The Art of Kid Whispering

Reaching the Inside Kid

Problem behaviors are often the focus of intervention instead of recognizing that these are expressions of inner pain and distress. This training is the pathway to discovering the private logic and goals of the inside kid. Participants will examine the impact of trauma and loss on how distrustful and defiant youth employ coping strategies of Fight, Flight, or Fool in their attempt to outwit the adult. These young people desperately need the guiding light of a well-trained caring adult. Participants will learn to recognize pain-based behavior, identify the costumes used to mask their inner thoughts and feelings, and use problems as teachable moments and opportunities for growth. Two-day certification for professionals working with challenging youth.

Course Curriculum

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About the Course Author

Mark Freado, MA

Mark Freado is founder and Director Growing Edge Training Associates of Westerville, Ohio. He has been Director of the International Training Network for CF Learning, President of Reclaiming Youth International, Executive Director of the American Re-Education Association, and State Director (WV & OH) with Pressley Ridge. Freado’s 40-year professional career encompasses contributions to the mental health field, public education, social services, program development, leadership, consultation, and training. He is a master trainer of Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) and has trained more people in this skill-based course than anyone in the world. He is the co-creator of training, The Art of Kid Whispering: Reaching the Inside Kid. Freado is also a master trainer of Planning Restorative Outcomes: Transforming Assessment, a master trainer of Three Pillars of Transforming Care: Trauma and Resilience in the Other 23 Hours, and a certified trainer of Situational Leadership II with the Ken Blanchard Company. He has worked with private providers, public agencies, and schools throughout the United States as well as Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Asia, speaking, consulting, and delivering training services. He specializes in program development, leadership skills, and interventions for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, and their families. Freado holds master’s degrees in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and in Counseling from West Virginia University.

Our Success at a Glance

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Mission Statement

The mission of Reclaiming Youth at Risk is to provide research, training, and consultation to build strengths in children, families, schools, and communities. For thousands of years, American Indian cultures nourished respectful and courageous children without employing punitive discipline. Drawing from these little-understood resources, we provide a holistic approach to reclaiming youth at risk. Courage for the discouraged — for youth and for professionals as well!

Our Core Values

Our core values are grounded in the Circle of Courage philosophy, emphasizing belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity as essential to holistic development.

Our Philosophy

At Reclaiming Youth at Risk, we believe that every child has the innate capacity for positive growth. Our philosophy is rooted in the principles of the Circle of Courage, which asserts that the fulfillment of universal growth needs — belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity — is crucial for the development of all young people. By integrating these values with the latest in psychological research and practical application, we strive to create environments that promote resilience and thriving, not just for youth but for the communities that support them.