Processing with Teens
Association for Experiential Education International Conference 2009 - Montreal, Canada
Presented by David Flack
WHAT IS PROCESSING?
Processing is creating connections between an experiential activity and the Real World. Creating these connections helps assure transfer of learning and lasting change. Processing is often thought of as a discussion or Q&A session after an activity or session. With many teens this may not be most effective.
Three keys for successful processing with teens:
➢ Be genuine – You are the most valuable tool you have when working with teens. If you aren’t genuine, nothing else really matters. So, relax and have some fun. You’ll be glad you did.
➢ Embrace the silence – In other words, don’t expect immediate answers to every question you ask. Most teens will engage if you give them time to do so, but you can’t make them talk before they’re ready.
➢ Teens are teens – They’re not adults and they’re not children. Treating teens in a developmentally appropriate and respectful manner is essential.
FOUR TIPS FOR PROCESSING WITH TEENS
Tip #1: Don’t take it personally.
Let’s break this down a little. Being insightful is a skill that requires practice. In many cases, teens have had little or no prior opportunities to practice this skill. That makes processing seems risky, and despite all you may have heard, most teens are risk-adverse, at least when the risk is interpersonal in nature. Add to all that the fact that many teen participants are mandated to attend our programs and have no desire to engage. Now they’re faced with an adult stranger trying to get them to talk about how they feel!
What can we do with all that?
1. Roll with the resistance.
2. Integrate activities for building trust and cohesion.
3. Directly address the risk of self-disclosure and the “mandatedness” of participants.
Tip #2: Process as you go.
The most transferable insights often come from In-The-Moment Processing. When participants are especially challenged and what they’re doing isn’t working, they’re ready for new possibilities. When processing In-The-Moment, be careful you don’t solve the problem. Rather, guide the participants to their own solution.
Tip #3: Move beyond Q&A processing.
The amygdala is the brain’s Fear Center. However, if the brain is busy with a cognitive task, such as solving a puzzle, the amygdala doesn’t have time to sense fear. What does that have to do with processing? Simple. Keep those brains busy!
Three alternatives to Q&A processing that keep brains busy:
1. Discussion Starters
2. Random Questioning
3. Action Processing.
Think of these as ways to approach processing, not rigid categories. These alternatives are more participant-driven than a facilitator-led Q&A would be, and that means they’re more developmentally appropriate for teens.
Tip #4: Create group rituals around processing.
In ongoing groups, a ritual will quickly becomes a group norm, providing a safe way for participants to practice processing and appropriate self-disclosure. Closing Rituals can be especially useful because they provide a “last chance” to help participants make connections between the new learning and the real world.
PROCESSING ACTIVITIES WE EXPLORED
These are the activities we covered during the workshop:
Chiji Cards • Mousetraps • Getting Rid of Your Junk • Blizzard • Processing Dice • Web of Support • Koosh Ball Check Out
RECOMMENDED READING
The Art of Changing the Brain, by James Zull
This book is an easy to understand introduction to the neuroscience of change. It is packed with practical that’ll change the way you facilitate!
The Primal Teen, by Barbara Strauch
If you work with teens, this book is a must! In this book, Strauch looks at adolescent brain development in an entertaining and readily accessible manner.
The Processing Pinnacle, by Steven Simpson, Dan Miller & Buzz Bocher
This book presents a practical model for processing that will help further develop your skills as a facilitator.
Processing the Experience, by John Luckner & Relden Nadler
A classic text in the experiential education field, this book is filled with both good theory and practical ideas. It is currently out of print, but you can probably find it online.
