By Bethany Casarjian, Ph.D. and Robin Casarjian, M.A., the Lionheart Foundation and Victress Hitchcock, Chariot Productions

In this program, the concept of losing part of one's childhood through abuse, neglect, or violence is explored. Many young people whose early physical and psychological needs were not met find themselves locked in cycles of high-risk behavior as a means to satisfy their present needs and wants.

They often feel entitled to steal or to break the rules and norms as a means to "even the score".

The DVD helps youth identify the feelings arising from experiences of early deprivation, reinforces how entitlement behavior leads to greater personal loss, and guides them in developing effective skills in meeting their current social, emotional, and physical needs.

This program:

• Explores the concept of "lost childhoods" and helps youth identify feelings that arise when basic emotional and physical needs are not met by caregivers.
  
• Examines the heightened belief of life's unfairness associated with abusive and neglectful childhood experiences.
  
• Presents a unique model called "entitlement thinking" that underscores the link between feelings of deprivation and high-risk behavior such as stealing and aggression.
  
• Provides strategies to help youth effectively cope with entitlement feelings and reduce risk-behaviors.
  
• Empowers youth through continued reinforcement of the "core self" model.
  
• Presents a guided meditation to help youth increase emotional and behavioral self-regulation.

Throughout the program are clear cues to facilitate group discussion. Viewing time: 23 minutes. 2009.

NOTE: This item is part of the Power Source Video Series

ILH

0709