Rationale

The Training uses an Active Control program to rapidly counter anxiety and to introduce a sense of interest and challenge to imagined testing situations.  The increased confidence and improved concentration produced by the training do continue into the actual testing situations.  

 TheActive Control protocol  includes stretch-tense-air-release-suggestion (STARS) sequences and adaptive associations.

Earlier methods focused on relaxation focused on relaxation and pleasant thoughts, to counter high anxiety.  Yet when you are highly anxious, the last thing you can do is too will yourself to relax.  The Active Control method relies on stretch and tense sequences, which you can do and which leads naturally to release and from there, to lower anxiety.  And pleasant thoughts are not as helpful as they might seem.   The sweetness of lying in the sun at the beach is hardly preparation for taking an important exam.  The Active control reliance on interest and achievement imagery assists and producing the appropriate sense of focus and challenge required by exams.

Our Active Control program has been presented at the American School Counselor Association, the American Psychological Association, and at various local and state conferences and conventions.

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