Developing Healthy Habits and Letting go of others

Endorsed by addiction expert and author Stanton Peele

"Scott Gallagher's All-Addictions Programs rise above simply telling kids to "stop" whatever bad habits they have - or that they have a disease they'll suffer from for the rest of their lives. Instead, Scott focuses on hope, giving students the confidence, ability, and structure they need to deal with the challenges they face.

Scott's school assemblies inspire youth with his own story of overcoming addiction through personal responsibility, integrity, and service to others. For students who have a self-admitted bad habit or addiction, Scott offers a workshop that succeeds by empowering young people to create a healthy habits community using an accountability/buddy system and structure that sustains itself after he leaves.

Ultimately, Scott is a catalyst in enabling kids to help themselves, as well as giving adults around them the tools they need to support kids to change."

Dr. Stanton Peele

Dr. Stanton Peele is a world-renowned psychologist and addictions expert and author of nine books in the field, including Love and Addiction, the first book to make clear the interconnectedness of all forms of addiction. His latest publication is Addiction-Proof Your Child.

For more on the pioneering work of Stanton Peele, please visit his website.

Workshop Overview

Workshop Name: 28-Day Healthy Habits Program (This workshop is designed to follow a 20-to-60 minute Assembly on Addictions.)

Length: 3.5 hours

Purpose: To give students with bad or unwanted habits something they can actually do. Specifically:

the opportunity to exercise courage, and get honest about their problems
see they are not alone
learn practical steps for letting go of their bad habit/addiction
connect with teachers/counselors, and other students, for ongoing support

Who can attend: Students and adults with addictions or bad habits

Cost: F-R E E (if done the same day as a paid assembly)

Overview:

This workshop is for preventing bad habits from turning into chronic addictions. It teaches kids with bad habits how to develop new, healthy ones - and is only for those who choose to attend.

At the end of Scott's presentation, he invites students with bad habits to attend this workshop. Their issues can be anything from video games, internet use or sugar consumption to cigarette smoking, alcohol, marijuana or harder drugs - any bad habit that is causing them pain with their grades, friends, family and others.

This workshop is for students who are ready and committed to change. Groups are fairly small. Students who sign up, do so anonymously and confidentially. They do not have to discuss what their "habits" are with teachers; however, attendance is taken so that teachers know where kids are.

Throughout the process, students are given total free choice. They choose whether or not to attend.

Scott's focus includes small, practical steps for change - steps that worked in his own recovery and that of others. These new healthy habits include nutrition, eating better and physical exercise, telling the truth, shifting from blaming others or being a victim to taking responsibility, making choices, apologizing to those we've hurt, and learning to help others by supporting other students to make changes. He incorporates the principles behind all 12-step recovery programs, the most recognized model for dealing with addictions. But, he uses them in a way that is inclusive to all kids, regardless of their beliefs or faith. He does not teach powerlessness

Kids are encouraged to commit to small actions and to giving/receiving help from others in the group (including the staff person) in the days and weeks to follow. Scott has found that the power of the group can often accomplish what individuals may find impossible on their own. Because of his extensive experience, Scott is also able to identify kids with more severe addiction issues who need more resources and guides them towards receiving help and treatment.

To your surprise, you may find kids you never even knew had such problems will end up in Scott's workshop. They could be dealing with any one, OR a combination of the following bad habits or addictions:

bullying
choking (bringing oneself to near-death, because it creates a "high")
cutting/slashing (self harm-related behaviours)
overeating, bulemia, anorexia
nicotine, caffeine, sugar
Internet, video games, TV
violence, theft/crime
gambling, sex
marijuana and alcohol (which most kids are doing/using to some extent)
ecstacy, cocaine, crack cocaine, speed, heroin, crystal meth...

...and that's just some of them.

Key Concepts

1) Freedom to Choose

Stopping addictions/serious bad habits requires both self acceptance and the ability to make new choices for ourselves. Thus it is absolutely critical that ALL attendees freely choose their participation in this workshop. NO ONE should be pressured, influenced or manipulated to attend. In fact, those who choose not to should be acknowledged for having the courage and Integrity to be honest in making that choice.

Persuading kids to attend when they really don't want to hurts the whole group. It reduces the overall level of motivation among those present. It disrupts the focus, because kids are there for the wrong reasons. And it "pulls down" others who are actually committed to change.

2) Personal Commitment

If you are a teacher/counsellor, please be prepared that the students you think "most need" this workshop may NOT be the ones most appropriate to attend or stay. Why? Because not everyone is ready and committed to change now. Those who ARE are the ones who need to be there.

To participate in the workshop, each youth AND adult must have a deep commitment to wanting to eliminate a destructive habit, and be willing to do serious work to make this happen. Shortly after our session begins, each student will be encouraged to consider, without judgement or pressure, what is right for them.

The general rule is "when in doubt, let them out". The smaller the better. While I have done this workshop for as many as 72 students, I would much rather have just one kid attend who was absolutely committed to change, than have 72 who are there to be entertained or skip other classes.

3) A Structure for Change

We begin by creating a safe space a place where respect is established and confidentiality is honored.

Most of us are scared about admitting our weaknesses or problems, let alone addictions. Kids are no different. For this workshop to work, they first have to trust me, and others present, before they can move forward.

Next, participants are given a structure for what they need to do, on a daily basis, to get the results they are committed to. This includes self awareness - such as counting how many times a day/week we undertake a bad habit/addiction. Intention for gradual reduction - by slowly reducing the number of times we choose our behaviour. etc.

4) Ongoing Support

At the end of the workshop, I help kids connect with teachers/counselors who have been present, and with their fellow students, for ongoing support. This includes setting up a support club or group, giving students a buddy they can call on a daily basis.

Working from Personal Experience I have found that these steps can help break any bad habit. They are based on health and recovery techniques that have worked for me personally in my own recovery from hard drugs, alcohol and a variety of other substances, from cigarettes to caffeine to sugar/junk food and in my work helping others recover from all kinds of addiction over the past seven years.

Testimonials

In the Catholic School Board, we always have to be a little more careful of what we say and how we say it. Having said this,I would absolutely recommend your workshop to any school that might have certain limitations when it comes to sensitive issues.

In the assembly, you had them for 70 minutes and they were captivated by you. To have that followed by the workshop gave kids access to something that was not readily available otherwise.

Your steps are simple enough to follow. And the way you presented it was amazing! I'm sure a lot of them are going to give what you taught them a good solid try...Your workshop from start to finish was fantastic!

Kristine Otto, Student Success Worker Holy Trinity Secondary School, Cornwall, Ontario

Your message hit right home with our kids in a lot of different ways. After delivering an absolutely engaging talk, you offering to do a free workshop with those that were committed to breaking a bad habit or addiction was second to none. There were a lot of disengaged and disenfranchised kids that attended your workshop and the feedback I heard from them was "God that was good! When is he coming back? Is he coming back?? Again, thank you for sharing and reaching out to our kids. We'll definitely be in touch with you, I can guarantee it!

Christian Boulay, Principal Upper Canada District School Board

This workshop was absolutely phenomenal! After speaking to many of the kids that attended your workshop, the common feedback was that they could not believe there were so many other kids that were in the same boat as them. They now know that they are not alone. For these particular kids, to be part of a group when you are gone, is pretty special for them. It's nice to have presentations but it is even nicer to have presentations like yours that stick with our school.

Katherine Adams, Student Success Teacher Glengarry District High School, Alexandria, Ontario

Hi Scott,

I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was one of the students that took part in your workshop after your presentation at Englehart High School. I just wanted to let you know that you were my inspiration in making the decisions that I did to help me get back on track. You helped me a lot. Thanks a lot for everything once again.

Maureen

Audio Feedback

Listen to Christine Campbell from Perth & District Collegiate interviewing her kids.

Listen to what other kids have to say about the Addiction Workshop.

Listen to Michelle Armstrong, Special Ed Resource Teacher, Georgetown District High School.