Social Skills Groups

A series of six lessons designed for 6th-8th graders to enhance social skills in a group counseling setting. Each lesson focuses on different aspects of social interaction, including communication, empathy, teamwork, conflict resolution, friendship building, and self-awareness, with a duration of 30 minutes per session.

This group counseling session focuses on enhancing social skills through engaging activities and a video component. The session is designed to help students develop confidence in social interactions, improve communication skills, and understand the importance of active listening. By using Game-Based Learning strategies, the session aims to make learning social skills fun and interactive, encouraging students to apply these skills in real-life situations.

This lesson is designed for 6th to 8th graders to help them build self-confidence, improve self-image, and develop a positive mindset. The session will cover topics such as body image, handling negative self-talk, and building resilience. The duration of the lesson is 45 minutes.

This 5-session group intervention helps 10th graders develop key social skills—active listening, assertive communication, empathy, conflict resolution, and teamwork—through engaging activities and practice. These 30-minute sessions build essential interpersonal abilities to support students in all areas of life and boost their social confidence.

In this engaging lesson, high school students in a therapeutic classroom will explore various cognitive distortions and learn techniques to challenge and reframe unhelpful thoughts. This lesson is crucial for fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation, empowering students to make informed choices about their moods and behaviors. The session will last 35 minutes and is designed as a Tier 2 group lesson.

This 5-session lesson plan for 7th graders focuses on understanding and managing social anxiety. Through group activities, discussions, and reflections, students will learn strategies to cope with social anxiety, fostering a supportive environment. Each session lasts 30 minutes, providing targeted support to help students build confidence and improve their social interactions.

This self-reflective lesson guides individual students in understanding their role and contributions in group settings, helping them improve their collaborative skills. It's essential for students who often feel out of place in group activities.

In this 45-minute, small-group Tier 2 counseling activity, students work together to navigate a puzzle-based physical maze under time pressure. Through defined roles and rules, they practice communication, cooperation, and stress management. This session builds group counseling techniques by encouraging reflection on problem-solving under stress.

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.

This lesson focuses on helping 11th-grade students understand and manage social anxiety, improve social communication, and develop perspective-taking skills. It's designed for a small group setting, providing targeted support to students who need extra help in these areas. The session will last 30 minutes and aims to equip students with practical strategies to enhance their social interactions and reduce anxiety.

This lesson focuses on enhancing self-esteem among adults through interactive activities and discussions. Participants will explore their personal strengths, share experiences, and reflect on their self-worth. This lesson is important as it empowers individuals to recognize their value, leading to improved mental health and personal growth.

In this session, students work in small groups to identify and interpret social clues in various scenarios, enhancing their ability to infer and respond appropriately in social settings. This lesson is important as it helps students develop essential social skills that are crucial for effective communication and relationship building. Designed for a 3rd grade group, the session lasts 30 minutes and is classified under Tier 2: Group supports.

This 4-session lesson for 11th graders focuses on developing social perspective-taking skills and strategies to overcome social anxiety. By understanding others' viewpoints and managing social fears, students can improve their interpersonal relationships and communication skills, which are crucial for personal and professional success.

This series of 10 counseling lessons is designed for a 1st grade special education student who is demonstrating a pattern of poor choices affecting their social interactions. The lessons aim to develop personal accountability and self-regulation skills, crucial for improving social relationships and overall classroom behavior. Each session is 30 minutes long, focusing on interactive and engaging activities tailored to individual needs.

This 4-week small group lesson series is designed to teach 2nd grade students the importance of active listening, understanding others, and emotional regulation. Through engaging activities, discussions, and role-play, students will learn to listen with empathy and manage their emotions effectively, fostering a supportive classroom environment and enhancing interpersonal relationships.

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 6-session, 15-minute individual series helping a 7th grade student develop coping skills for social anxiety and reduce school avoidance. Through targeted readings, activities, and reflections, this plan empowers her with strategies for confidence and resilience.

This four-session lesson is designed for an 8th-grade girl with social anxiety, aiming to help her build confidence and security in her relationships. Through personalized activities and guided discussions, the student will learn strategies to manage anxiety and foster meaningful connections. Each session lasts 25 minutes and includes a lesson plan, slide deck, activity, and video to support learning.

This lesson introduces social thinking skills to help students understand and interpret social interactions, fostering group cohesiveness. It is important as it enhances students' ability to work collaboratively and understand diverse perspectives, which are crucial skills for personal and academic success.

This lesson is designed for a visually impaired student experiencing low self-esteem and emotional dysregulation. Over four 20-minute sessions, the student will learn and apply positive coping skills such as 'stop and think' strategies, 'I statements', anxiety coping skills, and grounding techniques. This lesson aims to empower the student to manage overwhelming scenarios and build resilience.

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.

This lesson focuses on helping students develop social skills by learning to control their emotions effectively. By understanding and managing their emotions, students can improve their interactions with others and enhance their overall well-being. This 30-minute session is designed for small groups, making it ideal for Tier 2 MTSS interventions.

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.

Students engage in group problem-solving activities, learning to communicate effectively and work cooperatively to reach a solution, essential for social cohesion. This lesson is designed for a 3rd grade group and focuses on developing social awareness and teamwork skills through interactive challenges. The session is 45 minutes long and is classified as Tier 2: Group support to help students enhance their collaborative abilities.

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 lesson plan is designed for an 8-week counseling small group for 2nd graders who struggle with friendships. Each session will focus on different aspects of making and keeping friends through game-based, active, and experiential learning activities. This approach will help students develop essential social skills, empathy, and cooperation, which are crucial for building and maintaining friendships.

This lesson plan is designed for a support group session aimed at high-functioning autistic female-identifying high school students. The session will focus on fostering a sense of community, understanding, and empowerment through collaborative learning and discussion. This lesson is important as it provides a safe space for students to share experiences, build social connections, and develop self-advocacy skills.

A dynamic group lesson focusing on de-escalation and conflict resolution skills. Over 60 minutes, adult participants will engage in practical scenarios to reduce tension and cooperate effectively. Tier 2 group supports enhance real-life workplace and community interactions.

This lesson engages students in perspective-taking and social skills through interactive games and collaborative activities. By participating in role-playing scenarios, art-based activities, and group discussions, students will practice understanding different viewpoints and improve their communication skills. This lesson is crucial for developing empathy and effective social interactions, which are essential for personal and academic success.

In this 30-minute group therapy activity for 7th graders, students will explore self-esteem by identifying personal strengths, sharing positive feedback, and building a supportive classroom community. This lesson fosters emotional well-being, communication skills, and confidence, helping students feel empowered and connected to peers.

In this 30-minute lesson, 9th grade students collaborate to establish group norms that support a positive and inclusive social-emotional environment. Through interactive activities, discussion, and reflection, students will co-create clear behavioral expectations, boosting ownership, respect, and group cohesion. Tier 2 small-group focus—equips students with skills for any group setting.

This lesson focuses on developing social skills through an experiential learning activity. Students will engage in a role-playing exercise to practice effective communication, empathy, and teamwork. This lesson is important as it helps students build essential interpersonal skills that are crucial for their personal and academic success.

This lesson focuses on developing confidence in social interactions through role-playing and exercises that emphasize active listening, empathy, and assertiveness. By engaging in these activities, students will learn to navigate social situations more effectively, fostering better communication and relationships with peers.

This lesson helps adults identify and transform negative self-talk into constructive thoughts. Through interactive activities, participants will practice recognizing negative patterns and applying strategies to foster positive thinking. This lesson is crucial for enhancing mental well-being and promoting a healthier mindset.

A four-session small group intervention for 10th graders with anxiety and depression to learn to challenge and stop negative thinking using thought stopping techniques. By building awareness, challenging distortions, and practicing new thinking skills in a safe, supportive setting, students will gain observable changes in their thought patterns and emotional wellbeing.

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.

An 11-session Tier 2 group intervention for 1st–4th graders to build essential social skills like friendship, empathy, turn-taking, and conflict resolution. Each 1-hour session includes engaging warm-ups, activities, discussions, games, worksheets, quizzes, and scripts to minimize prep. Culminates in a creative group project to showcase learned skills.

In this 30-minute Tier 2 small group lesson, students will explore the concepts of cognitive fusion and cognitive defusion through ACT and art therapy techniques. They will learn how to recognize when they’re ‘fused’ with unhelpful thoughts and practice creative defusion strategies to gain mental flexibility. This lesson supports emotional regulation skills critical for social-emotional learning.

This lesson focuses on enhancing social skills through experiential and game-based learning. Students will engage in a discussion, watch a video, and participate in a group game to practice and improve their social interactions. This lesson is important as it provides a safe and supportive environment for students to develop essential social skills, which are crucial for personal and professional success.

In this targeted 30-minute Tier 3 session, a 9th grade student will learn and practice three concrete coping strategies for navigating challenging peer interactions. This individualized lesson equips the student to recognize emotional triggers, apply calming techniques, and create a personalized action plan to use in real-life peer situations.

This 4-session, 10-15 minute individual lesson helps a long-term suspended student learn key environmental norms and behaviors. Through readings, discussions, and hands-on worksheets, the student will practice and internalize societal expectations. Ideal for targeted Tier 3 support to foster social reintegration.

In this 45-minute Tier 2 group counseling module, adult participants will learn to establish and maintain confidentiality and emotional safety within small group settings. This lesson provides practical guidelines, interactive activities, and reflective exercises to foster trust, clear boundaries, and supportive group dynamics.

Focus on developing a positive internal dialogue to improve emotional regulation. This lesson helps students replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations, enhancing self-esteem and emotional resilience. Designed for 11th-grade students, this 45-minute session provides individual support to foster emotional growth and resilience.

This lesson plan is designed for first graders in a small counseling group to help them develop self-control and learn how to make and keep friends. Over 8 sessions, students will engage in activities, discussions, and projects that promote social skills and emotional regulation. The use of Kelso's Wheel of Choices will provide a visual and interactive tool to help students understand and practice decision-making in social situations. This lesson is important as it equips young students with essential life skills that contribute to their overall well-being and success in school and beyond.

This lesson plan is designed for first graders in a small counseling group to help them develop self-control and learn how to make and keep friends. Over 8 sessions, students will engage in activities, discussions, and projects that promote social skills and emotional regulation. The use of Kelso's Wheel of Choices will provide a visual and interactive tool to help students understand and practice decision-making in social situations. This lesson is important as it equips young students with essential life skills that contribute to their overall well-being and success in school and beyond.

This lesson plan is designed for first graders in a small counseling group to help them develop self-control and learn how to make and keep friends. Over 8 sessions, students will engage in activities, discussions, and projects that promote social skills and emotional regulation. The use of Kelso's Wheel of Choices will provide a visual and interactive tool to help students understand and practice decision-making in social situations. This lesson is important as it equips young students with essential life skills that contribute to their overall well-being and success in school and beyond.

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 is designed for intellectually impaired grade 7 students to help them understand and express their feelings. By learning to share their emotions, students will improve their communication skills and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for personal and social development. The session will last 20 minutes and includes a lesson plan and worksheet, considering IEPs, low intellectual functioning, and multilingual needs.

This lesson teaches students the impact of positive thinking and how it can transform their outlook and interactions. It's vital for fostering a positive group dynamic, specifically designed for a 7th-grade group. The lesson will be conducted in a single 35-minute session, focusing on school psychology and group dynamics.

This lesson focuses on helping a student develop coping skills for depression and anxiety through personalized strategies and activities. Over two 30-minute sessions, the student will engage in discussions, worksheets, and readings to better understand and manage their emotions. This lesson is crucial for empowering the student to navigate their feelings and improve their mental well-being.

This three-session individual counseling series for 8th graders focuses on reframing negative thinking patterns into positive ones. It's crucial for developing emotional resilience and improving mental well-being. Each session lasts 30 minutes and is designed to provide personalized support and practical strategies for managing negative thoughts.

This lesson focuses on enhancing social and relationship skills for a high school student through social-emotional learning. It's designed as a Tier 3 individual support session, lasting 30 minutes, to provide personalized strategies for effective communication and relationship building. The lesson aims to empower the student with skills to navigate social interactions confidently.

A 3-session, 20-minute individual lesson guiding a 2nd grader to develop empathy, perspective-taking, and reduce self-centered thinking through interactive activities and a culminating project. This helps the student recognize others’ feelings and builds social skills crucial for classroom success.

This 4-session lesson is designed for a 9th-grade male student, focusing on the proper use of social media, text messaging, and online conduct. It aims to empower students with the skills to navigate digital interactions responsibly, especially when encountering inappropriate material. Each session is 45 minutes long, providing individualized support to ensure comprehension and application of these critical life skills.

Students will explore how their thoughts shape emotions and learn mindfulness and cognitive techniques to manage moods. This helps build self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. Audience: Grades 6–8; 1 session, 50 minutes.

This 5-session small group counseling lesson for 2nd graders focuses on developing social skills and understanding friendship. Through engaging activities, discussions, and games, students will learn how to communicate effectively, show empathy, and build strong friendships. This lesson is crucial for fostering a positive classroom environment and supporting students' social-emotional development, with differentiation strategies for students with disabilities.

This 6-session lesson is designed for a 5th-grade male student who is competitive and often finds himself in conflict with peers due to misunderstandings. The goal is to enhance his perspective-taking skills, increase personal awareness of his competitive nature, and reduce conflicts. Each session is 20 minutes long and focuses on building empathy and understanding through interactive activities and discussions.

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.

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.

This individual lesson focuses on teaching students the impact of self-talk on their self-esteem and performance, providing strategies to cultivate positive inner dialogue. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students to harness their inner voice for improved self-esteem and academic performance. Designed for 10th-grade students, it is a 35-minute session tailored for individual support.