Mindful Choices

Adolescent high-risk behavior course for teens & parents

Is your teen experimenting with or just starting to abuse alcohol or drugs? Are they engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as vaping, alcohol use, experimentation with drugs, or technology abuse? Do they have self-esteem or self-worth issues? Mindful Choices is the Center for Recovering Families’ adolescent high-risk behavior course for teenagers and their parents that addresses these problems in the early, treatable stages.

Mindful Choices creates a uniquely interactive and engaging atmosphere in which teens gain the knowledge and tools they need in a world of risky choices. Concurrently, their parents learn about the same topics in another room. At the conclusion of each class, adolescents and their parents come together with a common understanding of the same issues and the basis for truly meaningful discussion.

Note: Admission to Mindful Choices requires an in-person interview and assessment of both the adolescent and parent(s). For details, click here.

How does it work?

Each Mindful Choices class focuses on topics related to the high-risk behaviors adolescents deal with daily, such as:

  • Adolescent brain development
  • Biological basis of addiction
  • Stress and substance use
  • Communication and anger management
  • Levels of use + alcohol & binge drinking
  • Marijuana & vaping
  • Behavior modification

Through evidence-based psycho-education, teens and parents learn the biological basis of addiction; triggers for risky behavior; how to communicate assertively; and how teens can use judgment, self-management, impulse control, and other skills to thrive.

Mindful Choices is a six-week high-risk behavior course held once a week for an hour and a half. At least one parent or guardian is expected to attend in addition to the teen. All classes and groups at the Center for Recovering Families are currently virtual.

To assure that Mindful Choices is appropriate for each participant, admission to the course requires an in-person interview and assessment of both the adolescent and parent(s). The assessment will be reviewed by the program director and registration will only be allowed upon approval.

To make an appointment for an assessment, or if you have any questions about Mindful Choices at the Center for Recovering Families, call 713-914-0556, email CRF@councilonrecovery.org, or contact us online.