| | These are the highest risk kids in your school, struggling with severely low self-esteem, compulsively engaged in habits like over-eating, bulimia, anorexia, under-eating, caffeine, sugar, internet, video games, TV, gambling, sex and relationships, theft, crime, violence, choking, cutting/slashing, other forms of self-harm, giving and/or receiving abuse - the list goes on.
Many of these kids are often not even on your radar screen because their destructive habits are so easy to hide.
The type of kids involved may surprise you, the means they choose will vary, but the underlying cause is always the same - the need to escape from pain any way they know how. Sadly for some, suicide seems the only way out.
A powerful program to help kids deal with addictions, bullying and destructive habits of all sorts is now available to your school.
Designed for grade 5 through senior high, it's called The Power of Choice and Healthy Habits Program. And it's getting real, measurable results in schools across the U.S. and Canada.
Within 90 days, none of the [students in the group] were doing drugs or smoking anymore. Every student had noticeable behavior changes, e.g. higher self esteem, regular attendance, and more friends. - School Principal
In after-program evaluations, 100% of participants reported being successful in reducing a bad habit. Words used to describe their experiences included: inspiring, life-changing, positive, happy, relieved, positive selfishness, enlightening, relief from negativity. - Social Worker
For a personal introduction by the program's creator/facilitator, Scott Gallagher, watch the above 8 minute video and listen for yourself.
Introduction
My goal is to help kids everywhere to get off drugs, drinking, cigarettes, bullying and all forms of addictions/bad habits. For me, it's a passion - and a privilege - because I know how these kids feel. I've been there. - Scott Gallagher
A bully at school, and addicted for 17 years (from age 10) to everything from sugar, junk food, video games, solvents, alcohol and cigarettes to marijuana and hard drugs (including crack cocaine), Scott knows the impact these "habits" have on one's life - and on the lives of other kids, schools and families.
Now nearly 10 years recovered, he has created The Power of Choice program out of his own experience, plus extensive research of other professionals in the field, and personal coaching he's given to hundreds of people in recovery. Scott has also been teaching and facilitating this program in schools for the past two years, finding out what really works with kids.
Unique in the market, The Power of Choice/Healthy Habits program has FOUR parts. It combines a Keynote assembly presentation with two follow-up sessions and a 28-day group program. It's these follow-up sessions that give students practical, personally-tested behaviours to try out, a structure for practice, and buddy plus group support to replace their unhealthy habits with healthy ones - and are the reason why schools are seeing such positive results.
Why this program works
The Power of Choice program gets results because it offers more than just a keynote speaker.
Many schools bring in excellent speakers on issues such as health education, character education, bullying or substance abuse - and that's a great start. But no matter how powerful the speaker is, the benefits start to fade as soon as he/she leaves the school.
The Power of Choice is different. Not only are there two follow-up sessions immediately after the assembly, there is also a program set in place for the next 28 days. This gives both teachers and students a structure and the tools they need to make lasting changes.
The program also looks at the root causes of all destructive behaviors, rather than just addressing the symptoms. Issues such as bullying, drug abuse, and other addictions are simply signs of a child in emotional crisis and pain, from which he or she is desperate to escape. Scott talks openly about the pain, why we feel the need to escape, why we turn to substances and "bad habits", and how these end up adding to our problems.
But he doesn't stop there. He then gives kids hope - plus practical steps on how to change their thinking to take control of their lives, try out new behaviors, and the support they need to make lasting changes.
The entire program is based on practical, personal experience: what has actually worked for Scott, and hundreds of other people (adults and young people), to recover from addictions and replace their destructive habits with healthy ones.
Why bring the Power of Choice into your school?
"We bussed in nearly 1000 kids throughout 8 schools to have them hear your message. And was that ever a good decision. He gave students real ideas on how to prevent falling into addiction. We TOTALLY got our money's worth." - Principal/Vice Principal comments
In a survey of kids last year, Scott found 92 different "bad habits" they were experiencing. The Power of Choice & Healthy Habits Program addresses ALL of these Destructive Habits, Compulsions and Addictions - including bullying, alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, hard drugs, people pleasing, choking, cutting/slashing, over-and-under eating, bulimia, anorexia, caffeine, sugar, internet, video games, TV, violence, theft, crime, gambling, sex and relationships, giving and/or receiving abuse...and the list goes on.
Few people can (or will) talk to kids frankly about these issues, and even fewer can relate from experience. Yet Scott has had many of these issues himself. His keynote and workshops helps students look more clearly at these issues, and their lives, and what's causing the discomfort within. How to see what's happened in the past differently, and how to replace their destructive habits with healthy ones.
The Power of Choice also creates an ongoing support community within your school, for both students and school personnel. Any child, no matter what his or her problems, will have a place where they know they fit in, and that they are no longer alone.
Choice is at the heart of the program. All the kids who participate in the follow-up sessions will be there because they choose to be, are ready to begin letting go of their "victim" thinking, and to take responsibility for their lives. Everyone learns that all behaviors and addictions are the result of the choices we make.
No fear-mongering, threats, coercion or scare tactics are used. Instead of being reminded of what they believe is wrong with them, participants are acknowledged for what they do right - and taught to do the same for others!
The Power of Choice is a proven, non-fear-based approach to creating healthy habits that:
- addresses all types of destructive behaviors and addictions
- creates an ongoing community of support
- aligns with all religious and secular belief systems
- resonates with kids from any cultural background.
Program Overview: How it works
The Power of Choice and Healthy Habits program consists of these key elements:
- Keynote Assembly about Scott's own personal experiences where he introduces the full program (1 hour)
- How to Break a Bad Habit: Tools and Tips session that lets interested kids learn more. Typically, the students who attend will be some of the highest risk kids in your school struggling with severely low self-esteem and acting out in a number of compulsive and potentially destructive behaviours. (1 hour)
- Action Plan Community workshop for those needing more support and are committed to the full 28 day program (2.5 hours)
- 28 Day Healthy Habits support program is set up with adult Participant Leaders from among school staff, and is in place before Scott leaves.
- Train-the-Trainer and ongoing staff support for adult Participant Leaders of the 28-day program.
- Supporting Our Kids: The Power of Choice for Adults for parents, educators and adults in the community, answers questions and allows adults to participate in the full program.
Keynote Assembly: The Power of Choice
Scott reveals the common causes of and solutions to all destructive habits, including bullying and addictions. Using his own life story, Scott shares what happened in his past that led to his becoming a bully and addicted. The impact it had on his school and adult life (including the loss of his business, wife and home). How he finally recovered.
He explores how his own thinking actually caused his emotional and psychological pain, by the way he chose to interpret the meaning of events in his past. How his unhealthy habits and addictions were his way to escape the pain he created by the thoughts he chose to believe. And he then candidly delivers the key message: that "We are responsible for our life experience - and that anything, truly anything, is possible.
Through Scott's story, students get to see how bullying, name calling and verbal abuse can be a factor in why some kids turn to destructive habits and addictions of all sorts; but ultimately it's not the full story.
At the same time, students get to see how character education values (like telling the truth, apologizing, taking responsibility, creating a future, helping others) and health principles (like drinking water, exercise, reducing sugar intake) are the keys to living a powerful life, free from all addictions.
The keynote speech never sensationalizes or glamorizes dependencies or substance abuse. No kid is ever left thinking, "If Scott got away with it, so can I." Students are shown that all addictive habits are preventable because they are all the result of choice.
Seminar: How to Break a Bad Habit: Tools and Tips
At the end of his assembly presentation, Scott invites students with unwanted habits of any sort to attend the next part of the program. Teachers do not have to identify, chase down, or advertise the workshop to students. Typically, between 2% and 6% of the assembly audience will attend the seminar because they want help with their own habits.
Students learn how powerful our thoughts are, how they cause our feelings and how taking control of what we think will make us feel better and prevent us from turning to destructive behaviours. They learn tips on how to develop healthy habits and a realistic strategy for reducing their unwanted habits. There's also an open forum for questions and answers.
At the end of this session, Scott invites students with deeply entrenched unwanted habits of any sort - who are committed to change - to attend the next phase of the program.
Workshop: Action Plan Community Workshop
Some students will get everything they came for from the How to Break a Bad Habit: Tools and Tips seminar, and will choose to go no further. Others will realize they need more support, and choose to be part of an empowering, nurturing, community with some structure and accountability. (Typically, between 30-and-50% of those in Seminar will attend.)
Those students who make the commitment to work intensively on creating new, healthier habits will then participate in this two hour workshop and the follow-up, 28-day Healthy Habit support program.
28 Day Healthy Habit support program
This well-organized, adult-supported program is designed to help kids form healthy habits as a strategy to reduce and replace the destructive ones. Besides student participants, there are one, two or more school personnel who volunteer to support the program by being participant leaders, who, in addition to doing the program themselves, also help lead the five 30-60 minute weekly meetings which will follow.
School personnel who act as participant leaders do so as volunteers because they want to be involved, see the value of the program and want to participate personally to change habits in their own lives! Title, job function and previous experience are not important. Although they could be, they are often not guidance counselors, youth workers or student success teachers.
Having the right participant leaders in place is ABSOLUTELY critical to the ongoing success of the program. The students must know that the participant leaders are there because they are doing the program for themselves as equals - NOT to fix the kids! Participant Leaders need to be non-judgmental, and lead by example by being equal participants in the program. Leading by example is the most effective way to ensure the students remain accountable. In most cases, individuals who hold positions of obvious authority, such as Principals and Vice-Principals, should not be chosen as participant leaders
Train-the-Trainer and ongoing staff support
Adult facilitators from your school, who participate in the 28-day program, are provided with pre-training to ensure that they are both comfortable and knowledgeable in how to lead the support program.
Ongoing, personal telephone support from Scott is also available throughout the program.
In the Healthy Habits program, each student is given a buddy(s) with whom they will share their progress (in honoring their commitments and their word) each day, for 28 days. The whole group also meets weekly (with adult facilitation) to report on their progress. Often, for the first time in their lives, participants will be experiencing the support of a positive, nurturing community.
Supporting our Kids: The Power of Choice for Adults
An evening session for parents, educators and adults in the community, is available to answer questions and to allow adults the opportunity to experience the program for themselves.
The keynote presentation in this case is shortened in order to allow time for an open question and answer session. All other sessions are identical to those presented to students.
Additional Resources
Scott has written a number of articles that are available for educators and the public. Please click here to see some of these, including:
- The Top 12 Teen Addictions
- The Root Causes of Addictions and Bad Habits
- The Root Solutions
- The Power of Community
Proof that the program works
Here are just some of the endorsements and comments Scott's program has received.
Click here for more testimonials from Principals, Teachers, Students and addiction experts.
Endorsed by the world-renowned addictions authority, author and pioneer, Dr. Stanton Peele, Ph.D who has been investigating, thinking and writing about addiction since 1969.
Some comments from schools that have implemented The Power of Choice --
We owe you big! Your program changes lives. It was an honor to be apart of it. We've had a number of kids who either quit smoking or drastically reduced. And one boy gave up weed altogether -- and now that the 28 days is up, he is now applying your program to cigarettes.
Your program is a process and a journey. It's not like everyone has all their problems solved but all the kids that participated are better off then they were before you came."
The kids seem to be doing very well! They are coming to talk to me individually... Not only are they keeping up with their water and physical activity, they are also cutting down on their addictions quite substantially!!! I see it working!! Which I am grateful to you for!!!
Contact Scott
Scott Gallagher
Keynote Speaker and Workshop Facilitator at: Phone - 416.424.1200
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