Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! Today, we're diving into paperless individual counseling strategies—low-prep, hands-on activities that are perfect for busy counselors who need quick, engaging solutions.

Next week, I'll be discussing digital resources, but today, I'm focusing on interactive, in-person techniques that increase student engagement. Engagement is a key factor in helping students meet their counseling goals, as it keeps them interested and actively involved in the learning process.

As counselors, our role is short-term and solution-focused, so let's explore some creative ways to make each session both effective and memorable.

Hands-On Activities for Student Engagement

1. Role Play with Figurines

• Use toys like dolls, cars, dinosaurs, or any small objects available.

• Helps students externalize feelings and start conversations naturally.

• Provides a non-threatening way to discuss emotions.

2. Role Play with Chairs

• The "Empty Chair Technique" allows students to talk to an imaginary person, which is helpful for grief counseling or conflict resolution.

• Students can rehearse conversations and gain new perspectives.

• Can also be used with two students switching seats to see different viewpoints.

3. Play Dough or Modeling Clay

• Great for younger students as a hands-on way to express emotions.

• Can be used to create emotional faces or role-play scenarios.

• Simply playing with the dough can be a stress reliever.

4. Ball Toss Activity

• A beach ball works well since it can be deflated when not in use.

• Add conversation starter stickers to each section of the ball.

• Toss the ball back and forth to encourage discussion.

5. Lego

• Provides a distraction that encourages sharing.

• Helps ease intimidation in one-on-one sessions.

• Can be used for role-playing or as an analogy (e.g., "building blocks of friendship").

6. Jenga

• Write discussion prompts on the blocks to personalize the activity.

• Can be used as an analogy for building up trust, relationships, or personal growth.

7. Soda Can Anger Activity

• Shake a can of soda as students describe situations that make them angry.

• When opened, it creates a visual representation of anger exploding.

• Engaging, memorable, and effective in anger management sessions.

8. Volcano Experiment

• Use clay, baking soda, and vinegar to demonstrate how anger builds and erupts.

• Great for anger management groups or individual sessions.

9. Dry Erase Boards or Etch A Sketch

• Teach negative thought patterns and growth mindset.

• Have students write negative thoughts and erase them to symbolize change.

10. Music Playlists

• Have students create a playlist of songs that help them with different emotions (sadness, anger, calming, motivation).

• Can be a great coping strategy or "get to know you" activity.

11. Food as a Conversation Starter

• Use different colored snacks to represent emotions.

• Be mindful of allergens and sugar content.

12. Plants as a Growth Analogy

• Students can care for a plant over time, learning how friendships and personal growth require nurturing.

• Can serve as an attendance motivator or a take-home gift.

I hope you found these ideas helpful and feel inspired to try them in your counseling sessions! Let me know how they work for you—reply to my emails or send me a message on Instagram. See you next week for more digital resource ideas!

Resources mentioned:

• Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

• If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Connect with Rachel:

• TpT Store

• Blog

• Instagram

• Facebook Page

• Facebook Group

• Pinterest

• Youtube

More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!