Talks & Programmes

The core Life Talk team operates from South Africa, but talks are available throughout the world.  
Contact us if you would like more information about talks in your area.
 
Topical, relevant and practical, Life Talk talks and programmes are aimed at children, teens, university students, parents, educators, school counsellors, company employees and married couples, in both affluent and underprivileged communities. They are run at a large number of schools, corporates and other organizations by the Life Talk team and facilitators, and on occasion by Life Talk’s resident psychologists.

Choose a talk, programme or workshop from the menu below (topics can be added and tailored according to the school’s/company’s individual needs, eg: substance abuse, bullying, peer-pressure, divorce, parenting etc.).
 

MENU

 

1) TALKS AND PROGRAMMES FOR PARENTS

Izabella Little-Gates Life Talk Talks and Workshops aim to get teens and young adults thinking about their choices and actions. She raises awareness about the issues and challenges faced by youth and parents.
Izabella Gates
Sally Thorp heads up a number of Life Talk’s initiatives. Her Life Talk talks and workshops places great importance on parenting, and creating a happy and healthy family. Raises awareness about issues and challenges faced by youth and parents.
Sally Thorp
Suzie Linstrom’s Life Talk talks and workshops are in high demand among parents, teens and educators, and she frequently addresses younger children too. They raise awareness and stimulate debate about the challenges we face in life.
Suzie Linstrom 

 

The parenting talks are tailored for parents of children of all ages (from toddler to young adult). The earlier some of the challenges of adolescence can be identified, the more proactive parents can be.

1.1  The Tug-of-Parenting - Opening parents’ eyes to the wide variety of issues and challenges facing parents and their teens.  Giving parents the tips, tools and advice that they need to win their Tug-of-Parenting.

1.2  Topic specific talks - Choose which specific and current issues of the parenting and teen world that you would like to be informed and advised about. (ranging from technology, bullying and porn, to substance abuse and more).

1.3  Parenting in the 21st century - this introductory talk contextualises parenting in the 21st Century with a focus on building a healthy home, underpinned by conscious parenting.  an Iintroductory talk for parents of children of all age groups (by a registered clinical psychologist in private practice)

1.4  Adolescent developmental stages - specific focus is on understanding teen behaviour in relation to the different developmental stages providing parents with valuable insight into how to connect, support and communicate with their teens which goes a long way in minimizing parental anxiety (by a registered clinical psychologist in private practice)

1.5  Practical parenting tips - this talk explores valuable tips on how to keep channels of communication open whilst minimizing destructive conflict during the pre & adolescent years; when to be concerned and what to look out for.  (by a registered clinical psychologist in private practice)

1.6  Building self-esteem in your child – for parents of children in Grade 0 – 3.  Find out how vital these formative years are to the healthy development of your child’s self-esteem and get practical, implementable tips to nurture self-esteem in your family.  (by Sally Thorp)

Each talk is between 1 to 1.15 hours and will be structured to deal with the above topics.

 

2) TALKS AND PROGRAMMES FOR

 

TEENS

 
 

Talks and programmes centred on teens and the issues and challenges they encounter. Tips and discussions about avoiding the unnecessary heartbreak that so many teens encounter, as well as guidance on how to achieve greater success both at (and after) school, with family and with friends.

2.1  Netiquette - Informing teens about the dangers of the internet, teaching them how to surf safely, and what warning signs to look out for online.

2.2  The Tug-of-Teens - Exploring the wide variety of issues and challenges facing teens. Informing and advising teens, focusing on choices, consequences and solutions.

2.3  Topic specific - Choose which specific and current issues plaguing the teen world you’d like to be informed and advised about (ranging from technology, peer-pressure, bullying and porn, STDs, self-esteem, to substance abuse and more).

2.4  Teen Life Skills Programme - An invaluable 14-part programme that equips tweens and teens with skills that will help them navigate their way through life, both at home and at school. It can be run as a whole or by selecting relevant topics, and can be run by teachers, counsellors or psychologists.

3) TALKS AND PROGRAMMES FOR pre-teens

3.1 Self-esteem - why it plays a vital role in a child’s development, how different techniques produce different results in children. 

3.2 Topic Specific  - covering a range of topics that will help children and tweens deal with the challenges they face both at school and at home. These talks and programmes help to prepare them for adolescence.

4) TALKS AND PROGRAMMES FOR churches and faith based organisations

 

5) Talks for educators

Teen Life Skills Programme (for educators, social workers & counsellors)

6) Tug-of-life talks

Tug-of-Life talks and programmes raise awareness and stimulate debate about the key issues facing everyone (young and old) in today’s demanding world. They stimulate thought about choices and consequences, with a focus on solutions and helpful aspects. Talks cover the range of topics that are addressed by the Tug-of-Life book and they focus on identifying the various ‘contestants’ (Challengers, Galvanizers, Ch-izers etc) that take part in everyone’s lives. They also explore the most effective strategies to ensure that life turns out the way you would like it to.


Topics include the:

  • Tug-of-Teens
  • Tug-of-Young Adults
  • Tug-of-Work
  • Tug-of-Marriage
  • Tug-of-Health
  • Tug-of-Parenting
  • Tug-of-Environment
  • Tug-of-Spirit
  • Tug-of-Age

7) sponsored TALKS and programmes

A range of sponsored talks and workshops have been developed and can be constructed on request. Those currently running include:

  • The "SPEAK UP!" peer-education project for teens, parents and educators aims to reduce the harm that alcohol causes in teens (in turn aiming to reduce knock-on effects such as unwanted pregnancies, STDs, rape, school drop outs, drug use and crime).
  •  "LIFE COMES IN 'CANS' NOT CAN-NOTS".  The Peninsula Beverage Company sponsors Life Talk’s Cape team to talk to learners about standing up for themselves in order to reach their maximum potential. The talks empower the youth to say ‘no’ to drugs and alcohol, and prepare them for many of the challenges they face on a daily basis. 
     
  • TEEN LIFE TALK PROGRAMME (CPD point approval for SA’s social workers & counsellors). The 14-part Life Skills programme covers topics such as a positive attitude, values, sexuality, being a leader, making a difficult choice and many others. The programme provides opportunities for interaction, role-playing – in a non-threatening and fun way.

For more information see Projects

BOOK A TALK NOW!

TALK FEES: FEES ARE SUPPLIED ON REQUEST AND DEPEND ON THE SCOPE AND DURATION OF THE TALK OR WORKSHOP, AND ITS LOCATION.

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All advice given is given in good faith and the Life Talk Forum team and its advisors/panel members take no responsibility for any consequent actions arising therefrom.

TALKS & programmes testimonials

"Any parent with children of school-going age would do well to spend an hour or so in the company of Izabella Little-Gates. She shared with expertise, passion and sensitivity of heart on the subject of the dangers faced by 21st Century adolescents. Her presentation held nothing back from parents who sat spellbound as she unwrapped the many layers of risks, threats and real life dramas that all too often, if ignored, serve to take young people hostage while leaving parents feeling frustrated, heartbroken, and helpless. A sobering reality check! Thanks again."
- Richard Stanley, Headmaster, Highbury Preparatory School
 
"I need to salute you for helping our parents and students, in inviting Izabella all the way from KZN to address them last night.  We sat in the very back row and trust me, judging from the comments that I could lip read/hear, the shock tactics definitely worked for our students! I think that Izabella achieved what she set out to do – create an awareness of all the issues that she addressed – that are an absolute reality. This is certainly a very different era of teenagehood that a lot of us didn’t grow up with – issues that didn’t exist, which makes it a learning curve for parents."
- D, parent
 
"We got an unprecedented turnout and everyone thought it was an evening to be remembered.  The parents had a lot of questions, and it was apparent through the rapt attention, that adults and teens alike thought the evening was worthwhile and informative.  I want to say that Sue was an angel to work with – competent, efficient and highly organised.  What a pleasure! She went out of her way to make the evening the enormous success it was."
- Carroll Coosner (Psychologist) & Ilona Hermna (Deputy Principal, Vista Nova School)
 
"A friend of mine went to a talk given by you at her daughter's school. She was completely blown away by what you shared with the parents and the amazing coping tools and advice you gave them. She has been on a mission to get all parents to tap in to the wonderful ways to raise our children in a wholesome way and to give them the mechanisms to grow up normally in a world that has changed so much since we were children.  On her advice I visited your web page and I too was amazed at what you are doing - and enormously grateful for the huge effort you are making to make a difference in other people's lives."
- C. Emberton
 
“Sue Linstrom has always been professional and impressive in her delivery and interactions. Her course material is topical, interesting, relevant, engaging and spans a range of age groups. She communicates well with pupils, as well as adults. Both our pupils and parents have benefited from her presentations. We look forward to booking Sue again in the future and recommend her without hesitation.” 
- Graham Keats, Head: Senior Preparatory/ College, Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard
 
"It was such a pleasure to host you and I am still glowing from all the good things that parents and heads have said to me about the impact you made.  As I said to you, giving a good talk is one thing, but being recognised as a speaker with integrity is quite another."
- Andrew Cook, Principal, Mitchell House
 
"Found the talk presented at Vista Nova Primary School very interesting ...  Bought a copy of "Life Talk for a Son", gave it to the 14 yr old, he got into it right away and found it “a great book!” ... I read snatches of it and would recommend it to every adult who is trying to understand adolescents."
- Jocylyn
 
"The children responded well to the content.  The presentations were well paced, well prepared and pitched at exactly the right level."
- Mary Hyam, Deputy Principal, De La Salle Holy Cross College Primary School
 
"Life Talk has provided detailed reports on the workshops our learners have had with them, which we have used to great advantage to alert us to potential problem areas and ways in which to address these.  Constructive and practical advice is given on how to deal with issues facing these young people and a healthy forum for debate is created in this fashion."
- Hein Weber, Principal, Khanyisa Education Centre
 
"Sally and Izabella are compelling speakers because one senses their passion about the issues and a desire to make a difference to all young people and families. They come across as speakers who have integrity and who have faced the problems themselves. As a result their responses are full of compassionate understanding for the difficulties that are faced in raising children but are prepared to do something positive about them anyway. They are in the trenches with us and not viewing the battle from a comfy academic distance."
- A. Cook, Headmaster, Mitchell House

"God Bless You and your organization for empowering our people, especially our children - in the hope of a better life. What you are doing is showing the country that life is not only about oneself but about everybody and everything around one - it is that which we all call HUMANITY! I really do salute you!"
- M Beharilal

Hi Sue, I attended the training you gave on Tuesday at the ACVV.  I really enjoyed it and I wanted to commend you on your presentation skills.  You managed to make boring subjects interesting again!  I am definitely going to be implementing the programme soon and I will keep you informed about the progress.
- A. C. Social worker

Hi Sally, Thank you so much for this valuable advice. It's a privilege to be able to ask such important and sensitive questions & to be able to receive quick sound advice.  I am going to purchase your book for future reference as I can see future discussions with regards to boundaries & cheekiness that seems to be creeping in now & again.
- Andrew

”Thank you so much for your talk this morning. The children really enjoyed it as it tied in with so many of the things we had been discussing at school during class – self-respect, self-esteem, etc.Tomorrow I have the Grade 10 class for Life Orientation and I shall follow up some of your ideas and topics during the lesson.” 
- Lindy Messaris, L.O., Cedarwood

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