Growing Through Difficulties
Ages 13–15 | 8 Sessions × 60 Minutes
The teenage years bring new pressures, changing relationships, stronger emotions and increasing expectations. Growing Through Difficulties helps young people understand what is happening within them and develop practical skills for navigating challenges in healthier and more resilient ways.
The course is delivered in cooperation with the National Institute of Clinical Psychology (NICP) and uses their GROW Grade 9 Program. We were part of the development of the program, supporting the creation of content and learning experiences designed specifically to engage young people.
GROW is an educational, non-clinical resilience and character-development program. Rather than focusing only on problems or crises, it takes a proactive approach by helping students develop personal and relational resources before challenges become overwhelming.
Across the program, students explore five core character strengths connected to growing through difficult experiences:
The course is delivered in cooperation with the National Institute of Clinical Psychology (NICP) and uses their GROW Grade 9 Program. We were part of the development of the program, supporting the creation of content and learning experiences designed specifically to engage young people.
GROW is an educational, non-clinical resilience and character-development program. Rather than focusing only on problems or crises, it takes a proactive approach by helping students develop personal and relational resources before challenges become overwhelming.
Across the program, students explore five core character strengths connected to growing through difficult experiences:
Authentic Hope • Belief • Gratitude • Kindness • Courage
The program draws on research in resilience, post-traumatic growth and positive psychology, including the work of Professor Martin Seligman, one of the leading pioneers of positive psychology. These concepts help young people understand that difficult experiences do not have to define their future and that personal strengths can be developed over time.
• The eight sessions explore:
• Sowing & Growing
• Authentic Hope
• Accept & Accelerate
• The Power of Belief
• Perspective
• Traps & Pitfalls
• Activating Kindness
• Courage & Commitment
To connect with young people in an engaging way, the program combines videos, digital learning, an online game, practical activities, reflection and discussion. Students are encouraged not only to understand the concepts, but to apply them to situations they experience at school, at home and in their relationships.
The goal is to help young people strengthen resilience, develop healthier perspectives and recognise that while they cannot control every circumstance, they can learn how to respond, grow and move forward with greater confidence and hope
The program draws on research in resilience, post-traumatic growth and positive psychology, including the work of Professor Martin Seligman, one of the leading pioneers of positive psychology. These concepts help young people understand that difficult experiences do not have to define their future and that personal strengths can be developed over time.
• The eight sessions explore:
• Sowing & Growing
• Authentic Hope
• Accept & Accelerate
• The Power of Belief
• Perspective
• Traps & Pitfalls
• Activating Kindness
• Courage & Commitment
To connect with young people in an engaging way, the program combines videos, digital learning, an online game, practical activities, reflection and discussion. Students are encouraged not only to understand the concepts, but to apply them to situations they experience at school, at home and in their relationships.
The goal is to help young people strengthen resilience, develop healthier perspectives and recognise that while they cannot control every circumstance, they can learn how to respond, grow and move forward with greater confidence and hope
Impact
