THE TEEN BRAINHow to Reduce Drama

& Mentor Effectively

Deborah Gilboa, MD

@AskDoctorG@AskDocG

STUDENTSMUST• Be safe.• Stick to a schedule.• Follow the rules.•Do their work.

STUDENTS CAN• Learn skills.• Forge relationships.• Build confidence.•Develop competence.

STUDENTSOFTEN• Take risks.• Run late.

• Forget rules.• Focus on themselves.• Miss opportunities.• Focus on drama!

TEEN BRAIN

TEEN BRAIN CONFLICT

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AT YEAR COURSE?• Good decision-making requires

time and information.• Peer pressure is ALWAYS a factor.• Intense emotional responses will

occur!!!!• Sleep deficit clouds critical

thinking and increases moodiness.

WHERE IS THE DRAMA?1.2.3.4.5.

SO HOW DO YOU STOP THE DRAMA?The opposite

of drama is

RESILIENCE

The ability to RECOVER from ADVERSITY!• What do we know?– Bad things happen.– There are always choices to be made.– Feelings change over time.– Recovery requires tools and experience.

• What do teens need?PRACTICE.

WHAT IS RESILENCE?

5 WAYS1. Accept emotions

but reject drama premise.

2. Invite them off the roller coaster.

3. Focus on their goals.

4. Play “What if?”5. Guide THEIR plan.

ACCEPT EMOTIONS BUT REJECT DRAMA• Resilience requires emotion– Ignoring emotions ->

damaging behavior– Expressing emotions ->

positive coping mechanisms• Reject the drama premise.– Use your power.

• Resilience moves beyond emotion to action.

INVITE THEM OFF THE ROLLER COASTER• Build trust.• Show

empathy.• Challenge

them to do something hard.

FOCUS ON THEIR GOALSLight a fire intentionally:• Build on their experiences• Heighten their emotions • Use peer pressure for good

Call them to action!

PLAY “WHAT IF?”• What might you do?• What about doing nothing?• What if everything you’re worried

about happens?• What if you changed the situation?• What if you reacted differently?• What if…

GUIDE THEIR PLAN• Let life teach the lesson.• Praise the process.• Connect to a

character you share.• What would you

tell a friend?

“I’ll be really interested to see what you do!”

MATCH STRATEGY TO STUDENT & CHALLENGEWhich strategy for each issue?In the moment – how do you remember?

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