Program Model - Teen Facilitator Package The teen program concepts are based on this empowerment model and nicely contrasted with responses using a traditional medical model. You may want to use this handout in a role play when selling the program concept to decision makers, parents, or even to teens themselves. In a recent presentation to health professionals, Bev, one of our facilitators from Portland, played the teen role, with a teen hat to help her get into the role. She read out column 1. Paula, facilitator from San Diego, took the empowerment role and read column 4; I handled the rest. Here's how it went.... Bev was in the middle. Bev read column 1, stepping forward each time she read it. Then I read the traditional role response and technique in column 2. Bev reread column 1 (stepping forward again) Paula read column 4, the empowerment role Then I read column 3 (empowerment technique) and 5 (positive outcome) to show the audience the explanation of the empowerment approach. By Bev repeating what the teen said right before the traditional response and then again right before the empowerment response showed the contrast very nicely and was very effective. Bev got into the role so well that she even stuck her tongue out at me if she didn't like what I was saying. How to enable Teen Powered Health Decisions 8 Illustrations of Facilitated Empowerment Techniques For Teen Groups promoting nondiet assertive decisions (This is the model that supported the development of the concepts in Building the Road to Healthier Living -- Teens & Diets: No Weigh) View this in PDF format Here. Empowerment Technique Offsets or Counteracts Positive Outcomes Teen Examples Facilitator Guidance/ Comment 1. Interactive listening: you want to hear back the message the teen received from you preaching Teen will listen better when his feedback is seen to be important to you, ensuring that important concepts/facts are more likely to be retained   "I don’t eat bread or pasta because it makes me feel fat." Could you tell me what you mean by feeling fat? Do you mean your jeans are feeling tight? Do you mean you are feeling puffy? Let’s explore why eating more carbohydrates like bread or pasta makes you feel this way. 2. Consistent discovery & emphasis of the positive self-absorption & perceived negatives about personal appearance. A broadening of the teen’s thinking pattern. There are reasons for the way things are that can’t be changed. Some things have to be accepted. "I hate my skinny legs" That’s your natural, genetic body shape. Look at your broad shoulders. You must look fabulous in a halter top. 3. Present a process for decision making: study, reflect, decide Should & Must Orders A set of rules is fine for a game, but for your whole life? Teen appreciates range of choice in many situations. "My Mom says I have to eat fruit for dessert at each meal." Suggest to your mom that having your "mealtime" fruit after school and before supper when you’re really hungry works better for you. 4. Make stories & content relevant to teen lifestyle Didactic teaching When the teen can truly put themselves in the situation, they are more likely to remember the facts and scenario. "All the cool kids smoke; I’m going to start so I can be part of that group." Cool kids also like computers. You can really impress people with what you’re doing on the Internet. What about making your own group? 5. Encouragement of self-awareness & self identity Compliance expectations The teen understands uniqueness as a strength & often marvels at the diversity of her character and range. "I hate volleyball. Why is that the only sport that means anything in this school?" Fine; it’s not for everyone. Let’s see what you would like to do. 6. Affirm failures as necessary to growth & discover better ways; redefine failure; redefine success "Failure is an end result" thinking Teen begins to see the two sides of the same coin perspective in all issues. "I’m still pigging out after school, even though I know better." You are working on the right pattern for you. It takes time to figure out what will really work. You’re very successful at being aware of what you’re doing; that’s the first step. 7. Support & acknowledge personal decisions that have been made. Decisions don’t always lead to action but can be the choice not to participate. The key is that a process of examination has taken place. Issuing approval or disapproval about decisions Teen begins to see that experimentation & action is much preferable to drifting & letting others make the choices that affect them. "Guess what — I decided not to take swimming lessons with my best friend." That’s an interesting choice if you’ve always done things together. You must have another interest in mind or maybe you just want a break from lessons. Sometimes it’s harder to decide to stop doing something instead of starting something. Could you tell me more about how you decided?   8. Point out weight & diet & body shape bias The perfect body/ perfect weight syndrome A broader view & enhanced critical thinking: teen sees that society has a problem with unrealistic standards & norms; it’s not just her or her family . "I saw on TV last night thatTerri Hatcher of Lois & Clark might have an eating disorder. She looked great before & now even her neck bones stick out. I heard she just eats one plate of broccoli each day." What kind of standards do we buy into?