The CHOICES Basic Motivational Workshop uses drama scenarios and topical handouts to deal with character issues that surround today’s teens, such as conflict, decision-making, self-worth, anger management and self-control. Youth are invited to identify and discuss the issues that they encounter on a daily basis.

FUN Workshop Topics

SELF-TALK – encourages youth to explore internal messages that impact their behaviors. Some of the self talk is used to developed scripts for improvisations. Another aspect of the workshop allows youth to practice “positive self-talk” to enhance their sense of self-worth. Self esteem activities are also used to unravel some of the negative verbal messages youth have experienced.

ANGER MANAGEMENT- allows youth to explore the positive and negative aspects of anger. During the workshops youth will engage in discussions that assist them in identifying triggers of their anger and approaches that help them maintain control when confronting issues that upset them. Through interactive activities and role-plays, youth learn peaceful resolution to conflict and anger management.

TEEN STRESS – helps teens explore the overwhelming pressures they experience in finding their place in their community and family. This workshop helps youth recognize their stressors and identify ways in which to handle stress. Youth take an inventory of their stress quotient and then learn stress management techniques that can help them cope with their daily life’s challenges. Guided meditations and relaxation exercises are used at the end of each workshop.

H.A.T.E. (Hurting About To Explode) - explores issues that youth need to address in terms of managing their anger and negative feelings towards others. Building off the previous two workshops, these intense discussions focus on the consequences of exploding that can lead to unhealthy interactions. Youth learn techniques for impulse control and avoid exploding into language and/or behaviors that may result in negative consequences.

Self-Worth – provides youth with an opportunity to identify their positive traits and reasons why they should appreciate who they are. Youth are led through discussions of how a low sense of self-worth can negatively impact their academic growth, family interaction, interaction with peers and life choices. This is a critical discussion for youth who are incarcerated.

Making Right Choices – supports youth to make healthy choices, a critical workshop topic for youth in the detention center. Youth are led through discussions and activities that focus on the steps needed to make the right decisions – leading them to having control over their lives. By the end of the session, youth demonstrate improved decision-making skills.

Changing Your Focus – allows youth to explore the possibilities of life by getting unstuck from behaviors and/or decisions that have resulted in negative outcomes. Youth are led through discussions and exercises that help them re-focus their thinking about race, culture, behaviors, education, and challenging family situations.

Addiction – provides discussion and prevention education sessions that allow youth to learn about various addictive behaviors, the outcome of such behavior and steps to recover from those behaviors.

Becoming a Peer-Educator - empowers youth to help each other with issues that they are facing. In the juvenile detention setting, this is a vital topic because some of the youth have influence over the others and can support their peers in conforming to acceptable societal behaviors. During these discussions, the youth will learn about the benefits of peer-leadership and the attributes and responsibilities of good peer-leadership. 

Communication is the Key – helps youth learn the fundamentals of good communications skills. Youth role-play effective and ineffective skills in communication. The youth also explore communication interactions that trigger negative thoughts/behaviors. They learn how to verbally respond to negative situations with effective communication skills that are more beneficial to them.

Building a Foundation – encourages youth to dig deep and find the pain that cause them to make unhealthy decisions. This discussion session teaches the youth that just as a building is torn down and a new structure is built, they may have to tear down the old feelings and experiences, and build themselves a stronger foundation.

Freedom Song - is a movie that the youth view and then discuss in a small group setting. Youth are encouraged to highlight parts of the movie that can be used in their lives. This film presents a powerful tale set in fictional Quinlan and based on first-hand accounts of veteran activists who stood on the frontlines of history and responded with passion and commitment of “If not me, who? If not now, when?”

 

 

 

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