A University Study with children of Katrina shows a significant decrease in the following behaviors: ADHD, Hyperactivity, Anxiety, Worry, Aggression, Frustration, Impulsivity, Physiological Symptoms and an Increase in Attention Span.  A non-drug alternative to ADHD medication.

by Mimi Lupin   M.A., L.S.S.P., L.P.C.

Old Me New Me is a series of stories for children and young teens to various calming, relaxing places in their imagination such as a trip to the beach, the woods and the mountains as seen in these photos. The program uses imagery, teaches relaxation and integrates music and positive self talk within an engaging story to help them change their behavior for the better. The first step is for the young person to gain control over his/her body to help develop self control.  Children can begin to calm their nervous systems so that behavioral changes become possible using relaxation and imagery.

The program is particularly effective for children and young teens who experience anxiety, ADHD, post traumatic stress, behavioral or emotional problems.  An art therapy program available to licensed counselors to can use in conjunction with the Old Me New Me program (available on this site) also helps children express what it is that they are feeling but having difficulty putting into words what their particular problem and stress might be so that long term effects of trauma, anxiety and post traumatic stress can be lessened.

The Old Me New Me is an evidence based right brain program and has helped hundreds of young people reduce the effects of stress, trauma and negative thinking.  In recent years, it has been discovered by many therapists that talk therapy does little to help children and teens with behavioral and emotional problems as talk therapy  does little to change feelings and beliefs at a deeper level. The program is easily used by children and young teens while  in bed at night as the program can be played while your child is preparing to fall asleep. A discussion of the contents of the story used be discussed when new stories are introduced so that the concepts are reinforced by the adults in the life of the children using the program.

If a child is in counseling, the program and the concepts can be discussed with the counselor so that all significant adults in the life of the child will be aware of the concepts that the child is learning and internalizing. A counselor can use the art program with your child to enhance his or her understanding of the changes that are happening. By engaging the help of all the important adults to remind the child to use the new behaviors and reinforce the positive changes the child is making, the child’s behavior will improve much more rapidly.

Young people as well as their parents today are frequently overwhelmed and stressed.  The feelings of overwhelm can lead to behavioral problems. Learning to self regulate and develop self control is the first step in the process of behavioral change to help young people, This will help the brain recover from the effects of stress and trauma that many children have experienced in a variety of situations in their young lives.  Many neuroscientists have discovered that the brain makes changes more easily with these kinds of therapies; much more quickly than talk therapy.  For this reason, imagery, visualization and other right brain therapies such as Old Me New Me are considered best practice for these children and teens.

Old Me New Me is a program that is beneficial to all children and young teens and is particularly helpful for severe emotional and behavioral problems. Children build their self esteem by realizing, discovering and internalizing their own value, and unique talents and gifts. Children and young teens need help and guidance in developing these skills to feel more competent so that they can eventually contribute to society.

When children are over-reactive, impatient and often frustrated and too easily offended, they will have difficulty pursuing these talents and dreams that will help them have a great future.This can become their life long pattern of responding to difficult life situations. They often find themselves in trouble both in and out of school and wish that life could be different for themselves but have no idea how to behave better because as a rule, they lack self control, don’t know how to make the necessary changes and end up with many complaints from both peers and adults about their behavior.  At this point, they frequently begin to expect trouble wherever they go, and so, their negative behavior and negative responses go with them, creating the same response from others no matter where they are.  They are often discouraged about themselves, sometimes develop depression and don’t get along well with others since they frequently have difficulties with friends.

When children have low self esteem and don’t realize that they have something to offer, they don’t feel good about themselves. They have no understanding or the skills to make their lives better or a vision of what their life can be. Using the Old Me New Me program on a regular basis, children and teens will begin to see themselves in a new way and gain control over their physiology. Young people frequently say that they know they need these relaxation and visualization skills and feel better as a result once they begin to use them. After a couple of months use, their nervous system responds to the more relaxed state in a positive way  and  many of the behaviors that got them into difficulties previously seem to disappear. At that point, they have more self control; a lack of which has been a problem in the past. These young people are then able to develop the tools to see themselves in a powerful way and envision a more successful future. The sooner these behaviors are identified and the program is begun, the easier and more quickly children can develop more appropriate behaviors.

How will you as a parent know whether this program will be helpful to your own child or not? Research results offer a number of powerful statistical indicators of potential success for your child. These studies show that when young people engage in the use of this program over a period of three months time, a number of very positive changes occur. They develop more self control, and anxiety and negative behaviors are reduced. Other important behavioral changes occur as well. Five different recent studies replicate the following results: a reduction of hyperactive kinds of behaviors, low frustration tolerance, aggression, short attention span and impulsivity are some of the significant common behavioral changes that were seen. Additionally most children report that they sleep better and more soundly as a result of using the program.

The emphasis in the stories is on problem solving and making better choices, taught in short stories and metaphors that engage  the young person as he/she is learning to relax while on an imaginary journey. Many professionals think that a lack of problem solving skills and good decision making skills is a major reason that many children and teens experience frustration, anger, anxiety, temper tantrums and out of control behavior.

More appropriate ways to handle stress are taught in the story lines and behavioral change is encouraged using visualization while relaxed. The inability to handle frustration, stress and major changes appropriately is a major reason many young people exhibit behavior problems. Children today are often overwhelmed by all the stimuli in their world and many do not know how it feels to be relaxed.  These important behavioral and emotional skills are best learned in a relaxed state.  When these skills are taught and reinforced at home by parents positive change becomes possible with continual use of the program. Old Me New Me is sometimes used in combination with medication and has also helped young people reduce their reliance on medication over time.

These problems are frequently caused by stress or trauma that is outside the tolerance level of the child or teen, causing the brain to shift to a dysregulated state according to Dr. Bruce Perry and other neuroscientists. According to Dr. Perry we all react to stress in one of two ways. Individuals can become hypo-aroused causing withdrawal, defiance, depression and resistance.  Or on the other hand some traumatized individuals become hyperactive, inattentive, vigilance, and aggressive. These states can be can be caused by trauma or any long term stress that a child or an adult such as war veterans  might experience.  Any number of stressors can create this state and if a child is an effective self-regulator,  or is taught to self regulate, he/she can shift back to a more regulated peaceful state.

Many children and families today are under stress from a variety of problems. Children are often anxious and not able to self regulate and as a result, any number of behavior problems become obvious including what is often misdiagnosed as  hyperactivity or ADHD.   Both parents and counselors are  frustrated because these teens or  children’s behavior is resistant to change. Sometimes children are medicated unnecessarily because they appear to be ADHD when they may be in a state of hyper-arousal, total overwhelm or just extremely anxious.

Researchers say that teens and children have ten percent more stress than adults and that 85% of all adolescents report that they have too much stress in their lives. The fast pace of life, video games, divorced families and not enough time for relaxation, too much cell phone activity all contribute to stress and trauma for children which can easily lead to brain dysregulation.  Old Me New Me used over a period of three months can greatly improve the ability of children and teens to self regulate over time.

Forty percent of children and adolescents who have been diagnosed as having ADHD also experience anxiety disorder as well even though they may be currently on medication for ADHD and behavioral problems. This evidenced based program is a non drug alternate to the use of medication for anxiety.  Old Me New Me teaches new behaviors and emotional responses to some of life’s difficult and stressful situations and in so doing, reduces the stress and anxiety that so many of these young people feel. Many parents are looking for help for these problems without the use of medication.  Getting to the root of the anxiety helps build self esteem and a feeling of control for these youngsters, helping their mental health, and making much more sense than medicating unnecessarily without first trying a more conservative and perhaps more permanent method of healing trauma.

The Old Me New Me is especially effective for those who have experienced trauma, severe negative experiences or post traumatic stress or helpful for children who need help in handling the stress in their lives. Some of the most significant results from several university studies indicate a decrease in ADHD behaviors and a decrease in anxiety, frustration and aggression.  Regular use will provide many of these benefits. These programs are not only used by parents, counselors and therapists but also by children’s hospitals. Research results are available on this site. Parents also report that the Old Me New Me is very helpful for children with Asperger’s Syndrome as well as those who are learning disabled.

Old Me New Me is a 3 CD Series and downloads for children and teens, using relaxation and guided imagery  to help reduce a number of emotional and behavioral problems. These behaviors include negative thinking, anxiety, worry, frustration, impulsivity, aggression and ADHD behavior. Some therapists have found Old Me New Me to be very helpful for some children with sensory integration difficulties as well.

Many positive changes are possible when Old Me New Me is used over a full twelve weeks period. Emotional and behavioral problems diminish over time when new behaviors are learned and when these positive behaviors are encouraged and reinforced by parents and teachers. Children respond extremely well to this therapy.

Some of the most significant results from several university studies indicate a decrease in ADHD behaviors and a decrease in anxiety, frustration and aggression.  Regular use will provide many of these benefits. These programs are not only used by parents, counselors and therapists but also by children’s hospitals. Research results are available on this site. Parents also report that the Old Me New Me is very helpful for children with Asperger’s Syndrome as well as those who are learning disabled.

Many children report that their parents’ divorce is one of the greatest stressors in their lives and often times, the effects of this trauma is carried into their adult lives. The after effects of this stressor can be lessen to a great degree by how parents deal with the divorce. For information on how to help decrease this stress and anxiety for children, parents may download a free poster that will help children during this traumatic time.

Dr. Lendell Braud, a professor of Psychology conducted a study using Old Me New Me with a number of young victims of Katrina who experienced post traumatic stress. Results showed a significant reduction of the traumatic that these children experienced and a number of positive benefits from the use of this program with these youngsters over a 12-15 week period. These benefits included a decrease in anxiety, physiological stress and worry, a reduction of concentration problems and depression.  Parents reported their children were less physically and verbally aggressive, less impulsive and hyperactive and showed fewer signs of frustration.

These results were presented at the American Psychological Association in New Orleans at the annual meeting in August 2006. In June 2007, this study was published in the Journal of International Imagery. Results of this research were presented  at the Texas State Counselors’ conference in Galveston, Texas April 14,2008.  A second study conducted with emotionally disturbed children in a group home by Dr. Lendell Braud was presented at the Texas State Counselors’ Conference Nov. 7, 2008.

If you are still wondering if this program would be helpful for your child or your clients, please try the sample audio below. This program has been highly effective for many years and has had many revisions and additions over the years and with over sixteen published studies done by universities, we know that it is extremely helpful to young people. Try these sample audios and then decide how helpful you think these audios could be if used on a nightly basis over three months time. If after a month’s use, you don’t think the program is helpful, we offer a refund if the package is returned in good condition. We need to authorization if you do plan to return them. Please spend a few moments now and listen to these samples.

• How and why these stories will be helpful for your children. Click to play.

• Sample #2 A Trip to a Star. Click to play.

• Sample #3 The Trip to the Beach. Click to play.

We are working on a new project – The Place of Refuge – A beautiful documentary that will be produced to entertain, educate and motivate divorcing parents to reduce their own conflicts for the sake of their children and become aware of their own behaviors which are so stressful and create trauma for their children during this difficult time. Click for more information.

Swimming with the Dolphins, is now available to help heal the hearts of children of divorce and to help them overcome the negative thoughts and feelings about their parents divorce. This program can be downloaded or purchased separately from the Old Me New Me. This CD will be included as a bonus with all orders through the end of March, 2012.

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