Coping Skills for Teens: Coping with Tough Emotions
This session teaches coping skills for teens, helping older students recognize when a big feeling starts to build and use Change the Channel to shift it. They open with a guiding question, discuss the signs in their thoughts and body that signal a strong emotion, and replay a short interaction step by step to spot where it went off track. The payoff is a practical set of calming strategies they can reach for when emotions run high.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Emotional Recognition
- Goal
- Changing the Channel on Feelings
- Grade level
- Middle & High School
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video lessonCoping with Tough Emotions Introduction
We're learning how to cope with big emotions. Take a moment to reflect on the last time you felt really upset. Did you feel in control of your mind and body?
- Extension activity
Changing the Channel - Calm Thoughts
We're learning how to Change the Channel on our emotions to better control our thoughts and reactions. Who can tell me one of the skills needed to Change the Channel?
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: 4-7-8 Breathing2:13
- Video: Obstacles into Opportunities Visualization1:19
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What does it mean to Change the Channel?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned how to Change the Channel on a big emotion by noticing it before it takes over and shifting their thoughts to something new. They practiced naming what they were feeling and choosing a coping strategy that fit, like taking deep breaths or giving themselves some time. This helps them stay in control of their thinking instead of letting a tough feeling control them.
Key Terms
- Change the Channel
- Change the Channel is a self-regulation strategy you can use when a strong emotion is building. You notice what you’re feeling, then intentionally shift your attention using coping skills like deep breathing, positive self-talk, or taking space so you can think more clearly.
- Calming Strategy
- Something you do on purpose to bring a big emotion back down, like deep breaths, taking a break, or shifting to a more helpful thought. You use it when you notice a strong feeling starting to take over.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
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Changing the Channel on Feelings
When experiencing strong emotions such as jealousy, disappointment, frustration, or embarrassment, learner will use a self-selected coping strategy (e.g., taking a break, positive self-talk, deep breaths) to manage the feeling and return to the task or interaction in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the community, when a student seems frustrated or upset, try naming one strategy they could switch to, like "Want to take a few deep breaths or step away for a minute?" Letting them pick keeps them in charge of the shift.
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More Emotional Recognition Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Coping with Tough Emotions is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for middle and high school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Coping with Tough Emotions Introduction, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Changing the Channel - Calm Thoughts.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on emotional recognition - more specifically, changing the channel on feelings.
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