Navigating Choices Lesson Plan Navigating Choices
Intervention Facilitator Guide
Tier 3 Intervention
10th Grade | 6-Week Program
Rationale
Addressing severe substance use early and effectively is crucial for a student's long-term health, academic success, and overall well-being. This intervention aims to equip the student with the necessary tools and strategies to make positive choices and build a foundation for a healthier future.
Objective
To provide a 10th-grade student with severe substance use concerns individualized support to identify triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and create a personal plan for sobriety and healthy living.
Quick Specs
Duration
6 weeks, 30 min/session
Audience
Individual (Tier 3)
Approach
Coaching & Journaling
Preparation & Materials
Essential Materials
Navigating Choices Slide Deck
My Recovery Journal
Personal Growth Plan Activity
Coping Skills Toolkit Activity
Support Network Map Activity
Relapse Prevention Worksheet
Facilitator Action Items
Time: 30 minutes/week prep
Familiarize yourself with discussion points and activities.
Gather physical materials (blank paper, colored pencils).
Ensure a private, comfortable space for confidential sessions.
Customize prompts to suit the student's specific context.
Program Sequence
1
Week 1: Understanding My Journey
Focus: Introduction, Rapport Building, and Goal Setting.
Explain purpose and confidentiality (5 min).
Discuss personal 6-week goals (10 min).
Initial exploration of substance use effects (10 min).
Assign first journal prompt (5 min).
Slides 1-3
2
Week 2: Identifying Triggers and Patterns
Focus: Spotting internal/external triggers and recurring cycles.
Check-in and journal review (5 min).
Brainstorm triggers: people, places, feelings (15 min).
Discuss patterns and cycles of use (10 min).
Slide 4
3
Week 3: Developing Coping Skills
Focus: Building a toolkit of healthy response strategies.
Review trigger awareness (5 min).
Introduce distraction, relaxation, and problem-solving (15 min).
Practice a new skill (e.g., deep breathing) (10 min).
Slide 5
4
Week 4: Support Network & Relationships
Focus: Identifying allies and navigating peer pressure.
Coping skills practice review (5 min).
Identify trusted allies and positive connections (15 min).
Role-play refusal skills and asking for help (10 min).
Slides 6-7
5
Week 5: Relapse Prevention
Focus: Proactive planning for high-risk situations.
Review support connection homework (5 min).
Identify high-risk situations and vulnerabilities (15 min).
Develop personal safety plan and emergency steps (10 min).
Slide 8
6
Week 6: Celebrating Growth
Focus: Reviewing progress and maintaining success.
Reflect on 6-week journey and goal progress (5 min).
Highlight strengths and positive changes (15 min).
Discuss ongoing support and resources (10 min).
Slide 9
Navigating Choices Slide Deck Navigating Choices
A personal path to healthy living
Your space for growth and support
Confidential and judgment-free
Phase 1: Foundation
Setting Our Course
What do you hope to achieve?
Set personal goals for our time together
Why is this important to you?
Your journey, your goals!
"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you're not going to stay where you are."
Initial Exploration
Understanding Substance Use
Perspective
What are your thoughts and feelings about your use?
Impact
How does it affect your physical health and energy?
Timeframe
Comparing short-term relief vs. long-term impacts.
Spotting My Triggers
Internal Triggers
• Feelings (Anxiety, Sadness)
• Stressful Thoughts
• Physical Pain or Boredom
External Triggers
• Specific People or Friends
• Locations or Hangouts
• Certain Times or Social Events
Let's identify your unique triggers in your journal.
Building My Toolkit
How can I respond differently when facing a trigger?
Relaxation
Distraction
Problem Solving
Seeking Support
Navigating Social Pressures
What is Peer Pressure?
It's the feeling that you must behave in a certain way to be accepted or liked by others your age.
Your Response Strategy
Clear "No" (Direct)
The Excuse (Indirect)
The Pivot (Change the Topic)
Role-Play Scenario
"Hey, everyone's doing it. Just try a little bit."
How do you say no?
My Support Squad
Allies at Home
Family members, guardians, or older siblings.
Allies at School
Counselors, favorite teachers, or mentors.
Allies in Life
Close friends who respect your healthy choices.
The strongest trees have the deepest roots. Who has your back?
Safety & Resilience
Planning for Challenges
Identify Risk
Navigating Choices Script Delivery Script
Navigating Choices: A Personal Journey
Tone & Approach
Calm, supportive, non-judgmental
Active listening & validation
Flexible & student-centered
Logistics
30-minute sessions
Strictly confidential
Use Slide Deck as visual aid
Week 1: Understanding My Journey
Intro, Rapport, and Goal Setting
Introduction (5 min)
"Welcome! Thank you for coming. My name is [Your Name], and I'll be working with you over the next six weeks. This is a safe space for you to talk about anything that's on your mind regarding your choices and well-being. Everything we discuss here is confidential, meaning I won't share it with others unless I believe you are in immediate danger or someone else is. My goal is to support you, not to judge. Do you have any questions about that?"
"Over these six weeks, we'll explore different ways to understand yourself better, develop new skills, and make choices that support your goals for a healthy life. How does that sound?"
Setting Goals (10 min)
"To start, what are some things you hope to get out of our time together? What would you like to achieve in these sessions or in your life in general? There are no right or wrong answers, just your personal hopes."
"That's a great goal. To help us keep track of your thoughts and progress, I want to introduce you to the My Recovery Journal. It's a private space for you to write down your thoughts, feelings, and discoveries. For now, can you write down that goal we just discussed?"
Exploration (10 min) — Use Slide 3
"Today, I want us to start by just talking a little about substance use. What comes to mind when you hear those words? What are your current thoughts or feelings about it?"
"Thanks for sharing. We know that substances can have different effects on people. What have you noticed about how they affect you or people you know?"
Week 2: Identifying Triggers
Understanding Triggers (15 min) — Use Slide 4
"Today, we're going to talk about 'triggers.' These are feelings, situations, people, or places that can make you want to use substances. They can be internal, like stress, or external, like being with certain friends."
"Let's brainstorm some potential triggers. What kinds of situations or feelings tend to be around when you feel the urge to use?"
Week 3: Developing Coping Skills
Coping Toolkit (15 min) — Use Slide 5
"Today is all about building your 'coping toolkit.' These are healthy strategies you can use instead of turning to substances. What are some things you currently do that help you feel better when you're stressed or upset?"
My Recovery Journal Booklet My Recovery Journal
Navigating Choices: A Personal Journey
Name:
Started:
This journal is a private space for your growth and reflection.
Your Space
This journal is your personal space to reflect, track your progress, and explore your thoughts and feelings throughout your journey.
"Be honest with yourself; this is for your growth. There are no right or wrong answers—only your truth."
Private
Everything written here is for you and your path forward.
Supportive
Use this to identify your strengths and build your toolkit.
Week 1: Starting Point
Foundation
Prompt 1: What are your initial goals for our sessions? What do you hope to achieve or change in the next six weeks?
Prompt 2: What is one feeling or thought you have about making healthier choices?
Week 2: Trigger Tracker
Awareness
Prompt 1: List any situations, feelings, people, or places that made you want to use substances this week. Be as specific as possible.
Internal (Feelings/Thoughts)
External (People/Places)
Prompt 2: What patterns have you noticed? Are there specific times or emotions that lead to use?
Week 3: Building My Toolkit
Skills
Prompt 1: What are some healthy coping skills you already use when you feel stressed or overwhelmed?
Prompt 2: From the new coping skills we discussed, which 2-3 did you practice this week? How did you feel afterward?
Week 4: Support Squad
Community
Prompt 1: Who are the 2-3 most important people in your support network? Why do you trust them?
Prompt 2: How did it feel to connect with someone from your support network this week?
Week 5: Planning Challenges
Resilience
Prompt 1: What high-risk situations do you anticipate in the near future? How will you use your skills to navigate them?
Prompt 2: How confident do you feel in your ability to stick to your Safety Plan? What makes it easier or harder?
Week 6: Looking Forward
Success
Prompt 1: Reflect on your initial goals. How much progress have you made? What are you most proud of?
Prompt 2: What are your plans for continuing to make healthy choices after these sessions conclude?
Final Thoughts: Write any additional reflections, insights, or messages to yourself.
Personal Growth Plan Activity Personal Growth Plan
My Vision for a Healthy Life
This activity helps you visualize and plan for the healthy life you want to build. Think about your strengths, your values, and what truly makes you happy.
Part 1: My Strengths & Values
1. List 3-5 of your greatest strengths.
(e.g., creative, kind, determined, resilient, smart)
2. What are 2-3 values that are most important to you?
(e.g., honesty, family, health, education, creativity)
Part 2: My Vision Board
Imagine your life in 6 months, where you are consistently making healthy choices. What does that look like? Think about your Health , Relationships , and Hobbies .
Draw or describe your vision here
Use words, symbols, or illustrations
Part 3: Steps to Get There
"Every big journey starts with small steps."
Looking at your vision, what are 2-3 small, actionable steps you can take this week to move closer to that healthy life?
1
Step 1:
2
Step 2:
3
Step 3:
Coping Skills Toolkit Activity Sheet Coping Skills Toolkit
My Healthy Response Strategies
This toolkit will help you identify and organize strategies you can use to handle difficult emotions, stress, or cravings. The more tools you have, the better equipped you'll be!
Part 1: Brainstorming Categories
Relaxation/Calming
(e.g., deep breathing, stretching)
Distraction
(e.g., music, movies, reading)
Physical Activity
(e.g., walking, sports, dancing)
Creative/Expressive
(e.g., drawing, writing, music)
Part 2: My Go-To Skills
Choose your top 5 coping skills from your brainstorming. Describe why you chose them and when you plan to use them.
1
Skill Name
Why/When to Use
2
Skill Name
Why/When to Use
3
Skill Name
Why/When to Use
4
Skill Name
Why/When to Use
5
Skill Name
Why/When to Use
Keep this toolkit handy and add to it as you discover new ways to cope!
Support Network Map Activity Sheet Support Network Map
Visualizing My Allies & Connections
A strong support network is key to staying healthy. Use this map to identify the people in your life who care about you and can provide help when things get tough.
Wider Community
Strong Connections
Inner Circle
ME
Mapping Instructions:
Inner Circle: People you trust with anything (e.g., Parent, Best Friend).
Connections: People you can go to for advice or help (e.g., Counselor, Coach).
Community: People who offer positive support in other ways (e.g., Neighbor, Youth Leader).
Reflection Questions
1. Who was easiest to place on your map? Why?
2. Who might you consider reaching out to more often for support?
3. How does having this visual map make you feel about your support system?
4. What is one way you can strengthen a connection with someone on your map this week?
You don't have to carry the weight alone.
Building connections is a sign of resilience and strength.
Relapse Prevention Plan Worksheet Relapse Prevention Plan
Staying Strong & Prepared
This plan is designed to help you prepare for and navigate challenging situations, ensuring you can maintain your commitment to healthy choices. This is your plan to stay strong.
Part 1: High-Risk Situations
Identify situations, places, or emotional states where you feel most vulnerable.
1. Situation/Trigger
Why is this high-risk?
2. Situation/Trigger
Why is this high-risk?
Part 2: My Action Plans
Plan for Situation 1:
(What will I do? Who will I call? What coping skill will I use?)
Plan for Situation 2:
Warning Signs
How do you feel or act when you're getting close to a risk?
Emergency Contacts
Name
Phone
Commitment to Myself
"I am strong because..."
"Keep this plan in a safe, accessible place and review it regularly. You are capable of making great choices and staying on your path."
