DSM-5 Diagnostic Formulation

In this 80-minute, full-class Tier 1 session for undergrad counseling students, we’ll guide learners through building a live DSM-5-focused intake and assessment toolkit. Students will explore each tool, assemble their own kit in collaborative stations, and demonstrate proficiency with an interactive quiz. This lesson is essential for grounding future counselors in practical diagnostic formulation skills.

In this 45-minute session, adult learners will explore the process of constructing a psychiatric diagnostic formulation, integrating patient history, symptoms, and biopsychosocial factors. This lesson is vital for enhancing clinical reasoning, improving patient care, and ensuring accurate, individualized treatment plans.

This lesson is designed to support Grade 9 students returning from psychiatric hospitalizations by focusing on distress tolerance and reintegration into a school routine. Through trauma-informed teaching and inquiry-based learning, students will explore strategies to manage stress and anxiety, helping them transition smoothly back into their academic environment. This lesson is crucial for building resilience and confidence in students as they navigate their return to school.

This lesson aims to help 9th grade female students reduce symptoms of OCD through trauma-informed teaching strategies. By focusing on mindfulness and self-awareness, students will learn techniques to manage their symptoms, allowing them to better access classroom instruction. This lesson is important as it empowers students with tools to improve their mental health and academic performance.

In this 30-minute Tier 3 individual support session, 8th-grade students will learn and practice clinical intake interviews through a structured role-play activity. This lesson is crucial for developing active listening, structured data collection, and foundational counseling skills. Components include a detailed Lesson-Plan Script, Key Intake Questions Slide Deck, and Pair Role-Play Activity.

In this single 30-minute Tier 3 session, a 4th grade student will learn to identify common cognitive distortions and reflect on their own thoughts to improve emotional regulation. This lesson helps the student recognize and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, building self-awareness and coping skills.

This lesson introduces students to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focusing on the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Students will explore how these elements influence each other and learn practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety. This lesson is crucial for developing self-awareness and emotional regulation skills, which are essential for mental well-being and academic success.

A one-on-one counseling session for a 4th grader with ADHD and behavioral symptoms, focused on building self-awareness of emotions and strategies for maintaining focus. This 60-minute, Tier 3 intervention will help the student identify triggers, practice coping skills, and develop a personalized action plan.

An individualized CBT session guiding an 11th grade student through identifying and disputing core beliefs using targeted reading, worksheets, and reflection. This Tier 3 lesson deepens self-awareness and equips the student with practical CBT strategies in a single 55-minute session.

This lesson involves a simulation-based activity where students role-play as grief counselors and clients. Through this exercise, students will learn effective communication and empathy skills, which are crucial for interpersonal relationships and emotional intelligence. The lesson includes feedback sessions to help students reflect on their performance and improve their skills, making it a valuable experience for personal and professional development.

In this 30-minute one-on-one session, the teacher guides a 12th grader through self-assessment, coping strategies, and goal-setting to support their mental health. This individual Tier 3 intervention builds self-awareness and equips students with personalized tools to manage stress and emotions.

This lesson explores the role of counseling services in shaping students' identities and experiences in public schools. It is designed for adults, focusing on how counseling can support the development of well-rounded individuals in a diverse society. The session will last 30 minutes and is crucial for understanding the integration of counseling in educational settings.

A one-session, 30-minute individual counseling lesson for 6th graders focused on mental health counseling and building personal coping strategies. This Tier 3 lesson helps students identify emotions, learn coping tools, and practice self-talk to manage stress and anxiety.

This 15-minute individual Tier 3 lesson guides a secondary student in designing a concise mental health screener to triage referrals into Tier 2 group or Tier 3 one-on-one counseling. It empowers the student to craft clear, targeted questions for quick identification of support needs, ensuring swift and appropriate district mental health services.

In this Tier 3, single-session 60-minute lesson, teachers will guide an 11th-grade student through understanding and managing dissociation resulting from trauma. This trauma-informed session builds self-awareness, grounding skills, and coping strategies to empower the student to feel present and safe.

In this one-session, 30-minute social work consult, teachers and the social worker will collaborate to develop classroom accommodations and supports for a disengaged 6th-grade student who sometimes destroys his learning materials. This plan will equip educators with practical strategies to boost engagement, reduce disruptive behaviors, and create a supportive math environment.

In this two-session, 20-minute individual counseling series, the 2nd-grade student will become a “detective” of their own body, learning to recognize at least two physical responses tied to dysregulated feelings (anxiety, frustration, anger). This builds emotional awareness and self-regulation skills crucial for classroom success.

This 6-session individual lesson for a 6th-grade female student focuses on reducing anxiety, excessive worry, and overthinking using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions. Each 45-minute session is designed to empower the student with practical skills to manage anxiety, fostering emotional well-being and resilience.

In this 30-minute individual Tier 3 session, a third-grade boy with autism will learn how to identify and manage his thoughts in order to influence his behaviors positively. This CBT-based lesson helps him become a “mind detective,” spotting unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with helpful ones to reduce frustration and increase self-control.

A guided individual counseling session using open-ended questions and reflective exercises to help a student articulate and manage emotions. This Tier 3 session is designed for an 8th grade student and takes 30 minutes, focusing on individual counseling techniques to foster self-awareness and emotional regulation.

In this detective-themed individual counseling session, a 5th grade student will track anxious thoughts like clues and learn strategies to ‘catch’ and challenge them. This 45-minute Tier 3 activity helps build coping skills and self-awareness in a personalized, engaging format.

This lesson is designed for 12th grade students to help them assess their mental and emotional health while dealing with college applications and making significant career decisions. The objective is to equip students with strategies to manage stress and make informed decisions. The lesson will last 45 minutes.

This lesson aims to equip students with practical strategies to manage anxiety through experiential and collaborative learning. By engaging in a calming activity, participating in a group activity, and engaging in a guided discussion, students will gain insights into managing anxiety effectively. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students with tools to handle stress, promoting mental well-being and resilience.

An individual digital escape-room challenge where students solve logic puzzles to uncover missing SOAP note sections, reinforcing their understanding of counseling progress note documentation. This Tier 3 intervention is tailored for 12th graders and delivered in a 35-minute session to master SOAP note components.

This lesson focuses on empowering 12th grade female students to manage symptoms of depression through collaborative discussion. By engaging in a supportive dialogue, students will explore strategies and share experiences in a safe environment. This lesson is important as it fosters a sense of community and understanding, helping students to feel less isolated and more equipped to handle their emotions.

This lesson introduces 4th-grade students to the CBT triangle, which connects thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and its relationship with brain function. Through engaging activities, students will learn how their thoughts can influence their emotions and actions. This lesson is important as it empowers students with self-awareness and emotional regulation skills, fostering resilience and mental well-being.

This one-session, 30-minute individual lesson equips 11th grade students with practical skills—mindfulness exercises, cognitive reframing, and journaling—to help manage feelings of depression. By guiding students through hands-on activities and reflective prompts, this lesson empowers them to build personal coping strategies they can use anytime.

This lesson introduces students to the school counselor through interactive activities, helping them understand the counselor's role in supporting personal and academic growth and the importance of mental health. This session is crucial for building a supportive school environment and encouraging students to seek help when needed.

A structured data collection form designed for social workers and teachers to systematically record 7th grade students’ emotional awareness and self-regulation skills during small group sessions. This single 30-minute session Tier 2 tool helps track progress on IEP goals by capturing identification of triggers, emotion expression methods, and interpretation of emotional cues across 5 opportunities.

This individual session uses art and personal reflection to help an 8th-grade student reduce anxiety. Through a creative activity and guided self-reflection, the student will explore ways to manage their feelings and develop coping strategies. This session is important as it provides the student with practical tools to handle stress, enhancing their emotional well-being and academic performance.

This lesson aims to equip students with practical strategies to manage anxiety through experiential and collaborative learning. By engaging in a calming activity, participating in a group activity, and engaging in a guided discussion, students will gain insights into managing anxiety effectively. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students with tools to handle stress, promoting mental well-being and resilience.

A brief structured check-in tool to monitor ongoing suicide risk factors and update safety plans dynamically with a 9th grade student in a 20-minute one-on-one session. This Tier 3 individual intervention helps counselors assess current risk, track mood trends, and provide coping support to keep students safe.

This lesson plan is designed to help a 9th-grade girl with Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder (DDD) develop effective coping strategies. Through a series of three 30-minute sessions, the student will engage in activities, readings, and worksheets that focus on understanding her symptoms and learning practical techniques to manage them. This lesson is important as it empowers the student with tools to navigate her experiences, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

This lesson plan is designed to help a 9th-grade girl with Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder (DDD) develop effective coping strategies. Through a series of three 30-minute sessions, the student will engage in activities, readings, and worksheets that focus on understanding her symptoms and learning practical techniques to manage them. This lesson is important as it empowers the student with tools to navigate her experiences, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

This individual counseling session is designed to help 7th-grade students recognize and manage their emotions effectively. Through personalized discussion and activities, students will learn to identify their emotions, understand their triggers, and apply coping strategies. This session aims to enhance emotional intelligence and resilience, which are crucial for personal and academic success.

This lesson helps students prepare for the emotional impact of receiving their report cards. By using trauma-informed teaching and restorative practices, students will learn to identify and manage their emotions effectively. This lesson is crucial for fostering emotional resilience and promoting a healthy response to academic feedback.

This three-session lesson is designed to help an anxious third grader develop effective coping skills, identify and overcome barriers, and improve communication and listening skills. Through engaging discussions and activities, the student will learn to manage anxiety and stress, empowering them with strategies to handle challenging situations. Each session is 15 minutes long, focusing on individual support for a student with undiagnosed anxiety.

This individualized coaching module empowers school counselors to investigate gaps in their progress notes and refine documentation quality through self-assessment and targeted improvement. Delivered in a single 30-minute session for Tier 3 support.

This lesson plan is designed to educate teachers about trauma-informed education, focusing on understanding trauma's impact on students and implementing supportive teaching strategies. Through discussion, experiential learning, and video segments, teachers will gain insights into creating a safe and supportive learning environment. This lesson is crucial for fostering empathy and understanding in educational settings, ultimately benefiting students who have experienced trauma.

This lesson plan is designed to educate teachers on the benefits of trauma-informed approaches in the classroom. By understanding and implementing these strategies, teachers can create a supportive and nurturing environment that enhances student learning and well-being. This lesson will help teachers recognize the impact of trauma on students and equip them with practical tools to foster a positive classroom atmosphere.

This one-on-one counseling session equips an 11th-grade student with the Inner Mirror Strategy, helping them identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns through metaphorical mirroring. By guiding self-reflection and positive reframing, the session promotes healthier self-talk and emotional resilience. (Tier 3, 50 minutes)

A 4-session, 30-minute psychoeducation series for a 4th-grade girl to understand anxiety and learn coping strategies. This individual (Tier 3) lesson supports a single student in recognizing anxious feelings, exploring triggers, and practicing calming tools.

This lesson aims to equip Catholic Elementary Teachers with a clear understanding of anxiety in students, including its types and symptoms. The lesson will provide coping strategies and discuss the role of IEPs in managing anxiety. This is crucial for teachers to create a supportive learning environment and identify students who may need additional support.

This lesson is designed to help a 10th-grade student develop and implement personalized coping strategies to manage anxiety related to attending school. Through a combination of discussion, activity, and quiz, the student will explore their feelings, create actionable strategies, and assess their understanding. This lesson is important as it empowers the student to overcome barriers and improve their ability to complete assigned tasks.

In this 30-minute, single-session Tier 2 group lesson, 9th graders are introduced to the basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Students will learn how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors through interactive activities, gaining practical skills to challenge negative thinking patterns. This lesson helps students develop essential self-awareness and coping strategies for stress and anxiety.

A 60-minute individual counseling session for a 6th grader focused on self-regulation through guided relaxation and visualization. In this Tier 3 intervention, the student will learn to use a personalized Calm Circle diagram to calm their mind and body, promoting emotional awareness and coping skills.

This lesson is designed to help a 1st grade autistic male student reduce tantrums and improve communication skills through a combination of counseling and speech therapy. The lesson incorporates Active Learning, Collaborative Learning, and Blended Learning strategies to engage the student in a supportive and interactive environment. By focusing on both emotional regulation and speech development, the lesson aims to provide the student with tools to express himself more effectively and manage emotions.

This follow-up individual counseling session aims to build on the previous lesson by introducing journaling and positive self-talk as additional strategies to manage overthinking. These techniques can help the student process thoughts and emotions more effectively, leading to improved mental well-being and focus.

This lesson series aims to help 4th-grade students independently identify when they are dysregulated. Through a combination of activities, discussions, worksheets, and readings, students will learn to recognize their emotional states and develop strategies to manage them. This is crucial for their social-emotional development and will aid in creating a supportive classroom environment.

An engaging class discussion on cognitive distortions and how they can impact mental health. Students will learn to identify and challenge negative thought patterns. This lesson is crucial for helping students develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence, which are essential for mental well-being. Designed for a 10th-grade class, the session will last 45 minutes and is suitable for Tier 1 classroom-wide support.

Short, focused exercises to teach mindfulness techniques for stress reduction and emotional regulation for an individual 11th grade student. This Tier 3 session is a 30-minute individual counseling mini-session to equip the student with practical tools for emotional regulation.

This 8-session plan helps 10th-grade students understand social anxiety and explore effective coping strategies through personal reflection and self-guided activities. Each session focuses on different aspects of social anxiety, allowing students to develop personalized coping strategies and apply them in real-life situations. This approach promotes mental well-being and resilience by equipping students with the knowledge and tools to handle social situations more confidently.

A one-on-one counseling session for 5th graders focused on identifying emotions and learning coping strategies. This Tier 3 individualized lesson empowers students to understand their feelings and practice tools for emotional regulation within 30 minutes.

This 5-session lesson series aims to enhance students' self-awareness, crucial for managing emotions and improving mental health. Designed for a class with students needing support in anxiety, depression, self-regulation, and complex family backgrounds, each 30-minute session will engage students through interactive activities, discussions, and games to foster a deeper understanding of themselves.

In this interactive session, students will work together to identify common sources of stress and develop effective strategies to combat them. Through collaborative problem-solving, they'll learn to support each other in managing stress. This lesson is important as it equips students with essential life skills to handle stress, promoting mental well-being and resilience.

Implementing art therapy programs in school settings to support student well-being.

This lesson aims to help students struggling with anxiety and depression by focusing on building self-esteem and developing coping skills. Through experiential learning and trauma-informed teaching strategies, students will engage in activities that promote self-awareness and resilience. This lesson is important as it provides students with practical tools to manage their emotions and improve their mental well-being.

In this 5-session, 30-minute unit for grades 5–8, students deepen mental health awareness by identifying personal strengths and challenges and crafting a persuasive mental health public service announcement. Through reflective activities, collaborative brainstorming, and iterative feedback, students will develop, storyboard, and present a polished PSA to promote coping strategies and resilience.

This lesson serves as an introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for middle school students. It aims to help students understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through discussion, group activities, and a CBT exercise, students will learn how to identify and challenge negative thoughts. This foundational lesson is important as it equips students with basic CBT skills that can be built upon in future sessions.

A small-group program offering targeted tools and strategies for students who need extra support in de-escalating emotions during crisis moments. This 30-minute Tier 2 (group) session for 7th graders helps them identify triggers, practice de-escalation skills, and create personalized safety plans.

In this Tier 2 group lesson, 10th grade counseling students collaborate to create a fictional client case from scratch and then draft a complete SOAP note. This fun, hands-on game strengthens clinical documentation skills and encourages creativity within a structured format. Audiences: 10th Grade Counseling Group, 1 session of 40 minutes.

This lesson aims to equip 10th-grade students with practical strategies to cope with anxiety. By engaging in a discussion, watching a video, and participating in an activity, students will learn to identify anxiety triggers and apply coping mechanisms. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students to manage their mental health effectively, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

This lesson is designed for a high school student with autism, depression, and ADHD, focusing on emotional regulation and positive coping strategies. Over three 30-minute sessions, the student will learn to identify and express feelings of frustration and triggers, using self-selected coping strategies to regulate emotions effectively. This lesson is crucial for developing emotional awareness and resilience, tailored to individual needs.

This 5-session lesson is designed for a 3rd grade student on an IEP, focusing on identifying negative and positive self-talk, understanding coping strategies, and exploring cognitive behavioral triangle connections. Each 20-minute session will empower the student with practical skills to transform negative thoughts into positive ones, enhancing their emotional well-being and resilience.

A one-on-one, 30-minute session for a 14-year-old student experiencing hidden mental health challenges in a tense home environment. The student will learn self-awareness, practice coping strategies, and create a personalized plan to manage voices and difficult emotions.

Mindful Moments guides a small group of 4th graders through simple, 25-minute mindfulness exercises each session to help manage anxiety and improve focus. This Tier 2 counseling & therapy intervention equips students with tools they can use both in and out of the classroom, fostering self-regulation and emotional awareness.

This individualized support guide equips a 7th grade student with personalized coping strategies and crisis response steps to build resilience and emotional regulation. Through targeted coaching and self-reflection activities in one 20-minute session, the student will develop a practical toolkit for managing stress and anxiety

In this individual counseling session, the student will engage in personal storytelling and reflection to explore their emotions and perspectives. This session is important as it helps the student develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for personal growth and emotional well-being.

An individual session aimed at helping students disconnect from sources of anxiety, both external and internal, and find peace within themselves. This lesson is important as it empowers students with practical techniques to manage anxiety, fostering emotional resilience and well-being. Designed for 11th-grade students, the session lasts 30 minutes and focuses on Tier 3 individual support.

In this 4-session small group lesson, 6th and 8th grade special education students will learn to identify and challenge negative thoughts using fun detective-themed CBT techniques. Students will develop skills to replace negative self-talk with balanced thoughts, boosting resilience and emotional well-being. Sessions are 30 minutes each, ideal for learners with autism and depression.

In this 30-minute session, 12th grade students in a Tier 2 support group will learn strategies to cope with tough emotions like anxiety, anger, and sadness. Through interactive discussions, a guided activity, and personal reflection, students will gain practical tools to manage their emotional well-being and build resilience.

This lesson focuses on the impact of online bullying on mental health, using the 'Short Film: Are You Okay?' video to illustrate real-life scenarios. Students will engage in discussions and reflections to understand the importance of empathy and communication in addressing bullying. This lesson is vital for promoting a supportive and safe online environment.

This lesson aims to help 8th-grade students explore their anxious thoughts and learn how to reframe them with self-compassion. By using restorative practices and trauma-informed teaching, students will engage in active and collaborative learning to develop empathy and realistic perspectives on their anxiety. This lesson is important as it equips students with tools to manage anxiety, fostering emotional resilience and well-being.

In this 30-minute Tier 2 small-group session, 4th graders will complete a formative assessment to gauge their current skills in emotional regulation and self-control. This quick check provides targeted insights to inform next steps in their social-emotional learning, helping teachers tailor support and helping students become more self-aware.