Future Directions

Diane Carrington designs and delivers bespoke training sessions and workshops to a range of educational business organizations throughout the world. She specializes in helping people to become more creative and to achieve their full potential in all situations in life and in work. She has worked with a range of organizations and with individuals of all ages. Diane taught for eight years, as a Head of Department and a head of Careers before returning to training and coaching ten years ago. She is keen to integrate the techniques and strategies that she uses successfully with adults into her work with young people. She works with Head Teachers, teachers and students and a range of educational organizations including the Learning and Skills Development Agency, the Learning Skills Council and the Confederation for British Teachers. She has also worked with the charity Parentline, training facilitators to enable them to deliver Parenting Skills Courses. Diane is currently studying for a Masters degree in Applied Psychology at Brunel University. She recently worked for the Samaritans on their Emotional Health and Well Being Project; designing and evaluating lesson plans for use by both teachers and Samaritan volunteers. Helen Whitten has spent the last 13 years coaching and training young people and adults in practical methods for developing self-knowledge, self-confidence and the ability to maximize their potential. She has worked in organizations, schools and colleges teaching people how to rain their minds to think positively and creatively about the situations they face. Helen applies cognitive-behavioural methodology to produce practical thinking strategies that enable people to break through old patterns of behaviour and develop emotions and behaviours that support their endeavours and ambitions. The result is an enthusiastic and optimistic attitude, clear goals consistent with personal values, practical skills and knowledge, and the ability to maintain performance under pressure. Helen has applied these methods in her own life when she made a career change from work as a historical researcher to studying history as a mature student and retraining in the area of Human Resources and personal development. She founded Positiveworks in 1993 and has run individual and group sessions for clients throughout the world. Helen and Diane work together in Positiveworks Limited offering coaching and training sessions on positive life strategies to young people and adults. These sessions include study skills, sixth-form induction programmes, sessions to prepare for interviews and sessions based on the exercises included in this book. They speak at educational conferences and deliver staff training. For further information visit www.positiveworks.com.

• About the authors Introducing the book Section 1: Emotional Well-being Chapter 1 - Developing self-knowledge Chapter 2 - Identifying personal values Chapter 3 - Mindpower: how the brain works Chapter 4 - Building confidence Chapter 5 - Developing emotional intelligence Chapter 6 - Managing stress Chapter 7 - Understanding communication skills Chapter 8 - Problem-solving techniques Chapter 9 - Unleashing potential Section 2: Choices on leaving school Chapter 10 - Setting goals Chapter 11 - To college or not to college Chapter 12 - Work possibilities Chapter 13 - Preparing for interviews and meeting people Section 3: Starting Work Chapter 14 - Setting expectations of work Chapter 15 - Managing day-to-day living Chapter 16 - Contributing at work Section 4 Future Direction Chapter 17 - Achieving work-life balance Chapter 18 - Understanding the inner self Chapter 19 - Continuous development References Resources