Life Skills Education (LSE) is a novel promotional program that teaches generic life skills through participatory learning methods of games, debates, role-plays, and group discussion. Conceptual understanding and practicing of the skills occurs through experiential learning in a non-threatening setting. Such initiatives provide the adolescent with…

Discusses ways to prevent adolescents from smoking by preparing them to deal with problematic situations. Focuses on problem-solving and decision-making skills. Prevention strategies are also discussed. (RB)

Adventure-based Counseling (ABC), and in particular low-element challenge courses (LECC), are group-oriented programs that help participants learn to share responsibility, develop cooperative problem-solving skills, and increase self-confidence and well-being. Proposes that an intentional combination of the two programs offers a unique opportunity…

Describes the interpersonal cognitive problem solving (ICPS) skills approach for remediating peer relationship difficulties in children and adolescents. ICPS training studies are also reviewed. ICPS training seems effective as a remediation and primary prevention strategy with maladjusted youngsters and as a secondary prevention strategy with…

Epidemiological estimates indicate that up to 20% of people under the age of 20 present emotional and behavioral disorders serious enough to warrant intervention. At the same time, the current mental health/social services system for children and adolescents has been described as fragmented, inaccessible, duplicative, and often ineffectual. This…