Find positive words

• This list of 58 positive traits may help your student recognize the good in themselves. Get them to start circling what they identify with, and then tell a story when they demonstrated that trait! 

Identify your strengths 

Strength words

As with the positive traits, have your student circle the strength words on the list. 

Then have them think about a time when they used the strength recently.

Strengths use

This worksheet helps the student think about when they can use the strength in the near future. 

With students, have them brainstorm future activities where their strengths will be in active use. 

Strengths & qualities

This worksheet can help students to creatively describe their strengths in several domains. 

Example prompts:

• Things I am good at
• Compliments I have received
• Challenges I have overcome
• I have helped others by
• Things that make me unique
• What I value the most

Self-esteem 

Self-esteem sentence completion

The following sentence completion worksheet may help the student who is stuck on writing a Common App essay or needs a boost to their self-esteem.

Example prompts:

• I was really happy when...

• I'm proud of...

• In school, I'm good at...

• Something that my friends like about me is...

• My family was happy when I...

 Self-esteem journal

• This worksheet can help your students to record daily statements related to their successes, good qualities, and positive experiences every day of the week. 

Life story 

Understanding one's past, present, and future can help your student to create a life narrative, imbuing a sense of meaning and also serving as fodder for genuine application essays.

•  This worksheet can help structure such a discussion, with reflection prompts for the past, present, and future. 

Active Listening

• Active listening is the practice of being fully attuned to what the other person is saying -- their speech, thoughts, feelings. 

• An essential skill in counseling, knowing the principles behind it will help build rapport. Following suggestions are taken from this article with visual

  • Paraphrase
  • Ask questions
  • Use positive body language
  • Show empathy
  • Avoid judgment 
  • Don't give advice too quickly
  • Evaluate the conversation
  • Listening may be enough

• More resources: One-pager, Table with concrete suggestions, a longer article

Mobilize community

• Read this article for ideas on how to empower the larger community for college counselling. "Counselling is everyone's role."

• Head of Year & homeroom teachers
• Academic Coordinators 
• Subject teachers
• School Leadership Team
• Parents
• Alumni
• University representatives
• Local businesses 

Make your environment welcoming 

• A good counselling environment involves a fitting physical environment. Here's an article about establishing such a counselling environment. From the article, a simple checklist for you to go through. 

Is your office:

• Welcoming? (e.g. greet clients appropriately, show them where to sit)
• Comfortable? (e.g. have comfortable seats, try to sit at the same level)
• A place with few distractions? (e.g. no telephone, or interruptions from other staff or family members)
• Somewhere where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained? (e.g. somewhere away from other people)
• Non-threatening? (e.g. a place where people can feel relaxed and comfortable).

Social Support

• The following worksheet is a learning resource for the benefits of social support, types of social support, and building social support. 

Beyond that, it provides prompts to gauge the social support in your student's circle and encourage them to further develop them.