“Transitioning from School Life to Life Life”

This program consists of all the “First-in-Line” sessions with each lesson tailored to fit the specific needs of youth and young adults (approximately ages 15-22) at this crucial moment in their lives.

“The typical age when generalized anxiety disorder is most evident is in the late teen years or during early adulthood.” Healthguideinfo.com 

But even if a person doesn’t have a clinical diagnosis, anxiety can be triggered by life changes. So, what happens when someone is transitioning from adolescence to adulthood and being bombarded with a barrage of major life changes one after the other?

• Learning to drive • Graduating high school • Moving out • Applying to / starting college • Getting / keeping a job • Having a relationship • Renting an apartment • Entering the military • Choosing a career…

The “Transitioning from High School Life to Life Life” program starts youth and young adults on a path to creating positive coping habits. Yes, it will help them with the challenges they currently face, but really, they will be learning practical behavior modification tools that will last a lifetime.

The “First-in-Line” program sessions with modifications:

A. How to Get a Job, Keep a Job, Love a Job: “Do I really have to work? That sounds like soooo much work.”

1. Job Interviews: They’re not all about smiling, handshaking, and making creepy eye contact

• Having appropriate expectations for the interviewer, the interview… and yourself

2. “OMG, that kid I work with is on their phone ALL the time!”

• How to under-react not over-react to a lazy co-worker

3. “I’m always asked to do things I wasn’t trained for, and I’m not getting paid extra!”

• Be Assertive not Aggressive: How to get what you need from your boss (Hint: It’s not by rolling your eyes and exhaling loudly through your mouth.)

B. Heading to College: (It’s not all Dining Halls and Dorm Parties—“wait, why not?”)

“I’m about to crash out! I’m away from home. I don’t know my way around. I don’t know anybody. I have no idea which clubs and teams to join. I have a full class schedule and a job on campus…!”

• The Art of Positive Self-talk: Stress can cause our racing thoughts to go into overdrive, making us feel overwhelmed, helpless, and out of control. The good news? Changing negative thoughts into more positive ones makes us feel the 3C’s: calmer, comforted, and capable.

“Of course I’m stressed out. I’m away from my home and family for the first time. I have new responsibilities. Of course, I’m stressed out. Who wouldn’t be?”

• Anxiety: It’s no reason to panic

Is part of the reason you are anxious because you come from anxious parents? Don’t stress it. Our thinking and attitudes can make up for our DNA. So don’t turn into your parents (or the Progressive commercial about turning into them—that wouldn’t be good either.)

• Present Moment Living: Prioritizing your day without; - - - worrying about what you “should” be doing regretting what you aren’t doing or feeling guilty about who you are doing it or aren’t doing it with.