About Cognitive Lifeskills

Since we first started working with court referred clients in 1975, we have continuously evolved and integrated the latest research, while retaining our potent cognitive restructuring style of curriculum development. The following are some of ACCI’s propriety techniques and strategies that are infused into all of our courses:

1. Our content doesn’t play the shame game. We do not believe in belittling people. Rather, our focus is on empowerment and self-discovery.
2. Our curriculum’s first and most important objective is to challenge self-defeating thoughts and behaviors.
3. We use vicarious stories to disarm our participants’ objections to what they are learning.
4. We carefully use You statements. We have mastered the art of using third person references as a way to help our participants to see their life in a new way.
5. Our material is working simultaneously in the Cognitive Domain to challenge thinking errors and the Affective Domain to build empathy, self confidence, and empowerment.
6. The philosophy that drives our content creation is that the subconscious mind doesn’t know right from wrong and that there are 3 main ways to get information into the subconscious mind: 1. Repetition 2.Trauma 3. Emotion.
7. All of our self-directed learning courses are designed to be completed with a pro-social “coach” or mentor. It’s all about relationships! Participants sink deeper into our content while in the presence of a person of trust. The conversations between the participant and  coach lead to informal accountability, deep comprehension, meaningful personal conversations, role playing, and effective application of new cognitive thinking skills.
8. Responsive content -> the curriculum validates people’s efforts and issues and regards them as people with tremendous potential.
9. No labels. We are careful not to use any type of labels in our material, nor do we employ manipulative or punitive methods to motivate participants.
10. No ulterior agendas. ACCI content has no agenda for race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political preference. We have a single focus of helping people face and overcome their self-defeating thoughts and behaviors.
11. Facilitation versus telling. Our content asks more questions and facilitates responses, as opposed to simply telling the participant what to do.
12. Teaching doesn’t equal learning. Self-directed learning always leads to greater retention and application.