Motivation, finishing school, recovery, new behavior for the troubled-teen, at-risk youth, including those with substance abuse challenges

PEAK CHOICES is a series of programs for the troubled teen and at-risk youth, especially those already dealing with consequences of poor choices, to get clear about their past and reclaim their power over their future. Peak Choices also includes an in-depth set of modules on drug and alcohol abuse, how to get help, and how to stay on track with recovery.

The exercises work well as a stand-along program, they provide superb benefits to existing interventions, recovery, or treatment programs, and can help expand the effectiveness of qualified clinical or psychological interventions. Adult practitioners (teachers, counselors, program directors, youth leaders, ministers, parents, etc.) can offer these Activities to their students as an educational and motivational resource, and then practitioners can participate fully in the discovery, discussion, insight, and new perspectives gained.



The following Activities are intended to help the troubled teen, ages 13 through adulthood:

  1. Build awareness of current and past behaviors
  2. Research and consider potential consequences
  3. Encourage reflection on the impact to self and others
  4. Create reasons to make better choices
  5. Build assets that develop skill, confidence, and desire
  6. Share with peers and leaders to get feedback and support

 

Peak Choices Troubled Teens Programs

PEAK CHOICES: AWARENESS and DETERRENCE CURRICULUM

FIVE HOURS of Instruction


Contemplate Your Behaviors

What behaviors have put you at risk?
How did it feel before and leading up to those choices?
How did it feel during those choices?
How did it feel afterwards?
Share and discuss with a partner on a specific occurrence:
What happened?
Be totally honest: in the moment, did you REALLY chose, or not?
What was your attitude going into the situation?
How did you react and feel afterwards?
What can you say now were your “reasons” for doing this? (Give examples)


Consider The Impact

Reflect on worst case outcomes for each choice above, for you, in your life
Who does this impact, beyond you?
What impact does it have on them? Be specific.
Research the mandated consequences for your choices (see Specific Behaviors below)


What About Influences

What impact did friends have on these choices?
What risky behaviors have you seen your friends practice?
Describe what it is about you or your life that created the likelihood of this happening.
What is it about you that allows or does this?


Making New Choices

How might you recognize these choices and behaviors in the future, before they happen?
Read/hear real-life stories about choices, outcomes, and what other teens discovered
Link to stories online
Group sharing on your own and other people’s stories

PEAK CHOICES: DECISION and POWER

FIVE HOURS of Instruction

Any portion of this can be done individually, with a partner, and/or as a group.


What is a “Vector”?

Describe the Vector Story: how small shifts today create big changes later
Reflect on “vectors” in your life: small things that eventually made a big difference


Consider the Power of Decisions

Every single action you take is a decision… name three examples.
Positive decisions you’ve made in the past, and what happened
Decisions and Choice: The nature of your own power
Who or what in your life has created challenges for you?
How has that affected you? Be specific.
How might you rise above that now?
Name one small way you could shift the vector
Name one large way you could overcome that completely
Reasons: For yourself and for a higher purpose


Putting it Into Practice

Consider one choice or behavior from your “Awareness and Deterrence” Activity…
Name three actions or decisions that would be negative (show examples)
Name three actions or decisions that would be positive (show examples)
If you change this vector, where will you end up?
If you don’t change this vector, where will you end up?
Set an intention, create a goal (show examples)
How will you remind yourself of this every day?
How will you remind yourself of this in the moment, when the opportunity arises?

PEAK CHOICES: CRIME and VANDALISM Troubled Teens Programs

FOUR HOURS of Instruction:


Consider Choices and Consequences

Identify the criminal or illegal activities you chose
Investigate the legal and sentencing consequences (link to state Depts. of Justice)
Identify other current or potential legal issues: costs, sentences, impact on your life
Who was the direct victim and how did you impact them?
Who else did this impact? How might they feel about it? What property?
How would you feel and what would you do it this happened to you?


Learn About What Others Have Been Through

Group sharing and discussion on discoveries
Hear or read stories of incarceration or visit a jail
Reflect on external situations, pressures, or individuals that put you at risk
Reflect on internal attitudes, beliefs, or decisions that put you at risk
Set intention on how to manage future behavior

PEAK CHOICES: DRUG and ALCOHOL

SIX HOURS of Instruction

This Course is intended to be reflective on a young person’s choices or potential choices about substance abuse. It is not intended as a program of drug or alcohol rehabilitation. It should not be used in place of treatment or necessary interventions.


Consider Choices and Consequences

Take a survey of your behaviors and why you made those choices:
Chose three examples and reflect on why
Impact on your health
Impact on your legal status and freedom
Impact on your finances
Impact on your chances for jobs, education, and opportunities
Impact on your self respect
Read or hear others’ stories of the nature of addiction and choices
Describe and share your stories of friends, family, or others in your life
Link to online stories


How to Change This Vector

Reaching out…
What other resources or help are available (if you use them or not)?
How have other people sought help successfully?

Made a decision…
Refer to Decisions above, who could you reach out to?
What decisions could you make now to change your Vector?
Make the decision now to make that one small change

Honesty and sharing…
If you needed confidential help with this, where would you go?
What are you willing to change about you to improve this situation?

Willingness…
Knowing where this is leading you, are you willing to shift the Vector?
How could get willing or become more willing?

Asking for help…
Ask the person or whoever for help
Good – this is progress, you have made a Decision, changed a Vector

Maintaining…
Use the Decision and Power: what about next time?
Remember yourself in a past situation, now envision the future in detail
Record how you chose otherwise, how it felt, and decide to continue that

Staying Focused…
How will you take of yourself?
Finding and using local recovery and support resources


Optional Troubled-Teens Programs

•Counseling
•Community Service
•Jail Visits / Jail Jolt
•Incarceration, Probation, Detention, Etc.