Counseling Activities Workbook: Handouts and Exercises for Working With People

by Wilma Schroeder

The goal of counseling is to support people as they move toward their goals of managing themselves, their life issues, and their relationships. For helpers and counselors, one way to provide this support is to use experiential learning activities to facilitate the development of new insights and skills.

This book contains a wide variety of counseling resources based on an equally diverse range of counseling theories, including cognitive behavioral, narrative, family systems, and mindfulness. The resources are formatted as handouts that can be copied or printed and given to the person you are supporting. Activities include questionnaires, worksheets, reflective exercises, mapping activities, safety plans, and coping strategies. Most of the resources are applicable to many issues, while others have a more specific focus and can be assigned in sequence so that their insights and strategies build on each other.

This workbook is designed for helpers and counselors to use in the context of a helping relationship, where additional depth and guidance can be provided – it is not a self-help book. By providing multiple resources to draw upon, this book supports helpers and counselors to feel more confident as they support others.

The activities in this workbook are suitable for working with people 16 years of age and older. All activities can either be photocopied or you can access printable PDFs on our website.

The activities are related to the following topics:

Change and Planning

Coping and Stress

Self-Awareness and Self-Esteem

Cognitive Behavioral Strategies

Body and Movement

Breathing

Mindfulness and Calming

Emotions

Safety Plans

Connecting and Relationships

Communication

Conflict

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2021

Reviews

[Ani Speranza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a complimentary version of this book for an unbiased and voluntary review.

This workbook contains invaluable activities and guided exercises for helpers and individuals alike. The easy-to-follow layout and intuitive flow of ideas and topics make it so that you can open it up and find what you need without hassle. I've been looking for worksheets to help me feel more grounded in my emotional experience, and the self-awareness, emotions, and mindfulness sections will become a staple of my self-care time.

[Nadine Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this book when it was being written. I was impressed by the scope and practicality of the topics of the worksheets. As a helper, I find that handouts, tools and worksheets make the difference between a conversation and a spark for action. These worksheets make theoretical concepts personal and applicable and are something to take away as a reminder of a new awareness or desired change.

[Tressa23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although thIs book is written for counselors/ helpers I think it would also be a good resource for anyone who is going thru or has gone thru Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Covers and expands on many of the same exercises.
As always, with any health issue, if you are getting treatment run this by your counselor to see if it’s right for you (sorry to sound like a commercial but it is good advice).

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book free of charge.

This book offers tons of options for printable worksheets in a variety of topics including stress, body movements, conflict, and relationships. Anyone working in a mental health support or helper role should find a lot of value in this book.

[Janelle Robyn jackiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very practical and adaptable to many different client issues. As a clinician in private practice I am always looking to add to my tools, resources and handouts and this workbook has been a great addition. Would highly recommend!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good intervention ideas in one place.