AOM classes are designed to work with groups of any size, including one-on-one. If you're a counselor, therapist, or advisor who works with students individually or in small groups, here's how to make AOM part of that work.
Why it works in smaller settings
The core of every AOM class is a short film and a set of reflection prompts. In a large group, those prompts become discussion starters. In a 1:1 or small-group setting, they become something more personal: a way to open conversations that might otherwise be hard to start. The film gives both of you something external to react to. Nobody has to disclose anything about themselves to engage. A student can talk about what the character experienced, what they noticed, what surprised them. That's often enough to get to the real conversation.
How to set it up
- Browse the class library with your client or group in mind. The Mental Health Topics filter is especially useful here. If you're working with a student on anxiety, or grief, or something else, you can find a class that centers exactly that mental health experience.
- Watch the film together. In a session, you can watch the film together and use the reflection prompts as a jumping-off point.
- Use the facilitation script loosely. The scripts are written for group facilitation, but the questions translate well to 1:1 conversation. Pick the prompts that feel right for your student and skip the rest.
- Skip the roster if it's just you and one student. You don't need to upload a CSV or create a registration page for a 1:1 session. Just share the class link directly.
What counselors tell us
The most common feedback we hear from counselors is that the films do the hard work of naming something the student has been feeling but hasn't had the language for. The film makes it safe to talk about because it's about someone else. And because AOM is designed to be educational, not therapeutic, it can sit comfortably alongside clinical work.
Tips & Notes
- If you're using AOM in a clinical setting, remember that participant evaluations are optional. You can skip them entirely for 1:1 sessions where formal evaluation doesn't fit the context.
- Wellness Snacks are particularly useful for between-session assignments. They're short (about 20 minutes), self-guided, and focused on a single topic.
- For help finding the right class for a specific clinical focus, see "How to Use the Filters to Find the Right Class" and "About AOM's Powerful Mental Health Topics Filter" in the Learning Center.
