Session 1 Facilitator Guide Handout Healing Horizons
Session 1: Setting the Compass
Facilitator Guide
Duration
35-40 Mins
Group Size
4-8 Students
Objective
Safety & Context
Facilitation Steps
1
Opening & Norms (7 mins)
"This is a space to process changes we've faced this year."
Confidentiality: "What's said here stays here, unless someone is being hurt."
Create 3-4 norms: One Mic, Respect Silence, No 'Fixing'.
2
Naming the Landscape (8 mins)
Define loss broadly: death, divorce, housing, pet, dream.
Key Message: All these losses are valid and deserve space.
3
Mapping My Year (15 mins)
Distribute 'My Map' Worksheet . Students work silently.
Invite students to share one 'landmark' from their map if they feel safe.
4
Closing Connection (5 mins)
"Next week: how grief feels in our bodies and minds."
Check-out: One word for how you're feeling right now.
Clinical Reminders
Secondary Loss: A death can lead to loss of income, home, or routines. Validate these layers.
Tier 3 Screening: If a student shows severe withdrawal, inability to name any coping person, or total lack of eye contact/response, refer to the Tier 3 Criteria Guide for immediate follow-up.
Session 1 My Map Worksheet My Map
Healing Horizons
First & Last Name
Date
1. Major Landmarks
List 1-3 significant changes or losses that occurred this school year.
2. The "Fog"
What has been the hardest part of navigating these changes so far?
3. Current Location
On a scale of 1-10 (1 = underwater, 10 = steady ground), where do you feel like you are standing today?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
"The first step toward healing is naming where you've been."
Session 2 Facilitator Guide Handout Healing Horizons
Session 2: Navigating the Storm
Facilitator Guide
Theme
Emotional Waves
Objective
Grounding Toolkit
Facilitation Steps
1
Check-In & The Wave (8 mins)
"Grief isn't a straight line; it's like the ocean."
Did anyone notice a 'wave' of emotion since our last meeting?
Define Triggers: Songs, smells, or dates that bring the loss back.
2
Sensing the Storm (7 mins)
Where do you feel it in your body? (Tight chest, heavy heart, jittery hands).
3
Building the Toolkit (15 mins)
Distribute 'Coping Anchors' Toolcard . Practice techniques:
Box Breathing: 4-4-4-4 rhythm.5-4-3-2-1 Grounding: Sensory observation.The Ice Hack: Cold water for "system reboot."
4
Closing (5 mins)
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
Facilitator Tip
Present breathing as a "biological off-switch" for stress. High schoolers often respond better to the physiological explanation than the purely emotional one.
Session 2 Coping Anchors Handout Coping Anchors
When the waves of grief or stress feel too high, use these "anchors" to ground yourself in the present moment.
1
Box Breathing
Inhale for 4. Hold for 4. Exhale for 4. Hold for 4. Repeat until your heart slows down.
2
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding
Notice: 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you can taste.
3
The Ice Hack
Hold an ice cube or splash cold water on your face. This "reboots" your nervous system.
Healing Horizons Toolkit
My Personal Anchors
My Top Triggers (When do I need an anchor?)
My "Safe Harbor" Person (Who can I call?)
A Song, Activity, or Place that calms me
"I am not the storm. I am the sky, and the storm is just passing through."
Session 3 Facilitator Guide Handout Healing Horizons
Session 3: Building the Bridge
Facilitator Guide
Focus
Summer Transition
Outcome
Summer Safety Plan
Facilitation Steps
1
The Summer Gap (7 mins)
"Summer lack of structure can make grief feel louder."
What part of summer feels most challenging? ( Father's Day, unstructured time, family tension).
2
Anticipating "High Water" Dates (8 mins)
Identify birthdays or anniversaries. Discuss 'anticipatory grief.'
3
Safety Planning (15 mins)
Distribute 'Summer Survival' Plan . Help students identify:
Safe places to go when home feels heavy.
Emergency community resources.
4
Closing (5 mins)
"You are building a bridge over the summer. Walk slowly."
Tier 3 Screening
Listen for students who express significant hopelessness, have zero out-of-school supports, or are facing multiple complex losses simultaneously.
Session 3 Summer Survival Handout Summer Survival Plan
Preparing for the transition beyond the school year.
Difficult Dates
What dates (holidays, birthdays) might feel hard?
Date:
Date:
Safe Places
Where can you go when you need a "breather"?
Support Squad
A Trusted Adult
A Supportive Friend
Emergency Lifelines
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Suicide Lifeline
Call or Text 988
My "Summer Goal"
One thing I want to do this summer that is just for me:
Healing Horizons | Session 3
Session 4 Facilitator Guide Handout Healing Horizons
Session 4: Steady Ground
Facilitator Guide
Focus
Closure
Goal
Growth & Self-Assessing
Facilitation Steps
1
Honoring the Journey (10 mins)
"We've spent four weeks naming losses and building toolkits."
Commemorative Activity: Share one thing learned about self.
2
Growth Reflection (15 mins)
Distribute 'Steady Ground' Reflection . Re-check the 1-10 progress scale.
3
Closure & Goodbyes (10 mins)
"This group is ending, but your support network isn't."
Closing Word: Offer one 'word of strength' to your neighbor.
Final Task
Review reflections. Schedule check-outs for students who demonstrated high distress. Finalize any Tier 3 referrals based on persistent impairment.
Session 4 Steady Ground Handout Steady Ground
Final Reflection
Grief changes us, but it doesn't have to define us. Reflect on your journey through these four sessions.
1. Finding My Strength
What is one way you've grown or discovered a new strength in yourself?
2. My Go-To Tool
Which one "Anchor" tool will be most useful for you this summer and why?
3. Re-Check
On a scale of 1-10 (1 = underwater, 10 = steady ground), where do you feel you are standing today?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
"Healing is not a destination, it's a way of walking."
Tier 3 Referral Criteria Guide Handout Clinical Support Pathways
Tier 3 Referral Criteria for Grief & Loss
Counselor Reference
Student Name
Date of Review
Functional Impairment
Sudden, sustained drop in grades (e.g., A/B to D/F).
Chronic absenteeism or school refusal.
Complete social withdrawal from peers/family.
Complex Symptoms
Hopelessness: Active ideation or verbalization of futility.Traumatic Stress: Flashbacks or severe panic.High-Risk Coping: Substance use or self-harm.
Intake Questions
"Do you feel stuck in the moment the loss happened?"
"Do you feel safe when you are alone with your thoughts?"
"How much does this interfere with your ability to be a student?"
Observations / Action Plan
1. Consult
Contact admin & family if safety concerns exist.
2. Measure
Use PHQ-9, GAD-7, or Grief Scales for data.
3. Refer
Provide list of 3+ trauma-informed partners.
