After you have booked a place on this course, the teacher will contact you to arrange a pre-course phone interview. This interview is both for you to learn more about what the course is about and for the teacher to get to know you. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that the course is the right for you at this point in your life. If you decide not to join the course after the talk, the fee will be returned to you.
If you wish to have more information please send an email to berit@thrivinglife.eu and we will organise to have a chat.
Imagine you had a magic wand, that took away all the difficult thoughts and emotions. Pliing… away with all the worries about upcoming tests, exams and sports-try-outs. Away with the thoughts about whether you fit in and whether people like you. Away with the critical voice in your head telling you that you are not pretty, smart or confident enough. And away with emotions such as loneliness, anxiety and anger.
Unfortunately, this course is not magic, and the difficult thoughts and emotions aren’t going anywhere; we all have them and they will be there for the rest of our lives. However, this course offers some essential tools for how to deal with them.
Theoretical Background
Thriving Teenager is a condensed version of the world renowned and evidence based 8 week MBSR course (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) but adapted to the age group. It is supplemented with engaging and fun exercises from ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy). As well as exploring mindfulness during the course we will also look at values as they play an important role when one approaches adulthood and when making important decisions in life
It is important to stress that this course is not therapy. The aim of the course is not to “fix” any mental or learning difficulties students. Mindfulness might be able to help cope with these, but it is not the aim of the course. Please inform the teacher prior to the course, if the student has any mental or physical health issues.
Home-practice
Like any other new skills, mindfulness needs to be practiced regularly. Just like going to the gym in order to get stronger muscles, the mind can be shaped and strengthened through mindfulness practice. A regular meditation practice has been proven to build new neurological pathways in the brain. Participants therefore need to be committed and open minded. It is expected that the students practice around 10-15 min of mindfulness at home every day during the course (guided meditations are provided on MP3).
FAMILY PACKAGE: If you as a parent would like to join your teenager on the mindfulness journey you have an opportunity to start an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course and get 15% of the total price. Please read more about the Family package here.
Survey
The participants will be asked to fill in a survey before and after the course in order to allow the teacher, the student and the parents to see what effect the course has had on the student.
Times and dates for next course:
The next course starts Wednesday 13th of February 2019 at 17.00-18.30 with Online Check-Ins on the following Monday the 15th of February at 19.00-19.30.
(If there is more than 8 signed up, we will divide into two groups based on age and have a group run from 15.00-17.00 same day).
When and Where
Thriving Teenager is a 6 weeks course. It is an after-school activity for students at the American School of the Hague (ASH) but it is also open for teenagers that doesn’t go to ASH. The aim is to give young people (about 13-18 year olds) mindfulness tools to handle difficult situations, thoughts and emotions during teenage years and beyond. However, it will also challenge you to discover your strengths and explore the values and passions that lie within you.
It consists of 6 sessions of 90 min from 17.00-18.30 plus 30 min online check-ins (brief chat and guided meditation) once a week. It is held in small groups of 4-7 people in a confidential, safe and fun environment at Thriving Life´s Mindfulness Studio in Wassenaar. We will explore and practice mindfulness together, and it is completely up to you how much you wish to share with the group.
The course is offered in March-April and again in October-November in order to allow the older students to utilize their new mindfulness skills to cope with the pressure of exams.
The course is open for anyone from around 13 years and older (but we will not turn down “mature” 12 year olds either).
Supportive Parents
Mindfulness is easy – changing habits and thought-patterns are not. The more support the student can get from home in order to set up time and space for a regular daily mindfulness practice during (and after) the course, the better the chances are that she/he will benefit from the course.
If you missed out on the information meeting that was/is held at ASH in January and September, please contact us and we will tell you more about the course and how you can support your teenager.
Of course, the best support for the teenager is if the parent join in on the mindfulness practice. For parents who would like to explore and experience mindfulness in their own life, we are offering MBSR´s for adults as a family package (see above).
Schedule
Session plan
Session 1: Waking up
Autopilot and awareness.
Wed 13/2 17.00-18.30
● Online Check-in
Mon 18/2 20.30-21.00
Session 2: Finding your balance
Coping with stress and pressure
Wed 20/2 17.00-18.30
● Online Check-in
Mon 4/3 20.30-21.00
Session 3. It is OK not to be OK
Coping with difficult thoughts and emotions
Wed 6/3 17.00-18.30
● Online Check-in
Mon 11/3 20.30-21.00
Session 4: What matters to you?
Identifying your values and who you want to be?
Wed 13/3 17.00-18.30
● Online Check-in
Mon 18/3 20.30-21.00
Session 5: Finding your inner strength & kindness.
Be-friending your inner critic
Wed 20/3 17.00-18.30
● Online Check-in
Mon 25/3 20.30-21.00
Session 6. Committed action
How to continue living mindfully
Wed 27/3 17.00-18.30
● Online or at school Mindful Practice before exams
Mindfulness practice session(s) will be arranged with students at a suitable time and place before/during the exam week.
Check in times will be adjusted to the group´s schedule
Testimonials
Please see the videos below to hear what Katrina and Renee got out of the course.
Family Package
This course can be taken as a part of a “Family Package”. If you and one or more members of your family join courses at the same time you receive 15% of the total price. So for instance, you can join a teen for the Thriving Teenage Course (€350) and a parent for a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course (€650) and receive €150 of the joint price. Or you can join two siblings to the teen and children course.
The following courses are part of the Family Package:
MBSR for adults in Wassenaar
Mindfulness for children
Thriving Teenager
In order to receive your 15% discount, add the word “family” in the coupon when booking your courses.
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