Strengthening Teen Optimism

All of us, as parents, have felt at times isolated, anxious or confused about how to support our children. Today’s pressures to perform well at school and to achieve in ways defined by community systems are enormous. In fact, one in five high school students will have a major depressive episode, say researchers—due, in part, to pervasive and damaging myths propagated within education. This workshop draws on my original study of students in the bottom 80% of their classes. It reveals that these teens hold precisely the strengths and gifts needed to flourish in life—as world-changing leaders and scientists and as prosperous citizens.

In this engaging workshop, you will learn to:

• Identify the myths of education that lead to depression and keep us from capitalizing on the true strengths our children possess
• Identify your teen’s (and your own) inherent strengths
• Help your teen use strengths to increase happiness
• Trace family strengths to extend well being
• Use an OES (Optimistic Explanatory Style) with your teen