Growing up isn’t easy!
Many young people, moving from childhood to adulthood, struggle to make sense of the world they live and suffer depression in silence, un-noticed. It is now understood that rates of under diagnosis and treatment of depression are higher in adolescents than in adults.
Sinead McGarrigle said: “As owner of Lifetime Health I want to run something for young people in our community… an ‘Empowerment Program’ for teenagers.
“It might be nice to say this was the idea of Lifetime Health, however, this program was initially born out of a desire from a Principal to do something for the pupils in the school for which he is responsible.
“I received an email back in January 2015 about an idea I had spoke to him about many months before, asking would I like to explore it and implement it? I jumped at the chance. At my first meeting with the Principle of Bangor Academy I explained that in my 20 years experience working with young people on a 1:1 basis, that self worth is key.
” ‘Self worth’ will always be the main driver to establish within students; inner confidence, courage, self esteem and concrete life skills to help pupils manage their lives and prepare them for future experiences of adult life. I started writing a program immediately.
“The first ‘Empowerment Program’ started in September 2015 and was such a success it ran again in 2016 with equal success. After each program a ‘Reflective Summary’ was carried out to evaluate the benefits of the program. The general consensus is that it is a fantastic service to provide, so much so, that programs are now in place for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.
“Evidence of children coming forward to help themselves, who may otherwise have gone un-noticed, students changing each week in the sessions; participating and engaging more, increased desire to help, parents expressing the positive difference in their children at parent/teacher events and also that children were sharing the information out of the workbooks with parents in the home is hugely positive.
“It is normal for schools, business and other large organisations to invest heavily in equipment and other tools so that people can do their jobs, but does it give them the type of productivity they really want, does it improve lives? I have been doing this for over 19 years and in my professional experience, the biggest changes happen when you invest in people. In this case, your own children and the young people in our community -investing in the personal ‘self worth’ to improve their young lives.
“So, what does the program entail?
“Lifetime Health has teamed up with Denver’s Hotel to provide this Empowerment Program locally. The program is open to 14-16 year olds, however, if a parent has a 13 year old or 17 year old who would like to attend then please do contact me to explore what the options are.
“The program starts on the 18 August and will run for five weeks with a one-month follow-up to keep up the support, and each will receive a free relaxation CD and 1:1 coaching session free of charge. Alternatively contact Sinead directly at Lifetime Health on the number detailed below.
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Teens Empowerment Program with Sinéad McGarrigle
Improving lives of young people in our community
Starts Thursday 18 August 2016 Denvirs Hotel, Downpatrick
For all Parents out there. If you have a child who is 14-17years old struggling with some or all of the following, this program may help. It offers strategies that will help your child with these types of issues but also it provides a valuable outlet to deal with issues now, rather than continuing to scar our children into young adulthood and the rest of their lives.
Deals with…
* physical & mental health
* school work & exams
* peer pressure
* pressure they put themselves under
* get rid of negative patterns that leave them feeling unhappy and down
The course: Consists of the 5 Week Empowerment Program, a 1 month support follow-up, free relaxation CD and a free 1:1 coaching session.
Fee: £90.00
Dates:18th & 25th August 10.30am / 1st, 15 & 20th September 6.30pm / 19th October starting at 6.30pm.
