Abraham Low Self-Help Systems - Power To Change

Power To Change

Power to Change is a cognitive-behavioral peer-to-peer program based on Low's self-help principles. Power to Change primarily teaches at-risk students and ex-prisoners principles of Low's Self-Help system in peer-to-peer groups. Power to Change groups generally consist of 8-12 members, meeting weekly, who learn the principles of the Low Self-Help System by describing their personal experience of disturbing events and commenting on each other's experiences using a highly structured format. Specifically, Power to Change consists of five components: a peer-to-peer process intended to provide a safe environment for members to disclose their experiences to a supportive group, a meeting structure intended to keep discussion on topic, a four part format to help members frame their experiences as useful examples and group feedback utilizing a set of tools (principles of Abraham Low's therapeutic technique).

The four part example consists of an objective description an event; a report of the feelings, sensations, thoughts, and impulses experienced in the members mind and body; how the member used the Power to Change tools to manage the experience; and a self-endorsement to remind the member of the progress made and to reward their effort. The Power to Change groups use much of the language suggested in the Recovery International program, such as identifying "temper" and avoiding judgment of right and wrong.

The W. K. Kellogg Foundation has provided grants for Power to Change since 2003. The most recent grant was awarded in November 2008, and will provide funding until November 2010.