Pre-teen programs

Children aged 10 – 12 years are growing in independence and peers become very important in a child’s development. Child who have a positive self-image and healthy friendships are more likely to make better life choices. A child’s cognitive development at this age allows them to think more logically, master more complex social situations, be able to problem solve and develop emotional regulation skills. Challenging and adverse events are likely to happen at this age with the onset of puberty, increased awareness of self-image, peer pressure and transitioning to high school.

Our pre-teen program gives children the skills they need to successfully navigate emerging adolescence and the transition to high school.

What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment, which builds resilience and fosters positive behaviours by changing how an individual views and responds to life’s challenges.

The primary goal of CBT is to help an individual to understand that although they cannot control everything that happens in their life, they can control how they see things and thus how they then behave.

The central premise of CBT is that thoughts influence feelings and in turn behaviours. CBT views emotional upset as caused and perpetuated by the ways in which an individual has learnt to think about the things that happen to them.

The focus of CBT is building the skills that help a person to reduce their negative thinking, and thereby positively impact their feelings and behaviours. These skills promote resilience which helps a person to better cope with life’s challenging situations.

The Sakura Education Foundation delivers CBT that is tailored at children between the ages of 10 and 18 years old.

The lead facilitator in Sakura programs is a psychologist or other professional with training and experience in the delivery of CBT.