Feeling Visitors Counselor Guide
Trauma-Informed Narrative Therapy
The Feeling Visitors
Session Facilitator Guide | Grade 5 (High ACEs Support)
EST. TIME: 45 MIN FORMAT: INDIVIDUAL / SMALL GROUP
Session Objective
To help students externalize heavy emotional states (anger, anxiety, shame) by personifying them as safe, temporary "visitors," shifting from "I am bad" to "A feeling is visiting me."
The Trauma-Informed Lens
Students with high ACEs often experience chronic hyperarousal or dissociation. Externalizing prevents emotional overwhelm and protects the student's fragile self-concept from internalizing shame.
1
Phase 1: Grounding & The "Guest House" Metaphor (10 Min)
Counselor Scripted Prompt:
"Imagine your mind and body are like a cozy Guest House. You are the host. Throughout the day, different feelings knock on the door and come in as 'visitors.' Some are loud and bouncy, some are quiet and heavy, and some feel scary. But guess what? A visitor is just visiting. They aren't the house, and they eventually pack up and leave."
Somatic Check-In: Guide the student to complete page 1 of the Student Journal. Support them in locating where the "Visitor" is sitting in their body (e.g., tight chest, heavy shoulders, butterflies in stomach) and identifying its current volume dial.
2
Phase 2: Meeting & Naming the Visitor (10 Min)
Counselor Dialogue Starters:
- "Who is visiting you right now? Let's give them a unique name."
- "What color are they? Are they fuzzy, spiky, slimy, or smooth?"
- "If they had a sound or a favorite phrase, what would it be?"
Clinical Purpose: Giving the emotion a silly or neutral name (e.g., "Scribble-Dee" for anxiety, "The Rumble" for anger) creates cognitive distance. It transforms a paralyzing internal state into an external, manageable object.
The Feeling Visitors • Counselor Guide Page 1 of 2
Artistic Processing & Dialogue
The Feeling Visitors
Session Facilitator Guide | Grade 5 (High ACEs Support)
EST. TIME: 45 MIN FORMAT: INDIVIDUAL / SMALL GROUP
3
Phase 3: The Expressive Art Activity (15 Min)
Provide the student with the Student Journal page 2 (The Visitor Portrait), drawing utensils (markers, oil pastels, or watercolors), and craft scraps if available (googly eyes, yarn, felt).
Visual prompts to guide their creation:
• The Shape: Is your visitor a cloud, a ball of spikes, an animal, or a shadow?
• The Face: What expression do they have? Are they crying, roaring, or just neutral?
• The Core: What is hidden inside their belly? (Draw a small heart, key, or shield inside).
Trauma-Informed Tip: If a student is reluctant to draw, let them select an emotion card from the Visual Support Deck or use clay to mold a simple 3D representation. Avoid insisting on perfection; focus on the physical process of creation.
4
Phase 4: Interviewing the Visitor (7 Min)
Invite the student to look at their drawing. Ask them to speak for or to the visitor. Guide them to realize that even uncomfortable visitors have a protective intent.
Questions to Ask the Visitor:
- "What is your job in my Guest House?"
- "What are you trying to protect me from?"
- "What is your secret soft spot?"
How to Respond to the Visitor:
- "I see you, and it's okay that you're here."
- "Thank you for trying to keep me safe."
- "You can sit in the corner; I've got this."
5
Phase 5: Grounding & Closing the Guest House (3 Min)
Before the student leaves, it's vital to close the session safely to ground them back into school mode. High ACEs students can experience high emotional vulnerability after creative work.
Closing Ritual Step:
"Your Visitor is safe inside this journal/art piece. They can stay here with me in my office, or you can fold them up and tuck them safely into your backpack pocket. They don't have to control your hands or feet in class. Let's take one deep breath together to close the door gently."
The Feeling Visitors • Counselor Guide Page 2 of 2
Feeling Visitors Student Journal
My Guest House Journal
Who is visiting your mind and body today?
My Name
Today's Date
1. The Guest Register: Who Just Arrived?
Which feeling visitors are knocking at your door today? You can circle, color, or draw a star next to any that apply.
🔥 The Rumble Anger / Rage
🌧️ The Heavy Rain Sadness / Grief
🌀 The Sparkle Spin Anxiety / Worry
🛡️ The Stone Wall Shut Down / Numb
✨ The Sun Beam Joy / Peace
🦔 The Spike-Ball Defensiveness
🎈 The Float Away Distraction / Flight
❓ Someone Else?
2. Where is the visitor sitting?
Color or draw a pattern (lines, dots, sparkles) on the map where you feel this visitor in your body.
3. The Volume Dial
How loud is this visitor speaking? Circle the volume level from quiet background hum to screaming loudspeaker.
Vol. 1-2 Whisper
Vol. 3-4 Soft Hum
Vol. 5-6 Medium
Vol. 7-8 Loud
Vol. 9-10 Blaring
QUIET VISITOR LOUD SHAKE
The Feeling Visitors • Student Journal Page 1 of 2
4. Portrait of My Visitor
Use this space to draw, design, or sketch your visitor. What shape are they? What is inside their heart?
5. Getting to Know Your Visitor
My Visitor's name is...
Their favorite hiding spot is...
What this visitor is trying to tell me is...
When this visitor is loud, I can support myself by...
The Feeling Visitors • Student Journal Page 2 of 2
Feeling Visitors Slides
Expressive Counseling Session
The Feeling Visitors
Learning how to host big emotions in your mind and body with compassion, curiosity, and strength.
Safe Spaces Counseling
Grade 5 Resource
The Concept Slide 2 of 5
Your Mind is a Guest House
Imagine you are the host of a cozy home. Throughout the day, different emotions walk up, knock on the door, and step inside as Feeling Visitors.
Some are noisy, some are quiet, and some feel heavy. But remember: You are the house, not the visitor.
🚪
They are just visiting
Every guest eventually packs up and leaves.
🗝️
You are the host
You can decide where they sit and how you support them.
🌟
No feeling is "bad"
All visitors have a purpose or story to tell.
"Welcome and entertain them all!" — inspired by Rumi
Meet the Visitors Slide 3 of 5
Who is knocking today?
🔥
The Rumble
Feels hot, fast, and electric. It wants to protect you from things that feel unfair.
Needs: Cool air & motion
🌧️
Heavy Rain
Feels heavy, slow, and tired. It wants you to rest and process a hard change.
Needs: Cozy space & rest
🌀
Sparkle Spin
Feels dizzy, buzzy, and fast. It wants to double-check that you are completely safe.
Needs: Slowing down & focus
🛡️
Stone Wall
Feels numb, quiet, and locked up. It blocks out the noise when things are too loud.
Needs: Gentle time & safety
Tip: Which visitor do you recognize the most right now?
Dialogue & Curiosity Slide 4 of 5
Interviewing Your Visitor
Instead of trying to push a visitor out the window, a great host gets curious! Ask them questions:
Questions to Ask:
- "What is your job in my body today?"
- "What are you trying to protect me from?"
- "What is your favorite safe tool?"
Kind Responses to Give:
- "I see you there, and it's okay to sit with me."
- "Thank you for trying to keep me safe."
- "You can rest here. I will handle the hard part."
Talking to your feeling reduces shame and lets you control your actions.
Grounding Your House Slide 5 of 5