iBme - After School and Community Formats

After School and Community Formats

iBme will provide programming designed to address cognitive, social and emotional development issues in late adolescence for teens aged 15-19. The program engages teens in four complimentary endeavors:
1) Deepening of skills in mental concentration and emotional self-regulation via instruction and practice of mindfulness; 2) Expansion of social-emotional intelligence and resilience via small peer group discussions; 3) Self-exploration and creative expression through mindful movement, art and music; and 4) Exploration of lifestyle choices which lead to healthy vs addictive habits through practice of mindful consumption.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) may ultimately play a more pivotal role in future successes for many young people than IQ and academic achievement in high school. Their possession or lack of SEL skills will enhance or limit their ability to regulate their emotions and mind states while attending pressure packed and competitive undergrad and graduate academic programs. Likewise as they enter an increasingly diverse work force their ability to get along with and collaborate with peers, older colleagues and supervisors will require fluency in social and emotional management.

Social and emotional learning requires students to be engaged in experiences that challenge and enhance their understanding and tolerance of emotional and social expression in themselves and others. IbMe programming will instruct students in being aware of and regulating their emotions, in deepening their powers of concentration and in the development of the communication skills such as listening and speaking from a calmer, less reactive place within themselves.

The program will include the following components:

-A weekend intensive retreat for introduction to mindfulness and group bonding activities. Very healthy meals will be served along with instruction in nutritional influences on mental and physical health. Students will also be introduced to Qi Gong and Yoga as forms of exercise that also enhance calmer, deeper states of mental focus and relaxation. Teens will also have opportunities to spend time in nature and in engage in creative expression via art and music.

-The weekend will be followed by weekly classes where students can continue to develop practices of mindfulness, Qi Gong/Yoga, creative expression via art and music and social emotional learning via small peer group discussions.

-A final day-long workshop will provide an opportunity to consolidate and celebrate the learning of the students as well as to bring closure to the social bonding developed within the small discussion groups and shared mindfulness practices.

When students are provided practical and systematic instructions in social-emotional competencies and healthy consumptive habits they become empowered to manage the stresses of contemporary and future academic, vocational and living conditions.

The IbMe program will be coordinated by Joe Klein, LPC. Joe has managed 8 of these intensive retreats for teens over the past 2 years and has conducted similar retreats and workshops for professionals who work with youth in educational, community and mental health settings. He has a private practice serving adolescents and young adults and has over 10 years experience in the practice of Mindfulness, Qi Gong and Yoga.