Lesson Plan

Guide to Building Your Calm Spot

Guide the student through identifying personal stress triggers, visualizing a mental safe space, and creating a blueprint paired with coping strategies to manage anxiety.

This lesson equips the student with a personalized mental “calm spot” and actionable coping tools to reduce anxiety, foster self-regulation, and build resilience in stressful situations.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Establish Rapport & Identify Triggers

5 minutes

Step 2

Guided Visualization

10 minutes

Step 3

Blueprint Creation

7 minutes

Step 4

Coping Strategy Development

5 minutes

Step 5

Reflection & Closure

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Visualizing Your Calm Spot

Welcome the student and introduce today’s guided visualization. Explain that you will help them imagine a safe, calming place in their mind called their “calm spot.” Invite them to sit comfortably, close their eyes when ready, and follow your prompts.

1. Getting Comfortable

Pause 10 seconds after each instruction to allow the student to settle. Encourage relaxed breathing: inhale slowly through the nose, exhale through the mouth.

2. Sense the Surroundings: Sight

Guide them to imagine entering their safe space. Speak slowly, allowing silence for imagery.

3. Sounds & Smells

Invite them to focus on gentle sounds and comforting scents. Pause to let them hear and smell in their mind.

4. Textures & Temperature

Encourage tactile imagination. Let them “feel” textures and temperatures.

5. Colors & Shapes

Ask them to identify colors, patterns, and shapes that make the spot inviting.

6. Bringing It All Together

Guide them to assemble the full image of their calm spot.

7. Reflection & Debrief

Ask the student to open their eyes and journal or discuss their experience. Use this reflection to prepare for blueprint creation.