Cool Calm and Connected

A comprehensive 10-week school-based cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy anger management curriculum designed for high school therapeutic groups, blending biosocial theory, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

NWNicholas Wren

Group Foundations and Biosocial Theory

Introduction to the therapeutic group, establishing group norms, and introducing DBT's Biosocial Theory to explain why some individuals experience more intense anger.

Anatomy of Anger and CBT Model

Exploring how thoughts, physical sensations, feelings, and behaviors interact when anger is triggered, introducing the CBT cognitive loop.

Mindfulness and Mind States

Introducing the three states of mind (Reasonable Mind, Emotion Mind, and Wise Mind) and using mindfulness to access Wise Mind during moments of frustration.

Triggers and Early Warning Signs

Learning to identify high-risk triggers and early physical/cognitive warning signs before reaching high emotional levels.

Distress Tolerance and STOPP Skill

Introducing distress tolerance skills, specifically the STOPP skill, to pause automatic behavioral reactions to anger triggers.

Crisis Survival and TIPP Skills

Teaching DBT Crisis Survival skills, focusing on TIPP (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation) to chemically reset high physical arousal.

Checking the Facts and Opposite Action

Learning to identify if anger fits the facts of a situation, and applying Opposite Action to de-escalate emotional urges.

Reducing Vulnerability and PLEASE Skill

Using the PLEASE skill (Physical illness, balanced Eating, Avoiding mood-altering substances, balanced Sleep, Exercise) to reduce overall emotional vulnerability.

Assertive Communication and DEAR MAN Skill

Developing assertive communication and conflict resolution skills using DBT's DEAR MAN protocol to navigate tough relational scenarios.

My Coping Blueprint and Graduation

Developing a customized lifelong relapse-prevention plan, summarizing all learned CBT/DBT skills, and celebrating group success.

Cool Calm and Connected

NWNicholas Wren

Storm Navigators

A comprehensive 16-week school-based therapeutic curriculum designed to equip students with emotional regulation, healthy relationship skills, trauma-informed coping mechanisms, and self-advocacy strategies.

Nicholas Wren

Inside the Firestorm

A comprehensive skills training lesson on DBT Biosocial Theory designed for adolescents, explaining the transaction between biological sensitivity and invalidating environments. It includes interactive slides and a step-by-step facilitator guide for clinicians.

Nicholas Wren

Firestorm Worksheet Exemplar

A clinical-grade, 2-page reference exemplar and answer key for therapists to assess student responses on the Firestorm Student Worksheet. It contains high-fidelity peer examples, fully mapped transaction loops, and actionable model answers for DBT-aligned crisis blueprints.

Nicholas Wren

My Coping Blueprint and Graduation

Developing a customized lifelong relapse-prevention plan, summarizing all learned CBT/DBT skills, and celebrating group success.

Nicholas Wren

Co-Regulation Compass Guide

A comforting, highly practical 2-page guide for parents and caregivers to understand their adolescent's biological sensitivity, spot common invalidation traps, learn the six simplified levels of validation, and master co-regulation during active emotional crises at home.

Cool Calm and Connected

Week 1 Facilitator Guide

My Emotional Thermostat Worksheet

Anatomy of Anger Worksheet

Wise Mind Alignment Worksheet

Trigger Radar Worksheet

STOPP Skill Mastery Worksheet

TIPP Skills Reset Tracker

Opposite Action Worksheet

PLEASE Vulnerability Lab Worksheet

DEAR MAN Worksheet

My Coping Blueprint Worksheet

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