From the work of ©
Jean
Illsley Clarke and Carole Gesme
(Click on Jean's name to e-mail her)
Each set of Affirmation Ovals is a different colour. Below are notes to let you know which colour set of Affirmations is for which age or stage of development.
SEAFA affirmation theory is based on Pam Levin's idea that throughout their lives people can RE-CYCLE the messages they need at the different developmental stages of life, especially those messages they may have missed out on getting at an earlier stage.
Ongoing Research on OVERINDULGENCE
BECOMING
These messages are for parents to say to their unborn children as they await their arrival.
They can also be used by adults who may need to re-cycle their own prenatal stages.
Jean says: We have had people telling us that they were helpful in preparing to go into an new situational relationship.
If you have used these affirmations in these or in some different way, e-mail Jean and let her know what you did.
BEING
These messages are originally for children ages 0 to 6 months
They are particularly important
for infants,
for teenagers,
for people who are ill,
tired,
hurt or
vulnerable.
They are important for everyone.
ADOPTION
These affirmations can be used from infancy onwards
for adopted children,
adopted adults,
parents of adopted people
Jean says: They might be helpful for someone going into therapy, supervision, or any other kind of formal but close relationship. We do have very positive responses about them for foster parents.
If you have used these affirmations in these or in some different way, e-mail Jean and let her know what you did.
DOING
These messages are important for high self-esteem
in six-month to 18-month-old children,
thirteen and fourteen year olds,
people who are starting a new job, a new relationship,
learning any new skill,
and for everyone else
THINKING
These are important for
children eighteen months to three years old,
for young people in the middle teens,
and for everyone who wants to do cause-and-effect thinking.
These messages focus on thinking and feeling. They counter cultural messages that invite boys to think and girls to be dependent or confused.
IDENTITY & POWER
These messages are for learning who we are.
They are important
for children three to six years
for middle teenagters (15-17)
for people who own their power to be who they are
who ask straight for what they need
They are helpful for people who are giving up inadequate ways of dealing with life
and incorporating healthier ways and for everyone else.
STRUCTURE
These are the affirmations for learning to do things our own way.
They are important for
six to twelve-year-old children
persons in late teens and early twenties.
persons of any age who are entering new social settings
such as organizations, businesses, recreation groups, or a new family.
those retiring
and for everyone else who is updating values and skills.
SEPARATION & SEXUALITY
These messages are important for
thirteen-to nineteen-year-old persons
for any older persons who are making relationship separations
or examining their sexuality,
and for everyone else over twelve years of age.
INDEPENDENCE/INTERDEPENDENCE
These first Adult affirmations are for
people learning to stand on their own two feet
INTERDEPENDENCE/INDEPENDENCE
These other Adult affirmations are for