping skills and create ways to make it easier for them to use those coping skills.

During these lessons, you will lead your group through the basics of labeling feelings, understanding what a coping skill is, then exploring a shorter version of the coping skills checklist. Then you’ll dive in and actually try some coping skills together. The lessons wrap up with creating an individual coping skills toolkit designed by the participants in the group, which includes their own preferred strategies.

These lessons are designed for small groups, perfect for school, after school programs, teen counseling programs, specialized camps, etc.

This lesson plan is based on the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook as well as resources available in the Coping Skills Resource Library Hub. You can customize or expand these lessons by adding in strategies found in the Coping Skills Resource Library Hub.

Weekly Lesson Topics

Identifying Feelings

What is a coping skill?

Coping Skills Checklist

Deep Breathing Strategies

Relaxation Strategy: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Distraction Strategy: Color a Mandala

Movement Strategies: Small and Large Body Movements

Sensory Strategies: Listening to Sounds

Processing Strategy: Find Your Support System

Create Your Own Toolkit

Printables included in this Lesson Plan:

Pre and Post Test

Lesson 1 Printable - What’s going on and how do you feel?

Lesson 2 Printable - Healthy vs. Unhealthy coping skills

Lesson 3 Printable - Coping Skills Checklist

Lesson 4, 7 & 8 Printable - What worked best?

Lesson 5 Printable - Progressive Muscle Relaxation Script

Lesson 6 Printable - Mandala Coloring Sheets

Lesson 9 Printable - Who is in my support system?

Lesson 10 Printable - Create a Toolkit Handout

Printable blank visuals for teens

Icebreaker / Warm-up and Check Out Prompt Ideas