Typically, prior to coming to Abundant Life Preparatory, the parents of troubled teens provided motivators for behavior changes, hoping to get the results that are wanted. This usually resulted in short-term changes in choices and behavior. Once the motivator was removed, worn off, or is now expected, the behavior reverted back to the old negative patterns. At Abundant Life Preparatory, we go much deeper then behavior - we work on the level of perspective and awareness. Due to this deeper understanding we find that the child’s behavioral changes are made for the long term (heart changes), as they are internal to the individual (they own the change because it is of value to them - becoming their choice!).  However, knowing it is not enough. We provide platforms where our students can practice their new understandings. More importantly, our troubled teens give away all that they learn to the new students. By giving it away, helping the new students to change also locks the changes into their hearts forever.

Our students learn to “choose themselves” at  Abundant Life Preparatory. They learn that their status and position in life is based on their choices. If they don’t like where they are, then they know they can make some major changes by making better, more powerful, choices. We call this the “Change Model”. The Change Model starts with our understanding how we see the world (TWIST… and acronym for The Way I See Things)

The Abundant Life Preparatory student learns to develop self-direction, using empathy and principled decision making to increase wisdom in all choices. Our work is in the realm of providing our troubled boys and girls with a new T.W.I.S.T (see above); where we provide the students with renewed perspectives, awareness, language, and practices - with the students learning to make new choices, leading to behaviors that culminate in improved results. Once the troubled teen really learns this and it is “in their heart”, then we give them an opportunity to “give it away”.