THE TEEN BRAIN How to Reduce Drama & Mentor Effectively Deborah Gilboa, AskDoctor AskDocG

STUDENTS MUST Be safe. Stick to a schedule. Follow the rules. Do their work.

STUDENTS CAN Learn skills. Forge relationships. Build confidence. Develop competence.

STUDENTS OFTEN Take risks. Run late. Forget rules. Focus on themselves. Miss opportunities. Focus on drama!

TEEN BRAIN

TEEN BRAIN CONFLICT

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AT YEAR COURSE? Good decision-making requires time and information. Peer pressure is ALWAYS a factor. Intense emotional responses will occur!!!! Sleep deficit clouds critical thinking and increases moodiness.

WHERE IS THE DRAMA?

SO HOW DO YOU STOP THE DRAMA? The opposite of drama is RESILIENCE

The ability to RECOVER from ADVERSITY! What do we know? –Bad things happen. –There are always choices to be made. –Feelings change over time. –Recovery requires tools and experience. What do teens need? PRACTICE. WHAT IS RESILENCE?

5 WAYS 1.Accept emotions but reject drama premise. 2.Invite them off the roller coaster. 3.Focus on their goals. 4.Play “What if?” 5.Guide THEIR plan.

ACCEPT EMOTIONS BUT REJECT DRAMA Resilience requires emotion – Ignoring emotions -> damaging behavior – Expressing emotions -> positive coping mechanisms Reject the drama premise. – Use your power. Resilience moves beyond emotion to action.

INVITE THEM OFF THE ROLLER COASTER Build trust. Show empathy. Challenge them to do something hard.

FOCUS ON THEIR GOALS Light a fire intentionally: Build on their experiences Heighten their emotions Use peer pressure for good Call them to action!

PLAY “WHAT IF?” What might you do? What about doing nothing? What if everything you’re worried about happens? What if you changed the situation? What if you reacted differently? What if…

GUIDE THEIR PLAN Let life teach the lesson. Praise the process. Connect to a character you share. What would you tell a friend? “I’ll be really interested to see what you do!”

MATCH STRATEGY TO STUDENT & CHALLENGE Which strategy for each issue? In the moment – how do you remember?     

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