Starting at a new school
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Fictional case for peer practice.
Starting at a new school
A fictional 15-year-old feels out of place after changing schools and is tired of adults asking whether they have made friends.
Client role brief
You want more say in the conversation. You enjoy drawing and have one class you like, but dread lunch periods. Ask what is private if you are unsure; the therapist should explain the fictional setting’s limits rather than promise total secrecy.
- Protects
- Gives short answers and changes the subject when friends come up.
- Fears
- That adults will make school more awkward or share what was private.
- Underneath
- Loneliness at lunch, and wanting a real say in what happens next.
For the person playing the client: guard the first two, and let what is underneath show only when the therapist makes room for it.
Therapist objectives
- Explain privacy and its limits in age-appropriate language
- Ask what the young person wants help with
- Choose one manageable school-related goal together
Reflect afterward
What did you notice? Which response helped exploration? What would you try differently?
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