Weather Counseling Guide Clinical Facilitation Guide • Session 1
My Changing Weather
Session Focus: Creating Safe Space, Naming Emotions, & Somatic Tracing
Target Audience Grades 2 - 5 (Individual)
Pacing
40-45 Minutes
Modality
Narrative & Somatic
Materials Needed
Weather Mapping Page, Crayons/Markers, Soft Clay
Objectives
Establish high therapeutic safety and rapport regarding sibling bereavement.
Normalize "grief bursts" and the coexistence of conflicting feelings.
Connect bodily sensations to physical/emotional grief weather patterns.
Clinician Note
Hearing details of sibling loss can trigger complex countertransference. Keep your posture grounded and remember you are a gentle, witnessing presence, not a fixer of their pain.
MIN 0 - 10
Somatic Grounding & Safety Setup
Begin with brief sensory play (clay or stress ball). Acknowledge why the student is meeting with you without using forced language.
Suggested Script: "We are going to have a quiet, safe spot together to talk about big things, little things, and your brother/sister who died. All of you is welcome here—happy, sad, mad, or just quiet."
MIN 10 - 25
Coexisting Weather Activity
Transition to the Weather Mapping Workbook Page . Introduce the metaphor that feelings are like changing weather. Highlight that siblings often hold multiple weather systems inside at once (e.g., thunder-mad, drizzle-sad, sunshine-happy memories).
Key Exploration Prompt: "Have you ever noticed that you can feel super sad about your sister/brother, but still laugh at a silly joke? That's having rain and sunshine at the same time. Let's color what your weather feels like today."
MIN 25 - 40
Somatic Mapping (Where Grief Lives)
Guide the student to map where weather sits in their physical body. Some children carry anger/thunder in tight fists; worry/wind in fluttering tummies; or sadness/rain in heavy shoulders.
Clinical Observation Guide: Note structural signs of hyperarousal (shallow breathing, constant moving, hypervigilance) or hypoarousal (slumping, speaking in whispers, disassociation) as they draw. Encourage slow exhalations.
Clinical Tip: Always close by transitioning the child's sensory state with a gentle physical stretching activity.
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Weather Mapping Worksheet My Heart Weather Station
My Changing Weather
Just like the sky above us, our inside feelings can change from day to day—and that is okay!
Name:
Date:
1 How does your inside weather feel right now?
Color or circle the weather stations that represent how your mind and heart feel today. You can choose more than one!
☀️
Sunny
Warm memories, peaceful moments, feeling safe.
🌧️
Rainy
Heavy sadness, crying, missing them deeply.
💨
Windy
Worry, restless thoughts, lots of changes.
⚡
Thunder
Mad, unfair feelings, tight muscles, frustration.
The Clouds & The Sun
Sometimes, we might feel sad rainy clouds but also have a happy sunny memory at the very same time. What is one warm memory of your sibling that brings a little bit of sunshine to your heart today?
👉 Flip to the next page to discover where your feelings live physically in your body!
Memory Bridge Counseling Curriculum Page 1 of 2
Somatic Feeling Finder
My Feelings Body Map
Feelings are not just in our heads—they visit our bodies, too!
Name:
Date:
2 Create Your Map
Emotions leave footprints. When we are sad, our shoulders might feel like heavy rainclouds. When we are anxious or worried, our tummy might flutter like leaves in a windstorm.
Choose colors for your feelings weather below, and draw them on the outline where you feel them.
Your Coloring Key
Tightness / Anger
Color used: ________
Heaviness / Sadness
Color used: ________
Fluttering / Worry
Color used: ________
Calmness / Safety
Color used: ________
Body Clues Checklist
"When my body feels a storm coming, I notice: tight chest, lump in throat, fast heart, cold hands, or a big sigh." Talking about body signals helps us soothe them!
Memory Bridge Counseling Curriculum Page 2 of 2
Garden Counseling Guide Clinical Facilitation Guide • Session 2
The Memory Garden
Session Focus: Narrative Legacy, Honoring Stories, & Loving Connection
Target Audience Grades 2 - 5 (Individual)
Pacing
40-45 Minutes
Modality
Narrative & Creative Art
Materials Needed
Memory Lantern Page, Pencils, Scissors, Glue Stick
Objectives
Facilitate exploration of comforting and prideful sibling memories.
Promote bilateral brain integration by combining storytelling and hands-on crafting.
Establish symbolic structures for keeping connections alive.
Clinical Insight
Bereaved siblings often feel guilt for surviving or for sibling rivalries that occurred before the death. Validate that all sibling relationships have conflict, and that love isn't erased by imperfect memories.
MIN 0 - 10
Opening & Soil Setting
Revisit the previous session's "inside weather." Gently transition the student by explaining that today we are visiting the "Memory Garden," a space where we plant memories that continue to grow.
Suggested Script: "When people die, the love we had for them and the things we shared with them don't disappear. Today we are going to create a special lantern that lights up your absolute favorite memories of your sibling."
MIN 10 - 30
Legacy Narrative & Drafting Lantern
Bring out the Memory Lantern Worksheet . Guide the student to complete each pane of the lantern. Do not rush them; each frame represents a key memory dimension. Ask open-ended sensory questions.
Scaffolding Prompts: "What did their laugh sound like? What was their favorite game? If you could whisper one thing they taught you, what would it be?"
MIN 30 - 45
Bilateral Integration & Closing
Cut and fold the memory lantern. The physical activity of coloring, cutting, and shaping provides deep therapeutic grounding and somatic regulation.
Closing Connection Ritual: If utilizing a battery-operated tea light (recommended), place it inside and dim the lights briefly. Reflect together on how the student carries their sibling's light.
Clinical Tip: Let the child choose whether to keep their lantern in the room or take it home.
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Memory Lantern Activity Legacy Craft Template
My Memory Lantern
Draw or write in each window below. Then, with your counselor, cut, fold, and glue to make your lantern shine!
Name:
Date:
Craft Instructions: Fill out all 4 windows of your lantern with colors, drawings, or letters. Once finished, cut along the outer thick lines, fold along the dotted lines, and glue the tab to the back of the opposite edge to create a standing three-dimensional light!
😆
Window 1: Silly Times
A funny memory that makes you laugh
🌱
Window 2: Sibling Gifts
Something they taught you or shared
❤️
Window 3: Love Echoes
Your favorite things about them
✨
Window 4: Quiet Wishes
A message or wish sent to them
Cut along outer edges Fold vertical lines inward Place tea light in middle
Memory Bridge Counseling Curriculum Page 1 of 2
My Roots & Blooms
My Memory Garden Map
Inside our memories, we plant a garden where love always blossoms. Fill out your flowers below!
Name:
Date:
Flower of Favorites
What was their favorite song, food, color, or shirt? Write or draw them inside this garden plot.
Bloom of Shared Play
What games did you love playing together? Write or draw a secret joke or favorite playtime memory.
🌸
Deep Rooted Connection
Just like real flowers, memories have roots deep in our hearts. Even when someone is no longer with us physically, the roots stay strong. When you touch your chest, you can feel those warm memories holding you steady.
My Sibling's Gift to Me
Think about how you are growing to be like your brother or sister. Do you share their kind heart, their love of sports, or their funny jokes? Complete the thought below:
"I shine bright when I show my sibling's..."
"I want the world to always remember their..."
Memory Bridge Counseling Curriculum Page 2 of 2
Sails Counseling Guide Clinical Facilitation Guide • Session 3
Steadying My Sails
Session Focus: Somatic Coping, Sensory Anchors, & School-Peer Boundaries
Target Audience Grades 2 - 5 (Individual)
Pacing
40-45 Minutes
Modality
Somatic & CBT Coping
Materials Needed
Coping Cards Page, Safe Harbor Sheet, Scissors, Ring Clip
Objectives
Identify and define somatic and sensory calming practices tailored for high grief.
Construct a physical coping card deck for classroom and domestic use.
Establish communication boundaries regarding sibling loss at school.
Clinical Insight
Bereaved children frequently experience secondary trauma when returning to school, such as invasive questions, public crying, or drop-offs in focus. Focus heavily on practical boundary plans.
MIN 0 - 10
Opening: Wave Check-In
Explain that grief doesn't always stay calm—sometimes it comes in giant waves that threaten to tip over our boats. Normalize sudden triggers.
Suggested Script: "Grief can feel like being in a tiny boat on a very big ocean. Waves of sadness or anger might crash without warning. Today, we are putting strong anchor tools in your boat so you always stay steady."
MIN 10 - 25
Coping Cards Personalization
Review the Sails Coping Cards Worksheet . Introduce CBT-based anchors (e.g., box breathing, sensory scanning, loving memory anchors, quick exits). Assist the student in completing the blank cards with custom anchors.
Key Prompt: "Let's choose your top 4 anchor cards. When you feel a wave of sadness or worry starting in your chest, which tool do you think would help steady your boat the fastest?"
MIN 25 - 45
Safe Harbor Transition Planning
Transition to Page 2: My Safe Harbor Shield . Identify the specific adults at school who represent safety (counselor, nurse, teacher). Help the student draft a "safe pass" protocol for classroom exits.
School Communication Practice: Role-play asking a teacher for a "calm break" or handling a peer asking, "Where is your brother?" Help the student practice a firm, safe script: "I don't feel like talking about that today, but thanks."
Clinical Tip: Connect with the child's homeroom teacher to establish the pre-arranged safe pass protocol.
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Sails Coping Cards Somatic Coping Toolkit
My Anchor Coping Cards
When grief waves crash, anchor cards steady your boat. Color and cut out these cards to keep in your pocket!
Name:
Date:
⚓ 1. Deep Anchor Breath
Imagine a solid ship's anchor. Inhale slowly for a count of 4, hold your breath like a locked anchor for 4, and let the air sail out of your mouth for a count of 4.
Inhale 4s ➔ Hold 4s ➔ Exhale 4s
⚓ 2. Five-Finger Ocean
Look around you right now. Whisper 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 good thing about yourself.
Grounds your mind in the safe room
⚓ 3. Light Switch
Squeeze your fists and shoulder muscles as tight as a locked switch (count 1..2..3). Then, flip the switch off and let your arms and shoulders go completely loose like noodles.
Releases tightness and storm tension
⚓ 4. Memory Shield
Place your hand gently over your chest. Close your eyes and think of one super warm, sunny moment with your sibling. Let that warm memory fill you up from head to toe.
"Your love lives deep inside me"
⚓ 5. Safe Harbor Pass
If an emotional storm hits you at your school desk, you don't have to explain. Show this safe pass card to your teacher to quietly go take a 5-minute break in your safe harbor.
Pre-approved classroom escape tool
⚓ 6. Scribble & Rip
Grab a scrap sheet of paper. Scribble all your giant stormy weather, angry thunderbolts, and rainclouds onto the paper. Then rip it up into tiny little pieces and toss it away!
Physically releases trapped energy
Cut along dotted lines to create your pocketsize anchor cards! Page 1 of 2
School Transition Plan
My Safe Harbor Shield
Navigating school when you are grieving can be tough. Design your support shield so you feel safe and ready!
Name:
Date:
What is a Safe Harbor?
A safe harbor is a place where a ship goes to rest during huge sea storms. At school, your safe harbor is made of trusted adults and quiet spaces where you are allowed to rest and let out your feelings.
💡 "I am allowed to ask for safety when my ocean gets too rough."
Safe Crew
Adults I can trust at school:
1. ______________
2. ______________
Safe Spaces
Places I can go to sit quietly:
