Educational Coping Mechanisms Workshop for At-Risk Children & Adolescents

Faith Johnson
September 8, 2020

Rationale
For my practicum experience, I am at an agency that works with a wide array of
individuals. One particular group of individuals involves working with school-aged children and
adolescents in a day treatment program. Amongst these are children/adolescents who suffer
behaviorally, resulting in an inability to function in a typical academic setting. The sole purpose
of the day treatment program is to reintegrate students back into their community school
classrooms. However, the program is only temporary. Restructuring the minds of these
children/adolescents should involve continuous treatment so that their behavior continues to
mature with them as they reach new developmental and behavioral milestones.
The following workshop is designed to promote continuous coping skills throughout
these children/adolescents’ educational years and beyond. In the first session, students will
engage in a lesson taught by an accredited mental health professional about behavior and how
behavior affects those around them. At the end of the lesson, students will complete a behavior
journal activity where they will be given time to think upon and write down their good and bad
behaviors and how they think they can work to improve each on a daily basis. Students will also
write down one goal for the following day and what they need to be successful in reaching this
goal. Students will continue this throughout the week and will have a “check-in” at the end of
each week. In the second session, the relationship between behavior and coping skills will be
discussed. How the students react behaviorally is directly correlated with the coping mechanisms
they choose. The goal of this discussion is to help students understand that they are in charge of
their own actions. In the third session, students will complete a coping skills assessment. The
purpose of this assessment is to highlight the positive and negative coping skills most frequently
used by each student. During the fourth session, students will be introduced to appropriate
coping skills and techniques the students can use to self-soothe. To continue working towards an
increase in positivity and a decrease in negatives behaviors, students must learn what works for
them and what does not. This session will focus on teaching student’s self-efficacy.
The aim of this workshop is to encourage students to invest in themselves so that they
continuously see positive outcomes in their choices. Similarly, by investing in themselves,
students will be more likely to consider the circumstances of their actions. In addition, the
sessions are designed to encourage students to express their frustrations, encourage them to be a
part of their own treatment process, and ultimately create a safe, inviting space for them to learn
and grow.
The websites attached to the workshop plan contributed to some of the activities
incorporated into the workshop. All resources would be distributed to students via an information
packet, allowing them to engage and follow up at their own pace throughout the process.
 Emotional Coping Mechanisms Workshop Plan

Session 1: Effects of Behavior & Behavioral Journal

 Goal:
 To understand the short-term and long-term effects of negative behaviors. To
decipher and determine goals to improve behaviors on a regular, recurring basis.
 Objectives:
 Students will learn how behavior effects more than themselves
 Students will explore their own behaviors as well as potential improvements
 Students will discuss goals and ways in which these goals can be met
 Methods:
 Behavior Journal activity:
 Students will receive a handout where they will write down good behaviors from
the day, poor choices of the day, how the poor choices affected themselves and
others, their goals for the following day, and ways they can reach the new goals.
 Students will continue this throughout the week and journals will be reviewed at
the end of the week.
 Once reviewed, students will discuss with the mental health professional how they
feel they did with reaching their goals. The counselor will then offer suggestions
for the following week.

Session 2: The Relationship Between Behavior & Coping Skills

 Goal:
 To build insight and understanding that actions are determined by you, not those
around you.
 Objectives:
 Students will learn how behavior and coping skills are directly correlated to better
understand the consequences of their actions
 Students will explore ways they can positively cope with their behaviors
 Students will develop an understanding that they are in full control of their own
actions/behaviors, not those around them
 Methods:
 Think, Feel, Act activity:
 Students will be introduced to thoughts, feelings, and actions where they will first
learn how thoughts, feelings, and actions impact each other.
 Students will then be given a worksheet where they will think of an incident that
caused them to respond poorly.
 Students will write down what happened and what their thoughts, feelings, and
actions were.
  Students will then be given another worksheet where they will write down 3 new
thoughts, feelings, and actions for the above incident.

Session 3: Assessment of Coping Skills

 Goal:
 To highlight the positive and negative coping skills most frequently used to bring
awareness to strengths and weaknesses.
 Objectives:
 Students will learn how to identify what their coping strengths and weakness are
 Students will explore alternative coping strategies
 Students will discuss ways to turn negative coping skills into positive ones
 Methods:
 Coping Skills Assessment activity:
 Students will be given a handout where they will put a check mark (✓) next to
“always,” “sometimes,” or “never” to determine how often they use each positive
or negative coping skill.
 Students will then be given an opportunity to explain why they feel they cope
with their feelings they ways that they do.
 The counselor will then discuss alternative coping strategies to replace the
negative ones.
 Coping Steps activity:
 Students will engage in a discussion about the 3 steps of positive coping
strategies; “If I start to feel ___, the first step I will take is…,” “My next step will
be to…,” and “My final step will be to…”
 Students will then be given a handout where they will write down the 3 steps they
could take to better cope with negative behaviors/emotions (i.e. anger).

Session 4: Self-Soothing & Positive Coping Skills

 Goal:
 To learn how to effectively utilize positive coping skills and self-soothing techniques
to improve behavior.
 Objectives:
 Students will learn self-soothing techniques to improve their behavior as well as their
tendency to use positive coping mechanisms.
 Students will explore ways to self-soothe and remain positive.
 Students will discuss options for positive thinking and positive behaviors.
 Methods:
 Coping Skills Toolbox:
 Students will be given a handout of possible options to promote positive thinking.
  Following, students will engage in a discussion about why these activities are
beneficial at promoting positive thoughts/behaviors.
 Coping A to Z activity:
 Students will be given an opportunity to think of and write down positive coping
strategies that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
 Students will then be able to use this to remind them that there are at least 26
positive ways to cope with negative behaviors/emotions.
 Helpful Websites:

Child Mind Institute – Support on Behavioral Problems

- Parent/Family Resource:
 https://childmind.org/topics/concerns/behavior/

Very Well Family – Strategies to Improve Child’s Behavior at School

- Parent/Family Resource
 https://www.verywellfamily.com/childs-behavior-problems-school-1094910

Positive Guidance in School-Age Children

- Parent/Family Resource
 https://www.virtuallabschool.org/school-age/guidance/lesson-2#:~:text=Physical
%20activity%20is%20always%20a,help%20to%20avoid%20challenging%20behaviors.

The Great Behavior Game – Behavior Management in the Classroom

- Teachers/Students
 https://www.educatorshandbook.com/game/

Pathway 2 Success – Coping Strategies

- Students/Parents
 https://www.thepathway2success.com/coping-strategies/

Funbrain - Just a fun, game-based website that offers educational games based on grade
level.
- Students/Children
 https://www.funbrain.com/

Activity Contributing Websites:

Coping Skills Toolbox:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Coping-Skills-Toolbox-4357636

Coping A to Z:
https://www.mylemarks.com/store/p228/Coping_A_to_Z%21_%5BF%5D.html

Coping Skills Assessment:

https://www.mylemarks.com/store/p306/Coping_Skills_Assessment_%28_ES%29_%5BF
%5D.html

Behavior Journal:
https://www.mylemarks.com/store/p384/My_Behavior_Journal.html

Thoughts, Feelings, Actions:

https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/cbt-for-kids.pdf

Coping Steps:
https://www.mylemarks.com/uploads/4/7/0/1/47012219/anger_coping_steps_mylemarks_llc.pdf