'Supporting Your Teen' in Pelham

Thanks to PACT's Anneliese Turck for the following:

Supporting Your Teen in Making Positive Choices is the topic of PACT's upcoming Pelham University forum scheduled for 7pm, Monday, April 8 at the Pelham Middle School Library. Parents are invited to come to this discussion featuring clinical psychologist, motivational speaker and stand-up comedian Matt Bellace, PhD who is renowned for using humor and audience participation to convey his very powerful message: we need to support young people in both words and actions if we want them to make healthy choices for themselves. 

Bellace, who will be speaking to PMHS students earlier in the day at LIVE CHAT 2013 (a youth leadership summit) about natural highs and how to be a healthy leader, will focus the evening's program around how parents can communicate with their teens effectively about responsibility, healthy coping skills, alcohol and other drug use. The current research on adolescent brain development will also be included.  One of the most challenging times for parents occurs while their children go through the adolescent years. Come to this discussion and learn how to empower your teen to be a leader.

“Throughout this year, PACT has focused on raising the awareness of the importance of talking with your children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol with our new Talk About It campaign," said Virginia Hartmere, PACT's Coalition Director. "This Pelham University event will support this program by providing parents with ways to effectively communicate with their teens.”

A New Jersey native, Bellace has been a youth motivational speaker and stand up comedian since 1995. Dr. Bellace has a PhD in clinical psychology (subspecialty in neuropsychology), is a member of the National Speakers Association and is the author of the book, "A Better High" (Wyatt Mackenzie, 2013). His  "How to Get High Naturally" program encourages more than 100,000 students a year to pursue natural highs and make healthy choices. Since 2006, Bellace has made more than 200 public appearances per year, including colleges, high school and middle school programs and comedy shows. For more information on Bellace, please visitmattbellace.com.  Books will be available the night of the event.

Pelham University is a PACT sponsored parent education program, bringing speakers to Pelham to discuss a range of topics impacting our youth.  PACT is a community coalition encouraging youth to make healthy, safe and substance free choices. Visit us at pelhampact.org for more information on its programs and like us on Facebook.