Our Process

The Science Behind our Process

The Healthful Thinking Model utilized by the ViaQuest Foundation, is in large part, generated by author Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D., who wrote the familiar works of Before It Is Too Late and Inside the Criminal Mind. In these pages, some of the original thoughts are the basis for this re-educational feedback model that is part of the increasing use of pro-social behaviors by an individual. This long-range educational program focuses on the individual’s thinking and in infusing their daily routines with healthful habits.

The concept of understanding and assisting an individual to modify their anti-social behavior by helping them understand and identify the thinking error they use to justify their behaviors was developed by Dr. Samenow. His research with S. Yochelson, Ph.D., determined that individuals who have a history of victimizing others had two very different perspectives.

  1. A sense of superiority: they are the most important person and their needs are the most important, they sense injustice and assume they should get what they want.

  2. They are never wrong: it is difficult for this individual to accept responsibility or to empathize with others.

These two perspectives allow the individual to engage in unhealthy thinking. This way of thinking does not “feel” like unhealthy to the victimizer, only to society. Unhealthy thinking processes are the thought processes that allow the criminal mind to engage in victimizing/offending behaviors without feelings of guilt.

The goal behind the Healthful Thinking Model is to assist the individual and help them understand their unhealthy thinking and how the resulting behaviors affect them and the people around them. The individual must be motivated to change for this program to be effective. This motivation can be encouraged by either providing consequences that the individual wants to avoid and/or providing rewards for engaging in pro-social behaviors.

The ViaQuest Foundation works to help its participants to identify unhealthy thinking habits and then replace those habits with healthy ones. Change is motivated through a number of positive reinforcements including, baseball cards, CDs, pizza parties at home with friends or even special group outings.

1 – Intake

The first step in the program is the intake process. This includes filling out an intake form and signing a creed to assure that the students will try their best to be young ladies and young gentlemen during programs.

2 – Pre-Assessment

Second, a pre-assessment is given to a parent, guardian or staff person of the student to evaluate the development of life skills

3 - Evaluation

The student’s behavior is evaluated regularly, using a 21-point Healthful Thinking Model. ViaQuest Foundation has adapted Dr. Stanton E. Samenow’s model of identifying anti-social behaviors and turning them into pro-social behaviors as an evaluation tool. Regular evaluation helps to track a student’s development in the program and ensures that progress is being made.