In just four months, this nine-year-old named Frank has transformed from acting impulsively, to being able maintain self-control and think about what his best action would be when interacting with others on his Home, Classroom, Friendship and Sports Teams.   In this blog, Frank's mother shares her gratitude about the positive transformation her son has made since being involved in the Growing G.R.E.E.N. InterActions Program.  Therapeutic approaches allowing for that transformation are also explained.  The program has taught Frank to Think First before acting so he can think about 1) the Team he is with at the moment, 2) what goals he and the Team might want to accomplish, and 3) what mutually beneficial choices of words and actions he might make.   His mother just gave him a "G.R.E.E.N. Action Report" to reinforce him for staying calm and using his words after having to wait for an hour in a doctor's office!  
We initially contacted Hein SLP regarding their new social communication skills intervention, “The Growing G.R.E.E.N. InterActions Program,” hoping it would help our son Francisco with his social skills challenges. ​

​Through explicit lessons, visual strategies,  personally relevant role-playing and goal self-assessment, Max learns he is part of a Team and learns to monitor his attitude and his language  to interact in a easygoing, positive manner.   In just five months, he progresses from acting in an impulsive, negative manner to controlling himself  to  think first and choose positive words for interacting with his Team. 
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This year, I have been providing weekly treatment with a small group of students in a Transition Class in a San Diego County high school district.  These 18-19-year-old  students are involved in vocational training and learning independent living skills. ​I used 

​By Joanne Hein
​In our private practice we work with many young people who stutter.  We have a young man who has truly struggled to get each word out.  I started working with him when he was about 9 years old, and my husband took over with him for the past year and a half. This story is a tribute to him, certainly one of our hardworking teen clients.