Health & care · Roleplay
Counseling role play scenarios: practice a first session with Hannah
A good first session covers consent, confidentiality and its limits, then lets the client tell their story while you rely on open questions and reflections more than advice. Check for risk where it’s relevant, summarize what you heard, and agree together on one small next step. Practice with Hannah Lee, an anxious college sophomore who isn’t sure her problem is “real enough” for counseling.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- Counseling grad students who need to practice a first session before seeing real clients.
- School counselors in training who want to build rapport with anxious students.
- Programs that want students to practice reflective listening and open questions safely.
- Anyone nervous about running a first session and wanting a low-pressure rehearsal.
What happens
How a session goes
- Hannah Lee speaks first. She sounds unsure and says she doesn't know if her problem is real.
- You respond by talking or typing. She reacts like a real person would, based on how you treat her.
- You work to understand her anxiety and agree on one small next step together.
Real lines from a test session
What Hannah Lee said in a test session
“I don't even know if this counts as a real problem. Other people have it worse.”
“Usually right when they hand out the test, sometimes even the night before.”
“Placing my hand flat instead of gripping... I could maybe try that. Just for the first few minutes of the test. That doesn't sound too hard, I guess.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Anxious Student First Session
“I’m sorry, I’m a little nervous too—uh, that’s probably not what you need to hear.”
You shared your own nervousness briefly, which can undermine client confidence and shift focus; it's a common but correctable misstep.
Try instead: “Thank you for sharing that—it sounds really tough. Let's talk more about how that shows up for you.”
What went well: You used vivid, accurate reflections of Hannah's physical experience (e.g., gripping the desk), which built trust and deepened the conversation.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You warmly open the session and cover consent basics without rushing.
- You reflect her feelings to show you heard her, which scores for reflective listening.
- You ask open questions that help her describe the anxiety in her own words.
- You gently check safety and work with her to pick one small next step, scoring for collaboration.
Scored on:
- Reflective listening
- Open questions
- Evoking change
- Collaboration & safety
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “You should just try to relax before the test.”
Better: “It sounds like tests bring up a lot of worry. Can you tell me what that worry feels like for you?”
Giving advice too early skips understanding and misses a chance to reflect.
Weak: “So you have anxiety. Let's work on that.”
Better: “I hear that you're not sure if this counts as a real problem. I'm glad you came in.”
Diagnosing too soon can feel cold and doesn't build rapport.
Weak: “Have you tried deep breathing?”
Better: “What have you already tried that helped, even a little?”
Jumping to techniques skips collaboration and can feel like a lecture.
Weak: “Don't worry, everyone gets nervous.”
Better: “It makes sense you'd feel nervous. What's been the hardest part?”
Minimizing her feelings shuts down the conversation instead of opening it.
Counseling First Session: Anxious Student: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
Try it free, no signupMake this useful for your next conversation
Your roleplay practice plan
- Define your objective for the conversation
- Respond to the character’s actual words
- Apply the scenario’s specific criteria
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about Anxious Student First Session
Who is Hannah Lee and what is this session about?
Hannah Lee is an anxious college sophomore in her first counseling session at a college counseling center. You play a counseling or psychology graduate student running that first session. Your goal is to build rapport, understand her anxiety, and agree on one small next step. She speaks first and reacts to how you treat her. Try it free →
Is this real therapy or supervision?
No. This is training practice, not clinical supervision or treatment. It is for counseling graduate students and their programs, and school counselors in training. It is not a substitute for real supervision or care. Try it free →
What questions do counselors ask in a first session?
Open ones such as “What brings you in today?”, “What have you tried so far?”, “What would be different if this got better?” and, where relevant, questions about safety, sleep and support. The aim is to understand the person and build trust, not to cover a checklist in one hour. Try it free →
What is a reflection in counseling?
Saying back what the client meant, in your own words. A simple reflection repeats the content (“School has been overwhelming”); a complex one adds the feeling or meaning underneath (“You’re worried that if you slow down, you’ll fall behind for good”). Good reflections help clients feel heard and keep talking. Try it free →
Training practice, not clinical supervision or treatment.
Try Counseling First Session: Anxious Student free
4 free rounds now, no signup. 7 with a free account. Then $4.99 for 100 rounds, one time, with no subscription. Plans are there if you practice every day.
Try it free, no signupBuilt by Matthew, a solo founder. Questions? Email support@getadversaryai.com, I read every message.