Harmonia CMMC

The Teen Brain – Raising Resilient Teens

“The Teen Brain – Raising Resilient Teens” is a comprehensive guide to understanding the incredible transformation that takes place during adolescence. This period is one of rapid brain development, shaping not only how teens think, feel, and behave but also influencing the trajectory of their adulthood. During the workshop, I delve into the inner workings of the teenage mind, offering insights into the neurological, emotional, and social changes that characterise this unique stage of life.

“The Teen Brain – Raising Resilient Teens” is a 1-day workshop for parents, teachers, health care professionals, social workers, managers, facilitators; anyone who wishes to help encourage a positive growth mindset and enhance the emotional and mental well-being of the teenagers in their care.

Key Topics Include
Brain Development

Understanding the neurological changes that drive growth and adaptability.

Emotional Regulation

Navigating mood swings and developing strategies for balanced emotions.

rISK-TAKING AND IMPULSIVITY

Exploring why teens are more prone to taking risks and the science behind it.

Social Influence

Examining peer pressure, social development, and the importance of positive friendships.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Fostering skills for independent thought and effective decision-making.

With practical guidance on supporting identity exploration, resilience, autonomy, and mindfulness; “The Teen Brain – Raising Resilient Teens” workshop provides tools to help teens navigate complex developmental tasks. It also provides methods for active listening, communication strategies, and approaches to encourage healthy sleep patterns. Whether you are a parent, teacher, social worker, or mentor, this resource equips you to support teens as they forge their unique paths with confidence and clarity.

Counselling - Teenagers

The distress from anxiety often interferes with a person's ability to lead an everyday life. For example, the person will often feel very nervous about the potential dangers of what could or might happen in certain situations, leaving them feeling constant worry, frozen with fear, stressed, and overwhelmed.

Anxiety disorders include specific phobias, panic, social, and generalised anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders among teenagers. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 32% of adolescents between the ages of 13-18 will experience an anxiety disorder at some point during their lifetime. Some common anxiety disorders among teenagers include generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias.

The onset of anxiety during the teenage years can be attributed to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

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Hormonal Changes

Society can often place expectations on teenagers to excel in various areas, such as academics, athletics, appearance and social life. These expectations can create pressure and trigger anxiety

Brain Development

The teenage brain has a period of rapid growth and development. This includes the restructuring of neural connections and the development of prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and decision-making. However, this process is not fully complete, and the still-developing brain may have difficulty in regulation of emotions and responding to stress, increasing the susceptibility to anxiety.

Identity Formation

Teenagers are forging their individual identities. They are exploring their beliefs, values and interests, and this self-discovery process can be anxiety-provoking. The pressure to establish an identity and find a sense of belonging can cause stress and anxiety.

Social Pressure

Adolescence is a time of heightened social interaction. Teenagers are navigating peer relationships, friendships, romantic interests and social hierarchies. The fear of rejection, the desire for acceptance, and the constant comparison to peers can contribute to anxiety.

Increased Responsibility

As teenagers transition from childhood to adulthood, they are faced with new responsibilities and challenges, such as academic studies, part-time jobs or extracurricular activities. Balancing these responsibilities can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety.

Societal Expectations

Society can often place expectations on teenagers to excel in various areas, such as academics, athletics, appearance and social life. These expectations can create pressure and trigger anxiety

Environmental Factors

Factors such as family dynamics, traumatic events, socioeconomic status, and cultural influences can also contribute to the onset of anxiety during adolescence.

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Mindful Counseling for Growth

I use a wide range of low, medium and high-level therapeutic interventions such as CBT [cognitive behavioural therapy] mindfulness and meditation techniques during the counselling sessions.

Counselling provides a safe space where the person can express themselves in confidence without judgement. By allowing the person to express their feelings and emotions; it increases their resilience, develops communication skills, builds confidence, improves general well-being and relationships with family members and peers.

Mindfulness is simply the art of being awake in the moment, of bringing our attention into the now. Of tuning into the present, stilling our minds, and slowing down. Being awake in the moment brings us time to be in creation rather than in reaction. In this place of being, we can choose to move our focus of attention from what we don’t want to have happened, to what we do. Then we can consciously create the steps to take us there.

Mindfulness and meditation is a lot more than a strategy to manage difficult situations. It is a way to cultivate a more balanced relationship with oneself in relation to life using the tools, techniques and useful insights to embody a more mindful way of life.

I Can Provide Counselling in the Following Areas
  • ACES [adverse Childhood Experiences]
  • Child Exploitation
  • Child Neglect
  • Mental Wellbeing in Children and Young People
  • Bullying
  • Dealing With Bereavement and Loss
  • Honour-based Abuse and Forced Marriage
  • Trafficking and Modern Slavery
  • Female Genital Mutilation
  • Suicide Awareness
  • Harmful Sexual Behaviours
  • Substance Misuse
  • Child-on-child Sexual Violence, Abuse and Harassment
  • Young Carers
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Overcoming Loneliness
  • Online Safety

I have completed an Advanced Child Protection, Safeguarding Young People Courses. All certifications are available upon request.

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Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, children and young people face unique challenges that are often underestimated. With the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting education, social interaction, and emotional well-being, children and young people are more vulnerable to mental and emotional struggles. This is where “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” steps in. It is a specialised coaching approach aimed at helping children and young people navigate life’s complexities, build resilience, and develop critical life skills early on.

What is Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching?

“Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching” is a tailored, one-on-one or group workshop that focuses on guiding children and young people through their personal development journey. Unlike counselling, which focuses on diagnosing and treating issues, “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” emphasises on empowerment, goal setting, and practical tools that help and support children and young people to improve their emotional intelligence, confidence and their ability to overcome challenges.

By using mindfulness, meditation, affirmations and breathing techniques during the fun activities each week, children and young people will start to fill a 'toolbox' that they can use to navigate the trickier times in life.

Coaches act as mentors and facilitators. They help children and young people recognise their strengths, work through their fears, set achievable goals, and develop emotional coping mechanisms. The key areas often covered in these sessions include:

  • Emotional Regulation: Learning to manage emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness.
  • Building Confidence: Overcoming self-doubt and learning to believe in one's capabilities.
  • Setting Goals: Encouraging children and young people to set realistic and actionable goals for their personal or academic life.
  • Social Skills: Helping children and young people build meaningful friendships and manage peer pressure.
  • Resilience: Teaching children and young people how to bounce back from setbacks and to embrace challenges.
The Importance of Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching in the Post-COVID Climate

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant shifts in the lives of children and young people worldwide. Extended lockdowns, remote learning, limited social interaction, and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic have left many children and young people struggling with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. Therefore; “Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching” has become even more crucial. Here’s why:

  1. Mental and Emotional Well-Being: The pandemic disrupted normal routines, and many children and young people have found it hard to cope with the changes. “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” provides children and young people with the tools to understand their emotions, manage stress, and develop a growth mindset to tackle problems head-on. It’s not just about teaching them to survive difficult times, but to thrive through them.
  2. Social Skill Development: Social interactions were severely affected during the pandemic, leading to a delay in the development of important social skills. “Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching” offers a safe space for children and young people to work on social connections, improve communication, and re-establish their relationships with peers and family.
  3. Navigating Academic Challenges: Remote learning wasn’t easy for everyone, and many children and young people fell behind academically. “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” helps children and young people regain their motivation and rebuild study habits that may have been disrupted. Coaches work with children and young people to set academic goals, improve time management, and develop a positive attitude toward learning.
  4. Building Resilience and Confidence: One of the most valuable lessons children and young people can learn post-COVID is resilience. “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” helps children and young people face challenges with a positive outlook, build self-esteem, and believe in their abilities, despite the setbacks they may have experienced.
Main Objectives of Mindset Matters - Kids Life Coaching Sessions

The objectives of “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” vary depending on the individual needs of the child/ young person, but some overarching goals remain consistent across the board. Here are the key objectives:

  1. Developing Emotional Intelligence: Children and young people are taught to recognise and understand their emotions and the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is key to fostering empathy, managing relationships, and dealing with life's ups and downs.
  2. Setting and Achieving Personal Goals: “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” encourages children and young people to think about what they want to achieve, both in the short and long term. Whether it's improving grades, developing a new skill, or managing friendships better, the process of setting goals supports children and young people to gain clarity and purpose.
  3. Fostering a Positive Mindset: Teaching children and young people to cultivate a positive outlook and self-talk is a cornerstone of “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching”. Coaches work with children and young people to shift their perspective from negative thinking to a growth mindset, helping them see challenges as opportunities for growth.
  4. Building Self-Confidence and Independence: A child or young person who believes in themselves is better equipped to take on life's challenges. “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” helps children and young people build confidence by identifying their strengths, celebrating small wins, and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones.
  5. Enhancing Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills: “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” encourages children and young people to think critically and to come up with solutions to their problems, rather than relying on others to solve them. This skill is crucial for becoming independent, resourceful adults.
  6. Improving Communication and Social Skills: Many children and young people struggle with expressing themselves effectively or navigating social dynamics.

    “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” helps children and young people develop better communication skills, teaches them how to handle conflict, and improves their ability to build healthy relationships.“Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” has proven to be a powerful tool in supporting children and young people through the complexities of growing up, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic."

    "With a focus on emotional intelligence, resilience, confidence-building, and goal setting, “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” empowers children and young people to navigate the ups and downs of life with a positive mindset and a strong sense of self."

    "In a world that continues to evolve, equipping children and young people with these essential life skills is more important than ever."

The following are examples of topics that can be covered during the “Mindset Matters – Kids Life Coaching” classes:

  1. Mindfulness - what it is and how it can help in life.
  2. The Power of Belief - Building Better Brains
  3. Language Matters - how to construct a sentence that will get you what you want.
  4. Emotional resilience - why we might feel certain emotions and how to manage big, powerful feelings such as anger and anxiety.
  5. What happens in the mind and body when we feel stressed, cross, or sad, and how mindfulness can help?
  6. Resilience, different mindsets, self-esteem how to bounce back from challenges.
  7. Happiness, gratitude, kindness, and the difference between happiness and pleasure. (Pleasure comes from outside yourself and is unstable as when it is taken from us, we no longer feel happy. Happiness comes from within and is stable as it does not rely on outside situations].
  8. Friendship, what makes a true friend, and how to deal with bullies.
  9. Stress and anxiety relief using mindfulness techniques.
  10. Meditation - What it is and how we can use it to upload new positive pathways.
Fun and Effective Mindfulness Games for the Classroom

Here are some engaging mindfulness activities that can be incorporated into the workshops with children and young people:

1. Mindful Breathing Buddies
  • Pair students up and have them sit back-to-back.
  • Guide them to synchronise their breathing and notice the rise and fall of their partner’s back.
  • This activity enhances body awareness and fosters a sense of connection.
2. The Listening Game
  • Have the class sit quietly and listen to the sounds around them for a few minutes.
  • Afterward, discuss what they heard, emphasising listening without judgment.
  • This game sharpens focus and improves auditory skills.
3. Mindful Storytelling
  • In a circle, start a story with a mindful theme and let each student add a sentence.
  • Encourage them to listen carefully and build on each other’s contributions.
  • This activity enhances creativity, cooperation, and active listening.
4. Gratitude Circle
  • Have students sit in a circle and take turns sharing something they are grateful for.
  • This practice promotes positive thinking and a sense of appreciation among peers.
5. Body Scan Relay
  • In small groups, guide students through a body scan meditation where they focus on relaxing different body parts.
  • Each group member can take turns leading the body scan, promoting leadership and attentiveness.

The classes are not therapy sessions, although written and designed by a therapist. They have been carefully crafted so that children and young people can chat and dig a little bit deeper into the topics that they may be struggling with. The children and young people will be equipped with practical tools that they can use day-to-day, which will grow awareness of themselves and others.

Children do not have to have emotional or behavioural issues to benefit from these classes. This is a tool-box for life that will see them through childhood, through to adolescence and into adulthood.

*The weekly classes are adapted to meet the ages, capabilities, and the requirements of the children.

Harmonia CMMC
Harmonia CMMC