Beverly Jacobson Email and Phone Number

- Helping teens cultivate the attention and awareness skills needed to thrive in our wired world - As Dr. Daniel Siegel explains in his book Brainstorm, we tend to frame the behavioral changes associated with the teen years (increased risk-taking, prioritizing relationships with peers over those with adults, and emotional intensity) as inherently problematic. He also explains how advances in neuroscience reveal that it is more accurate and productive to frame these same changes in terms of their essentially constructive potential--as characteristics enabling adolescents to branch out into the world, innovate, and develop their adult identities through exploring their passions. With the advent of the internet, never before in history have teens had access to so many resources with which to do this creative identity construction--people, places, ideas, and amazing learning opportunities are at their fingertips. However, that same technology simultaneously offers access to unlimited distractions. Being able to focus on the signal within the noise is a crucial skill we all need these days if we want to live in alignment with our values. In this increasingly connected world, teens need tools for making choices that help them explore their own values and develop their potential without becoming overwhelmed or derailed by the increasingly complex flood of ideas, images, voices and choices they face on a daily basis. Mindfulness practices help us build the attention and awareness skills needed for navigating the flood of information and influences we face these days. My goal is to provide teens with opportunities to learn about these skills and understand how they can use them to: - manage stress, - build a greater sense of agency and enjoyment in their lives, - become kinder toward themselves and others, and - become more intentional about how they use technology.