Anxiety

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Stress Relief Boxes

One of my favorite ways to structure a "stress buster" group is with stress relief boxes. I give each student a blank pencil box, but you could use any kind of box. Our first session, we decorate the boxes with all of the things that bring us happiness. Then, each week, we make new items to put into the box. By the end of the group, the students will have a box full of strategies they can use when they are feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

Along the way, they are also learning about their worries and the techniques that help them manage those worries the best.

2nd Grade - 4th Grade

I often provide small group lessons to help students cope with anxiety. Each small group gets 6 sessions. These lessons can easily be adapted for older or younger students.

Lesson 1:

We begin with a review of the rules and purpose of the group (managing anxiety). Then, to build group rapport, we play a get-to-know-you game called Whoonu. I pre-sort the cards to have the best matches for my group. Students may need help reading the cards, so I always jump in and help so that no student feels uncomfortable.

Lesson 2:

Our second session starts with a review of our rules. We also set a goal for the number of "happy cup" points we want to earn. The purpose of this lesson is to start self-reflecting on our anxiety. We read Wemberly Worried and discuss our own experiences with anxiety at school. Then, students write and/or draw their ideas on a workpage.
Wemberly Worried Workpage
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Lesson 3:

After a quick review of our rules and goal-setting (points), we begin our third session, where we continue to discuss the best ways to manage anxiety. We play Bridge Over Worried Waters, a fun game where students build a bridge with their correct answers.

Lesson 4:

After a quick review of our rules and goal-setting (points), we begin our fourth session. For this lesson, we discuss things that seemed scary at first, but turned out not to be. To do this, we read Bright Stanley and the Cave Monster and brainstorm our own examples.
Bright Stanley Workpage
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Lesson 5:

After a quick review of our rules and goal-setting (points), we begin our fifth session, which involves creating "anxiety bottles." Each students gets a water bottle to fill with confetti pieces (different shapes) that remind them of positive things. After everyone shares, we dye the water with food coloring, add glitter and the confetti, and students create their own label. Once I glue the lid shut, students have their own "snow globe" to shake when they are feeling anxious.

Lesson 6:

For our final lesson, we look back on our work and reflect on how far we have come. I remind students about our rules and let students know that if they have more points in the happy cup, they not only get their regular rewards, they also get to pick a prize from my prize box. I have dollar store items (i.e. Playdough, markers, etc.) for students to choose in addition to "free" items like coupons to eat lunch with a friend in my office. We play Whoonu again to see how much we have learned about one another since the group began. Refer to Lesson 1 for more details.

Additional Lessons

If you need more sessions or perhaps more of a variety, here are some additional lessons for you to try:

Giraffes Can't Dance

I start by either reading or showing Giraffes Can't Dance, the story of a Giraffe who worries about his dance moves. After reflecting, we complete a workpage to discuss our own worries.
Giraffes Can't Dance Workpage
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File Type: pdf
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Metaphor Basket

I got this idea from Pinterest (I find myself saying that a LOT).

You can have students in your group pick objects that symbolize various feelings or situations they experience at school. Then, they share their interpretation with the group. Good opening activity.

Animal Projection Technique
The St. Louis Center for Play Therapy Training blog offers a lot of great information on play therapy techniques and credentialing.

This particular video shows an animal projection technique that can be used in small groups or during a classroom lesson (dividing the class into groups). The purpose of the activity is to help students identify their thoughts and behaviors and to reflect on how they interact with others.

View more play therapy instructional videos on Pam Dyson's YouTube channel.
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Robot Workshop

At PBS Kids, there is a game called Tobey's Robot Workshop. Students can create their own robot and decide on how their creation feels: elated, angry, confident, enthusiastic, fiesty, frantic, frustrated, or glum. Students also decide on their robot's talent and special powers, such as clapping, destroying, and hugging.

You could have students create robots that are similar to themselves. This would allow for great group discussions.

Feelings and Food
This is a fun activity for individual and small group counseling settings that helps students identify and express their feelings. I typically provide a small snack, a napkin or plate, and a camera to take pictures of the feelings. I print a copy for the student to use in his/her classroom and one for myself as a back-up (and for my records). In some situations, I send an additional copy home after discussing with the student's parents.

View other ESC.org video podcasts here.

Boundin'
I know I say this all the time, but Pixar is one of the best resources for school counselors.

"Boundin'" is part of Pixar's short film collection. As described on Amazon: "A shearing leaves a dancing sheep humiliated until a jackalope passes by and demonstrates that it's what's inside that counts."
PDF
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WORD
File Size: 47 kb
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I use this short film with my small groups to help build positive relationships. After viewing the video, we discuss how the sheep felt and how the jackalope was a good friend. Then, I give each student a workpage (above). I write a group member's name on each student's paper, then explain that they must write and/or draw something nice about that person. In this way, they are acting like the jackalope, helping their group friends feel good about themselves. 

Once everyone has finished their work, we share our words and/or pictures one at a time. Then, I ask for the receiver to say how they feel after hearing the positive feedback - I record their response at the bottom of the paper. I make copies of the projects for my own documentation, but let the students keep their originals, which serve as a reminder of how valued they are.

The video is also great with individual students who may focus on the negative aspects of their life or have anxiety about the bad things that could happen. The jackalope shows the sheep that bad things happen and sometimes, you just need to keep moving forward until you feel better again; you can't let every little thing get you down.

Scaredy Squirrel

Scaredy Squirrel Emergency Kit (PDF)
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This is a fun story that you could read or watch (links below; just click on the pictures). I also like to have the students identify their stressors and what they would put in their "emergency kit." Examples would be: reading a book, watching a movie, playing outside, spending time with friends, etc. I usually do this during one of the first sessions so I can have some good data on what my students worry about and what they use to calm down/relax.

Stress Buster Pizza

This is another easy activity to help the students reflect on what helps them relieve stress AND provides me with great data. Once I see what they identify as their most effective relaxation techniques, I can incorporate those ideas (as appropriate) into our sessions. Also, students show their "favorite" activities by the number of toppings they place on their pizza. For example, a student may put EXTRA mushrooms on their pizza to show that time with friends is especially important for them.
Stress Buster Pizza (WORD)
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Stress Buster Pizza (PDF)
File Size: 179 kb
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Puppet Personalities

I think this is a great end-of-group activity to celebrate the wonderful parts of ourselves. The front of the puppet is how they view themselves on the outside and the back of the puppet is how they would describe their "inside" in words.
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