"As A Man Thinketh So Is HE" - Proverbs 23:7
i. All Perception is Valid: In reference to the idea that each individual's perspective on reality is their own truth, shaped by their unique experiences, backgrounds, and emotions. Even if two people perceive the same situation differently, both interpretations can be considered valid from their individual perspectives.
ii. How to Express Feelings: Expressing emotions in a healthy and constructive way can be achieved through words, actions, or creative outlets. Examples include using "I" statements, practicing active listening, choosing appropriate times and places to talk, and being authentic while remaining emotionally composed.
iii. Usage of the “I” Statement: "I" statements are a crucial tool for expressing feelings and needs assertively without blaming or criticizing others. They typically follow a structure like: "I feel [emotion] when [specific behavior] because [reason related to needs]" and "I would prefer [desired action]". Using "I" statements makes it easier for others to respond constructively, fostering better understanding and problem-solving.
iv. Listening to Understand: This involves actively paying attention to the other person's perspective, going beyond just hearing the words to grasp their intentions and feelings. It includes being fully present, asking clarifying questions, using positive body language, and avoiding interruptions or judgments. The goal is to understand their point of view, even if you don't necessarily agree with it.
v. Responding to Validate: Validation means recognizing and accepting another person's feelings, thoughts, or experiences as legitimate, without necessarily agreeing with their perspective or opinions. It's about showing that you hear them, understand, and care about their emotional experience. Validating responses can help diffuse tension and create a safer space for open communication.
vi. Closure and Commitment: This relates to the final step in a communication or conflict resolution process, where there is a clear sense of finality regarding the issue and a commitment to moving forward. It involves ensuring that all parties have a clear understanding of the key points and any agreed-upon action items, and it can involve making commitments to support and continue practicing healthy communication.
Role Play, Role Play, Role Play
i. Perception:
Perception is what is thought to be true and can greatly affect relationships.
Perceptions of others, even if inaccurate, are important for initial liking and long-term relationship satisfaction.
Understanding and questioning perceptions allows for more authentic and fulfilling relationships.
ii. My Morals and Values are Not Theirs:
Values are core beliefs and principles that guide behavior, decisions, and attitudes.
It's important to recognize that relationship values can differ from personal values.
Understanding and sharing core values can help partners recognize what's truly important to each other.
Differing perspectives do not mean the relationship is doomed; respecting each other's points of view and working to understand each other with kindness and empathy is key.
iii. How Many times do I set the same boundary?
Boundaries may need to be revisited and reinforced consistently.
If someone continues to cross boundaries, determine what action is desired or if you want to keep them in your life.
It's important to be prepared to communicate openly about boundaries as the relationship progresses and evolves.
iv. Reaching or Realistic:
It's essential to set realistic expectations in a relationship.
Realistic expectations are mature, attainable, and based on mutual respect.
They don't expect perfection but expect effort.
Unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment, resentment, and conflict.
v. Time Frame:
Boundaries are flexible and can change as relationships grow.
Setting expectations and boundaries is not a one-time event; it requires ongoing communication and adjustment as circumstances change.
Checking in with each other regularly about expectations and boundaries is recommended.
vi. Un- Met Expectations:
Unstated and unmet expectations can cause personal disappointment and interpersonal strife.
To navigate unmet expectations, it's crucial to communicate them clearly and calmly.
Adjusting expectations in light of experience can transform disappointment into potential for positive change.
vii. Clear and Concise:
Clear and concise communication is essential for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.
Communicating needs and expectations openly, honestly, and respectfully helps ensure understanding and respect.
Vague requests can lead to confusion, so it's important to be specific when communicating boundaries.
viii. Reciprocate:
Healthy relationships are built on reciprocity, a two-way street where both partners give and receive support, care, and compromise.
Lack of reciprocity can lead to one partner feeling taken advantage of, used, and burned out.
Balanced reciprocity involves each individual feeling they give and receive energy, strengthening the relationship overall.
What Do You Think About That?
i. Finding the Core Belief(s):
Definition: Core beliefs are deeply held assumptions about yourself, others, and the world that often operate unconsciously and influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Identification:
Pay attention to your thoughts, emotions, and reactions in various situations, especially during times of strong emotion or stress.
Keep a thought diary to record automatic thoughts and associated feelings. Look for recurring themes or patterns.
Use techniques like the "Downward Arrow Technique" to dig deeper into your thoughts and uncover underlying core beliefs.
ii. Is It Truth or Can You Change It?
Challenging the Belief: Once you've identified a core belief, question its validity.
Ask yourself: Is it based on facts or assumptions?
Are there experiences or evidence that contradict this belief?
What would it be like to think of the opposite of this belief?
Is this belief helping you or hindering you?
Reframing/Replacing: If the belief isn't serving you, work on reframing it or replacing it with a more empowering belief.
Create an alternative, balanced core belief.
Use positive affirmations to reinforce the new belief.
iii. Action Plan and Commitment:
Develop an Action Plan: Create a clear plan outlining the steps you will take to implement your new beliefs and behaviors.
Set Goals: Define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals related to your new beliefs.
Commitment: Make a conscious decision to commit to your action plan and new beliefs.
iv. Re- Commit 77x7:
Meaning: This is a metaphor emphasizing the importance of limitless and unwavering commitment to your personal growth and change. Just as Jesus encourages forgiveness without limits (Matthew 18:21-22), you should be prepared to recommit to your goals and new beliefs as many times as necessary, even when facing setbacks or challenges.
Recommitment is Key: Recognize that changing deeply rooted beliefs and habits takes time and effort. If you falter, recommit to your plan without self-judgment. View setbacks as opportunities to learn and adjust your approach.
v. Made it a Habit:
Consistency: The goal is to make your new beliefs and behaviors habitual.
Habit Loop: Understand the habit loop (cue, routine, reward) and re-engineer it to support your desired habits.
Practice and Repetition: Consistently practice your new behaviors and reinforce your new beliefs. This repetition helps to create new neural pathways and make the new behaviors more automatic.
Patience and Persistence: Remember that habit formation takes time. Be patient with yourself and persistent in your efforts.
This process emphasizes self-awareness, challenging limiting beliefs, creating an action plan, committing to change, and developing new habits through consistent effort and recommitment.
Role Play, Role Play, Role Play
i. Perception: This could refer to how you perceive the event or challenge, yourself, and the world around you. Your perspective can shape your emotional and psychological responses, and learning to manage this perception is crucial in healing. For instance, after a traumatic event, one's perception of safety might be disrupted, leading to hypervigilance.
ii. The Truth: This may involve acknowledging the reality of the situation or trauma and recognizing its impact without denying or minimizing it. Facing the truth, even if painful, is a foundational step towards healing.
iii. What You Do and Do Not Control: This element emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting what aspects of the situation are within your control and which are not. Letting go of the desire to control things you cannot change can reduce suffering and allow you to focus your energy on what you can influence.
iv. What could have changed: This stage likely involves reflecting on aspects of the situation that, in an ideal scenario, could have been different, acknowledging the impact of those possibilities without getting stuck in regret.
v. What Could Not Have Changed: This signifies coming to terms with the unchangeable aspects of the event or situation. Acceptance of these realities is a key component in moving forward.
vi. Understanding: This step involves processing the experience, making sense of it, and gaining a deeper understanding of its impact on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding helps in identifying triggers, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and navigating the healing journey.
vii. Acceptance and Forgiveness: Acceptance is about acknowledging and embracing your present experiences and feelings without judgment or resistance. Forgiveness, which can involve self-forgiveness and forgiving others, is crucial for releasing negative emotions and moving forward. Research suggests forgiveness can lead to improved mental and physical health.
viii. Commitment: This element highlights the importance of committing to the healing process and taking active steps towards recovery. This may involve engaging in therapy, self-care practices, building a support network, and making choices that align with your values.
I heard the more you are Grateful for what you do have, the more you will receive... Could it Be?
Learning Experiences (LE) are designed to be fundamental in the family and community's structure and their daily functions. Focusing on social and psychological change through helpful constructive criticism, not being a hypocrite, being a brothers keeper and working together for the main purpose. These experiences aren't just therapeutic activities for the whole but rather to foster self-awareness, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.
1. Assessment and Diagnosis:
Thorough Evaluation: The process starts with a comprehensive assessment to understand the individual's history, current situation, risk factors, and needs.
Identification of Criminogenic Needs: This includes identifying needs that are directly linked to criminal behavior, such as antisocial attitudes, substance abuse, and lack of pro-social relationships.
Risk Assessment: Instruments are used to estimate the likelihood of future offending and identify the level of supervision and treatment required.
2. Goal Setting and Objectives:
Developing Meaningful Goals: Establishing broad, long-term outcomes the individual hopes to achieve, such as improving employment prospects or maintaining sobriety.
SMART Objectives: Breaking down goals into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives to guide the treatment process.
3. Interventions and Treatment:
Evidence-Based Practices: Implementing programs and interventions that have proven effectiveness in reducing recidivism, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and substance abuse treatment.
Targeting Criminogenic Needs: Focusing interventions on the identified needs that are directly linked to criminal behavior.
Addressing Individual Responsivity: Tailoring treatment to the individual's unique learning style, motivation, gender, and cultural background.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Tracking Progress: Regularly assessing the individual's progress towards their objectives using standardized tools, observations, and self-reports.
Flexibility and Adjustments: The plan should be dynamic and adaptable to the individual's changing needs and progress.
Measurement Feedback: Providing feedback to the individual about their progress to enhance motivation and accountability.
5. Support and Reintegration:
Engaging Community Support: Connecting individuals with pro-social supports in their communities, such as family, friends, and community organizations.
Aftercare Services: Providing support and services post-release to facilitate successful reintegration into the community.
Addressing Barriers: Identifying and addressing potential obstacles to treatment.
"By This Shall Men Know..."
CSC
Core Idea:
It's based on the idea that offending behavior stems from specific ways of thinking that excuse and justify that behavior.
The model focuses on the internal experience (thoughts, feelings, beliefs) that leads to offending acts.
How it Works (The Four Steps):
1. Pay Attention to Your Thoughts and Feelings: Participants learn to objectively observe their internal experiences.
2. Recognize the Connection: They learn to identify when their thoughts and feelings are leading toward crime or violence.
3. Find New Thinking: Participants are taught to develop alternative ways of thinking that don't lead to offending behavior but still provide a sense of self-worth.
4. Practice and Apply: They practice using this new way of thinking in real-life situations and report back to the group.
Key Principles:
Focus on Skills: It frames self-change as a set of skills that offenders can learn and use to change themselves, rather than requiring or attempting to instill motivation.
Objectivity, Curiosity, and Respect: Facilitators are encouraged to approach offenders with these attitudes, allowing for a shared space where offenders can explore the thoughts and feelings leading to their behavior.
"Thinking Reports": A crucial tool where participants document their thoughts and feelings related to past offending, aiming for objectivity and without excuse or blame.
Strategy of Choices: The program helps offenders recognize that they have a choice in their behavior and can consciously choose to live differently.
Target Population:
Cognitive Self Change aims to address "hard-core" offenders, including those who may not be initially motivated to change.
Overall Aim:
To help offenders stop offending and become "ex-offenders" by teaching them to break free from the thinking patterns that lead to crime and violence.