7 Empowering Workshop Ideas for Helping Girls Handle Stress and Anxiety

Support Girls With Tools to Calm Their Minds, Soothe Their Hearts, and Feel More in Control

Tween and teen girls are under so much pressure. Whether it’s school, friendships, family dynamics, or the constant pull of social media, stress and anxiety can easily build up—and feel impossible to handle. But with the right guidance and tools, girls can learn how to recognize their feelings, move through them with confidence, and build inner calm that lasts.

Workshops that focus on emotional wellness and stress relief are essential—not just for coping in the moment, but for building emotional intelligence and resilience that lasts a lifetime. These empowering ideas will help you lead girls through meaningful, practical, and fun sessions that give them what they truly need: support, understanding, and real-life tools that work.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Stress and anxiety are normal—girls need help understanding and navigating them, not avoiding them

• Empowering workshops blend education, creativity, and emotional safety

• Girls feel most supported when they’re met with compassion, not pressure to “fix” things

• You can lead these sessions confidently with a few powerful, girl-centered tools

1. Stress Awareness Circle + Journaling Prompt

Start with a simple discussion: What does stress feel like in your body? In your thoughts? What are some common stress triggers?
Let girls share, then give a journaling prompt like: What’s been making me feel overwhelmed lately? What helps me feel more grounded?
This sets the tone for self-awareness and connection.

2. DIY Calm Down Kits

Invite each girl to create her own “calm down kit” with items like stress balls, affirmation cards, scented lotion, or worry stones. You can also include a list of coping strategies. These kits empower girls to care for themselves when they need it most.

3. Breathe, Stretch, Reset Activity

Teach a few simple breathing exercises (like square breathing or 5-finger breathing) and pair them with gentle stretching. This activity not only calms the nervous system—it also shows girls how to reset their energy in a matter of minutes. Bonus: let them create their own calming routine!

4. Thought Reframe Game

Have girls write down common anxious thoughts (like “I’m going to mess this up” or “Everyone’s judging me”), then practice “flipping the script.” Example:

• Original: “I can’t do this.”

• Reframe: “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough.”
  This helps girls shift their mindset and builds self-talk awareness.

5. Visualization + Safe Place Meditation

Guide girls through a short meditation where they close their eyes and imagine a safe, peaceful place—real or imaginary. Afterward, let them draw or describe it. This becomes a go-to visualization they can return to when they’re anxious, helping them anchor into calm.

6. Emotions in the Body Activity

Use outlines of a body or “body maps” and ask girls to color in where they feel stress or anxiety. Then explore: What helps release those feelings?
This activity builds emotional awareness, teaches mind-body connection, and helps normalize the physical sensations of anxiety.

7. Empowerment Affirmations Wall

End your workshop by creating a group affirmation wall. Have each girl write calming or encouraging words that help her during anxious moments:

• “I’ve survived tough days before.”

• “I am allowed to slow down.”

• “My feelings are valid, and they will pass.”
  Display them or let girls take them home as a visual reminder of their strength.

Ready to lead powerful, heart-centered sessions that help girls manage stress and anxiety with confidence? The Managing Stress and Emotions Coaching Kit is a complete 4-part series filled with done-for-you activities, journaling prompts, group discussion guides, creative tools, and printable resources. It’s everything you need to support girls in building calm, resilience, and emotional strength—without overwhelm.

You already have the heart to help. This kit gives you the tools to make a difference. Let me know which activity resonates most with your group—I’m here cheering you on!

- Kate