Abundant Life Academy Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Programs - Page 2

      Trimester II – Leadership Curriculum (months 5 to 9)

The Abundant Life Academy Substance Abuse Counseling Programs for Adolescents is based on the student's ability to know themselves, choose themselves, and to give themselves.  Meaning, the Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Programs student is able to hold noble goals, be empathetic, sensitive, and lift others needs above their own.  Essentially, the ALA Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Program students are emotionally intelligent prior to graduating from the program. Abundant Life Academy Substance Abuse Counseling Programs is designed to serve the troubled teen who is struggling with substance abuse.

Emotional Intelligence:  “EI” is the foundation of the ALA leadership program, and the cornerstone of the Abundant Life Academy Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Program. ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults are built on the understanding of emotional matturity. Most of our substance abuse couseling participants  are very intelligent (gifted) students.  Our substance abuse program is filled with intelligent gifted kids. Unfortunately, these kids who are abusing substances are also very “emotionally immature” (struggle to make decisions that are in their best interest, especially when it comes to choosing “peers”).  These students need couseling for these issues. During this phase of the program the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Program students learn to “think”, “act”, and then “feel”.  Way too many young people “feel” first (act out of their immature emotions), then “act”, and most often skip the “thinking” part altogether.  Instead of “thinking” things through our substanc abuse counseling students are addicted to blaming others, rationalizing actions, and they are experts at “playing the victim”. This is the exact reason they are in need of substance abuse counseling. Emotionally immature kids who are abusing substances never get around to understanding that they are causing their own bad situations, and that is why they stay “stuck”.  These troubled teens are in need of the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Programs intervention. Emotionally immature kids who abuse drugs and alcohol are depressed and angry.  They try so hard to get their needs met in the most ineffective ways, guaranteeing only that they will get less of what they want, and more of what they are trying to avoid.  At ALA we teach students who abuse substances and are in need of counseling to “think for themselves” and to find solutions for their issues. Through the Abundant Life Academy Substance Abuse Counseling Programs for Adolescents the ALA students are given tools to overcome their problems, and then coach them to success.  However, the important thing is for the struggling girls and boys to learn to make emotionally intelligent decisions for themselves.  Learning to make emotionally intelligent decisions is the bases for the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Programs.

Furthermore, during Trimester II of the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Program we make sure that student’s earn opportunities to practice the leadership material they have learned.  During Trimester II students are encouraged, coached, and guided to “exercise” the training they have received.  In essence, the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Program students learn to be leaders by taking on tough situations, learning to deal with all kinds of adversity, and most importantly, to learn to serve others. In Trimester II the ALA student participates in “national” mercy ministry projects.  For example, the Trimester II Substance Abuse Counseling Program students have worked tirelessly in helping clean up New Orleans and Mississippi after the Katrina Hurricane disaster.  Moreover, we have sent student teams to help clean up after major tornado’s (Greensburg, Kansas and Americus, Georgia).  The Trimester II student will participate in other mercy ministry projects such as “Habitat for Humanity” (building homes for the poor)

      Trimester III – Leadership Curriculum (months 10 to 12 and beyond if necessary)

Choice Theory:  The in-depth study of “choice”.  Students in the ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Programs come to understand the power behind “choice” (Christ-centered Choice Theory).  ALA Students have become what they chosen.  Meaning, an accumulation of one’s choices over a period of time contribute to the well being of one’s life.  If we make good, powerful, and “right” choices over a period of time we can enjoy great prosperity and success (“Liberty” and “Freedom”).  However, if we make poor choices over a period of time we can earn a great deal of “loss” and “regret”.  As a matter of fact, prior to coming to ALA our troubled boys and girls have compiled a big pile of loss and regret through their poor choices.  ALA students learn how to create success in their lives by making the right choices.  They also learn how to navigate out of “bad places” by turning from their poor choices.  ALA Students learn about the “pits” they have fallen into and how to get out of them.  They learn to take responsibility for their actions, and hold them selves accountable.  Students learn to restrain from negative influences and surround themselves with powerful influences.  “We become who we hang around”.  Through the ALA Choice Theory Program the ALA student gets a sense of “confidence”, “power”, and “destiny”. At ALA we teach the ultimate choice is to be led by the Holy Spirit. 

During Trimester III ALA Substance Abuse Counseling Program students participate in International Mercy Ministries.  For example, students attend Abundant Life Academy at Costa Rica for at least 4 weeks.  ALA at Costa Rica is our satellite academy located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.  Our mission is to serve the poor in that area.  Our Trimester III students are involved with feeding the poor, educating the un-educated, building homes, churches, and development of other social services projects.  Troubled teens learn that the people we serve in Costa Rica are poor (materialistically), but more important they learn that the Costa Ricans are extremely rich (spiritually).  As we serve the Costa Rican poor, we are always out-served by them.  You can’t out-give the people of Costa Rica.  Additionally, even though they have very little in terms of materialism, Costa Ricans are extremely happy and fulfilled people.  The ALA student learns why the Costa Rican’s are happy (because the culture of Costa Rica is about “family”, serving “others”, and being thankful for all they have).

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