Coping Strategies to Promote Mental Health

This manual offers care providers a unique combination of evidence-based methods for adult learning and coping strategy development when training clients individually or in groups.

Coping strategies help clients to engage and thrive in meaningful self-care, as well as productive and leisure occupations. The coping strategies are divided into four categories: health and wellness routines, changing the body’s response to stress, changing the situation, and changing attitudes. Each category contains four modules with client handouts for coping strategy training, including sleep hygiene, suicide safety planning, setting healthy boundaries, and cultivating gratitude. Every module contains a facilitator lesson plan, specific learning outcomes, and examples of expected client responses to ensure the learning is taking place.

Occupational therapists and other care providers, both novice and experienced, will find this manual useful to improve efficiencies in practice and provision of meaningful teachings.