Teen programs
Teenage years can be a tricky time for young people.
Starting high school, new social groups, social media, transitioning to work and the development of romantic relationships can be a lot to cope with.
Our Teen Program is designed for young people aged 13 to 17 years and provides the social and emotional skills they need to successfully navigate these challenges and lead healthy, productive lives.
Our Teen Program is also helpful for young people who have experienced a traumatic past or who are at risk of offending because of a history of family violence, child protection issues, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, education issues, or anti-social behaviour.
The Teen Program focuses on:
Building Resilience
Team building, resilience, goal setting, and introduction to CBT
Healthy Personal and Family Relationships
Healthy relationships, online safety and relationships, and cyberbullying
Positive Self-Image and Self-Acceptance
Self-esteem, positive image and behaviour, and self-acceptance
Strength and Emotional Wellbeing
Emotional intelligence, mental health, and suicide prevention
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Communication and conflict management
Promoting Healthy Attitudes
Problem solving, and alcohol and drug awareness
Why it works
The program has been designed by our psychologists and is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles.
Decades of research has shown CBT to be effective in helping people to successfully navigate a range of life event.
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.
Program delivery
The program is normally delivered in a group setting, however can be individualised.
For young people aged 13 – 17 years, the program is delivered over 6 x 90 minute sessions.
The program can be delivered outside of the school setting, including through junior sporting clubs or as a community-based program.