Assertiveness for Young Adults [Paperback]

Assertiveness For Young Adults is intended for use with young adults aged 16 plus. It is a course of 14 lessons (with a time slot of one hour for each) with A4 photocopiable sheets. (The book is ring-bound.) Any adult can run the course as no previous experience is necessary. Full guidance is given.

This course imparts an understanding of assertion, the benefits it can bring and how it can affect our lives so developing a deeper understanding of our relationships and facilitating more meaningful, honest and open communication. It also helps protect us from put-downs in all their guises such as with racist and sexist comments and encourages us to challenge prejudice and stereotyping.

Assertiveness is an important life skill that assists in home, school, social and professional situations. It allows dignity and self-fulfilment, teaching individuals how to stand up for themselves in a non-aggressive way, how to attain their rights and what their rights are.

Students involved in this course will become more effective as adults. The lessons include role-play; recalling unassertive situations and providing an assertive solution; thinking about life goals and who the student wants to be; and thinking up responses to a variety of situations that might arise.

Many people do not recognise their own strengths or have learnt to act in certain ways as to belittle themselves or find it impossible to express emotions like anger or tenderness or lack the ability to express any emotion at all. Desires are bottled up inside us from bowing to the wish of others, from not daring to say 'no' and, as a consequence, we increasingly lose control over our own lives. This leads to stress, resentment, depression, fatigue, headaches and a range of other stress-related illnesses. Accepting the state of unassertiveness does not develop the self or reap the rewards the self deserves.

With assertiveness training you change your actions, attitudes and feelings about yourself. It teaches you how to communicate more meaningfully thereby improving skills of relating to others and the world around you. You gain self-esteem, confidence and respect from the self and others.

Márianna Csóti used to teach in the London Borough of Brent. She now works in pastoral care with young people aged 16 to 20. She has written books on personal development, social skills and personal, social and health education.