Lesson Plan

Session 1 Plan

In Session 1, the mother will learn to recognize and label her child’s emotions and practice foundational active listening skills through guided discussion and role-play exercises.

Building emotional awareness and listening skills strengthens the parent-child bond, fosters trust, and equips the mother to respond supportively—even while managing bipolar symptoms.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Review & Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Check-In

10 minutes

Step 2

Introducing Emotions

10 minutes

Step 3

Active Listening Basics

15 minutes

Step 4

Emotion Role-Play Activity

15 minutes

Step 5

Reflection & Goal Setting

10 minutes

Slide Deck

Active Listening: Introduction

Welcome participants and introduce the concept of active listening. Emphasize that small changes in how we listen can strengthen the parent-child bond, especially when managing mental health challenges.

Session Objectives

Explain the goals for this session so the mother knows what to expect and can track her progress.

Skill 1: Maintain Eye Contact

Define and illustrate the first skill. Role-model maintaining eye contact by looking at the speaker, nodding, and using an attentive posture.

Skill 2: Reflect Back

Introduce the concept of reflecting feelings. Give examples: “It sounds like you felt upset when…” and coach mother through a short practice.

Skill 3: Ask Open Questions

Explain open-ended questions. Contrast with yes/no questions. Practice by transforming “Were you sad?” into “How did that make you feel?”

Putting It Together

Show a simple diagram: ear icon + speech bubble + heart symbol. Offer quick tips: pause, breathe, avoid interrupting, focus on tone and body language.

Reflection & Next Steps

Guide the mother through a brief reflection. Ask her to choose one skill to practice this week and set a simple goal.

Worksheet

Discussion

Lesson Plan

Session 2 Plan

In Session 2, the mother will identify her emotional triggers and learn practical self-care strategies to manage bipolar symptoms, practicing these techniques to stay present and responsive to her child.

By increasing self-awareness and adopting coping skills, the mother can better regulate mood swings, reduce overwhelm, and improve her ability to listen and connect with her child.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Review & Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Mood Check-In

10 minutes

Step 2

Self-Awareness Exercise

15 minutes

Step 3

Coping Strategies Overview

15 minutes

Step 4

Self-Care Activity Practice

15 minutes

Step 5

Reflection & Goal Setting

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Coping Strategies for Self-Care

Welcome the mother and introduce Session 2’s focus: practical self-care strategies to help manage mood and stay present for her child.

Why Self-Care Matters

Explain why coping strategies matter: reducing overwhelm helps you listen and connect more deeply with your child.

Identifying Your Triggers

Define triggers and guide the mother to recognize situations or feelings that precede mood shifts.

Strategy 1: Deep Breathing

Introduce deep breathing as a quick, accessible tool. Lead a 2-minute guided exercise.

Strategy 2: Grounding Exercises

Explain grounding: using the senses to anchor in the present moment.

Strategy 3: Brief Physical Activity

Emphasize moving your body to release tension and boost mood.

Strategy 4: Quick Journaling

Show how jotting down thoughts can clarify emotions and reduce overwhelm.

Putting It All Together

Tie the strategies together by modeling a mock scenario: use coping before listening to a child expressing frustration.

Reflection & Next Steps

Invite reflection to solidify planning and accountability.

Worksheet

Discussion

Activity

Lesson Plan

Session 3 Plan

In Session 3, the mother will integrate active listening and self-care strategies by practicing guided role-plays, overcoming barriers, and developing a long-term plan to support consistent connection with her child.

Bringing together listening and coping skills in realistic situations builds confidence, addresses challenges proactively, and establishes sustainable routines for her mental well-being and parent-child bond.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Review & Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Warm-Up

10 minutes

Step 2

Integration Role-Play

20 minutes

Step 3

Barrier Troubleshooting

15 minutes

Step 4

Long-Term Plan Development

10 minutes

Step 5

Closing & Next Steps

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Integration of Skills

Welcome and introduce Session 3’s focus: integrating self-care and active listening into one seamless practice.

Session 2 Recap: Self-Care

Quickly recap the self-care strategies the mother learned last session.

Session 1 Recap: Active Listening

Review the core listening skills from Session 1.

Bringing It Together

Show how to bring self-care and listening skills together in one seamless flow.

Role-Play Guidelines

Explain the role-play structure and how to debrief each practice.

Practical Tips

Offer practical suggestions to support ongoing practice at home.

Reflection & Next Steps

Lead a final reflection and help the mother commit to her plan.