Welcome students to the Anxiety Armor program. Introduce yourself and explain that this four-session series will help them understand and manage anxiety with practical tools.

Define anxiety in simple terms. Emphasize that it’s a normal response that can become overwhelming without coping strategies.

Highlight both physical and emotional symptoms. Invite the student to nod or raise a hand if they’ve experienced any of these.

Offer a few common examples, then prompt the student to think of personal triggers.

Distribute the “Session 1 Worksheet: Understanding Anxiety.” Encourage honest reflection as they complete it.

Explain each step clearly. Model one cycle before inviting the student to follow along.

Use this slide to prompt a brief conversation. Capture their thoughts on a whiteboard or slide notes.

Wrap up the session by summarizing key takeaways. Remind them to practice breathing daily and preview Session 2 on cognitive reframing.

Welcome to Session 2. Briefly review Session 1 and introduce today’s focus on how our thoughts influence anxiety. Explain that we’ll learn to challenge unhelpful thinking.

Define Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) in simple, student-friendly language. Emphasize how they often pop up without warning.

Go through each distortion, inviting students to share if they’ve noticed these patterns in themselves.

Explain the cycle: negative thought → anxious feeling → more negative thinking. Show how interrupting this cycle reduces anxiety.

Introduce the three key steps of reframing. Refer to the worksheet columns as you go.

Model each column on the board. Use a relatable scenario, such as a homework deadline or social situation.

Encourage students to pull from their own experiences. Use this slide to spark dialogue before handing out the worksheet.

Guide students through the worksheet instructions. Remind them to use specific, factual evidence.

Wrap up by celebrating their new insights. Preview grounding techniques for Session 3.