As a former CFI-G......as well as later alomg SEL student.....best ANY flight instructor can do is.....
Train to think things out.
Practice in controlled situations.
Then.....(when student is at least sorta ready), drop the boom on them and see if they keep thinking. Goal is.....keep flying until everything stops. Hopefully you made decent decisions.
Stress (the whole, "drop the boom on them.....in a controlled situation......which NEVER covers all situations....") and see if they sorta keep thinking and adjusting.

Yes, I disagreed with a SEL CFI during simulated power loss. I picked a place, he gave me power back at about 200' AGL.
We discussed.
My comment, "how many times have you landed off an airport"?
I had many, had decent reasons for my field selection.


Go back to my earlier posts.......
Pick a place to land at home field EVERY time.....do it!
Try opposite patterns if traffic allows.
Ignore altimeter....basically useless in "Farmer Browns back forty" where ground level is unknown....what does it look like, what does it feel like (I unknowingly landed with full water in a ASW-20.....listed speeds to fly dry would have wrecked the ship....but it felt wrong....I flew faster until it felt right...) how to make better?

As stated, peeps trash ships at home......definition of XC....."beyond glide of airport"..... so 2 miles out but low.....you're XC.....

This is a sport that can be major fun......flying is unforgiving......gravity (or as I say, "no such thing as gravity, the earth sucks....") ALWAYS wins eventually....

Train, plan, think.......have fun.....