From Warts to Wings: Helping Young People Live Healthier and Happier Lives

John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.

Department of Counselor Education

University of Montana

John.sf@mso.umt.edu

Today’s Plan Thanks to Danya Perry and Communities in

Schools of NC

Opening survey

Articulate 9 key principles and strategies of human change that you can use immediately in your work with students and parents

Today’s Plan II Organized by chapter: Each chapter has a story, a

cartoon, and a concluding principle

A summary handout and all powerpoint slides are available at johnsommersflanagan.com and available through Mr. YaBerry

Caveats [Danya: Do a talk that’s inspirational, funny, and includes strategies.]

Todays Plan III My Political Platform

Political Platform “The road to economic vitality, the road to

environmental sustainability, the road to excellence in health care and social support programs, and the road to good government always has and always will run through education.”

Trivia Question #1 Who said?

“We must have the attitude that every child in America—regardless of where they’re raised or how they’re born—can learn.” April 18, 2001, New Britain, CT.

Chapter One: The Catatonic Woman

The Principle

We should work hard to not judge students, parents, and

teachers based on their appearance … partly because they’re probably watching us

closely

Chapter Two: Emma the Great

The Principle

Use passionate rewards

and

boring consequences

(and avoid backward behavior modification)

Chapter Three:The Satanic Golden Rule

Trivia Question #2 What is a significant problem or flaw

associated with the Satanic Golden Rule?

Possible Trivia 2 Answers Revenge begets revenge – It never ends

You give away your power and become a negative follower instead of a positive leader

The Principle

Create your own positive respect bubble . . . and watch out for the

REVENGE IMPULSE

Chapter Four: The Cherry Story

The Principle

It’s not what happens to us . . .

But what we think about what happens to us . . .

That causes us misery

Chapter Five: Powers of Mind

The Principle

Use the power of your mind

to creatively and relentlessly focus on your goals

Chapter Six: Twenty Minutes

The Principle

Allow children freedom

and then learn about what they’re trying to master

And remember, young people may treat you with ambivalence

Chapter Seven: Meeting Jesus at the Portland VA Hospital

The Principle

If you want genuine cooperation

Be less threatening

Chapter Eight: Learning to Growl

The Principle

Change is easier if

you make a good plan and then follow it

Chapter Nine: That Dog Don’t Hunt

The Principle

Love can overshadow

our own unique faults or warts

Summary and Conclusions Be careful in your judgments, because students are watching Use passionate rewards and boring consequences Create your own respect bubble; and watch out for revenge It’s not what happens to you . . . but what you think . . . Use the power of mind to focus on your goals Learn from observation and remember youth may treat you

with ambivalence If you want genuine cooperation, be less threatening If you want to change behavior, make an new plan We all have warts and, if we’re lucky, we might find a wing in

there somewhere too