Coping Skills for Teens: Moving Past Embarrassment
This session teaches coping skills for teens, helping older students move past embarrassment with coping strategies and positive self-talk. They watch a short video about a student who stumbles while reading aloud, then discuss what self-talk could help someone keep going after a moment like that. A quick game asks students to argue what another person might be thinking or feeling, building perspective-taking. The takeaway: mistakes are normal, and feelings can change.
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 modeling lessonHandling Embarrassment
When Christine makes a mistake reading in front of the class, she feels sad and angry at the same time. She learns that this is feeling embarrassed. But not to worry because everyone makes mistakes. When she tries again, she's able to handle her embarrassment and continue reading.
- Extension activity
Getting A Bad Grade - Older
Sarah gets a bad grade on a test and has a big reaction, disrupting the rest of the class. Sarah learns that when that happens, she has to be mature and control her reaction. She's still upset about her grade but she makes plans to talk with the teacher after class.
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 helps a person move past embarrassment?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling 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 that embarrassment can feel like sadness and anger at the same time, often after making a mistake in front of others. They practiced noticing that feeling and Changing the Channel on it by taking a breath, using positive self-talk, and continuing instead of giving up. This helps them remember that everyone makes mistakes and that one slip does not have to stop them.
Key Terms
- Embarrassment
- The uncomfortable feeling you get when you make a mistake in front of others and feel upset that they saw. It can feel like sadness and frustration at the same time, and your face might turn red.
- 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.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
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 classroom, when a student makes a small mistake in front of others, try saying "That happens to everyone, take a breath and pick up where you left off." Naming it as normal makes it easier to keep going.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Moving Past Embarrassment 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 Handling Embarrassment, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Getting A Bad Grade - Older.
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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