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. 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.
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 14-18 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 15.00-16.30 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 14 years and older (we suggest the Mindfulness for children course for the younger ones).
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.
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 the 8 week popular science based Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for adults as a family package (see above) and during the same time as the Thriving Teenager courses are held. This way you can learn with your peers but talk about and support each other at home.
Schedule
Session plan
Session 1: Waking up
Autopilot and awareness.
Wed 16/10 15.00-16.30
Session 2: Finding your balance
Coping with stress and pressure
Wed 30/10 15.00-16.30
Session 3. It is OK not to be OK
Coping with difficult thoughts and emotions
Wed 6/11 15.00-16.30
Session 4: What matters to you?
Identifying your values and who you want to be?
Wed 20/11 15.00-16.30
Session 5: Finding your inner strength & kindness.
Be-friending your inner critic
Wed 27/11 15.00-16.30
Session 6. Committed action
How to continue living mindfully
Wed 4/12 15.00-16.30
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.
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.
