Calm and Thrive Teen Anxiety Intervention – Item 738

This is our Calm and Thrive Teen Anxiety Intervention.

Calm and Thrive is a six-session group intervention that helps teenagers understand and manage anxiety. Each session builds coping skills through guided discussions, practical activities, and calming exercises. Pupils learn what anxiety is, how it affects them, and what they can do to feel more in control.

This intervention is ideal for Year 6 and secondary pupils who struggle with worry or anxiety. Although it is written for group work it could be adapted for one to one sessions by the ELSA or other practitioner.

Each Calm and Thrive teen anxiety intervention session includes:

• Review and check-in (10 minutes) – Reflect on the last session and share updates.
• Warm up (10 minutes) – Guided discussion using question cards.
• Main activity (30 minutes) – Worksheets, visuals, and practical coping tasks.
• Calming time (5 minutes) – A short guided relaxation or grounding exercise.
• Review and Next time (5 minutes) – A review of the session and an optional task for next time

Make sure you have around one hour to complete each session.

Learning Objectives and Lesson Overview

• Understanding Anxiety – Recognise anxiety and how it affects thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
• Identifying Triggers – Notice situations that make you feel anxious.
• Challenging Anxious Thoughts – Learn how to challenge and reframe negative thinking.
• Managing Physical Symptoms – Find ways to calm physical signs of anxiety.
• Control – Understand which worries you can and can’t control.
• Moving Forward – Reflect on progress and create a personal action plan.

Outcomes

By the end of the Calm and Thrive intervention, pupils will:

• Understand what anxiety is and how it affects their body and mind.
• Recognise personal triggers and unhelpful thought patterns.
• Use positive coping strategies to manage anxious feelings.
• Develop a personal plan to support emotional wellbeing.

This intervention helps young people feel calmer, more confident, and better prepared to handle life’s challenges.