The psychology of addiction. A 1-hour seminar for Years 9 to 12.
Most students hear the word addiction and picture drugs and alcohol, then mentally check out because that’s not them. Unplug and Untangle widens the lens.
It walks students through the 4 stages of addiction (experimentation, misuse, fixation, dependency) and shows them how those same stages run through phone use, gaming, vaping, porn, social feeds, and even the way they handle a hard relationship. Once they can name the stage they’re in, they can make a different choice. We’ve delivered this seminar in 750 schools.
WHO IT’S FOR AND WHAT THEY WALK OUT WITH
Students in Years 9 to 12. Works across every demographic, every academic band, every postcode.
By the end of the hour, students can name the 4 stages of addiction and locate themselves honestly inside them. They have a written plan for at least one habit they want to change, anchored to their own values rather than someone else’s rules. They understand the difference between using a tool and being used by one. And they walk out with the workbook they’ve filled in during the session, so the conversation continues at home that night.
WHAT PAST STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HAVE WRITTEN IN
“I just wanted to start out by saying just how much I personally enjoyed your session today. You spoke very well and were very engaging. It was personally mind – blowing to me how much of an effect drugs and alcohol play, not just on themselves but on the others around them and really opened my mind up to reality. I wanted to reinforce just how much I enjoyed your presentation.”
Year 10 student, Anglican Church Grammar School: Churchie
“I have always had a gaming addiction since I was little and it was always taken my life away. Sometimes I used to spend 12 hours at a time it used to suck my life away but now you gave me inspiration for me to take a big step in my life. Thank you.”
Year 8 student, Scotch College
“I’m sure that you get stacks of emails saying this same thing, but thank you so much for the impact you have made on my life. After leaving the lecture theatre that afternoon, I have never felt so much motivation and determination in my heart to change for the better. The invaluable wisdom you have shared with me today has given me the push I needed to jump back into that positive mindset. Another thing you mentioned in your session was about phones/ social media, and how they are merely distractions from improvement. My TikTok addiction goes very deep (many years), and I have tried everything. Screen time, time limits, study apps, screen management apps, but after you said that, I decided on the way home to just delete TikTok, and man do I feel free. On the bus this afternoon, it was so blissful to be able to read a book instead of mindlessly doom-scrolling my last few brain cells away. Thank you for giving me the strength to be able to do this.”
Year 10 student, Kambala School
“I appreciate the talk you gave us today. It was very inspiring and grounded in reality. I’ve been struggling with addiction for the past few months and I’ve been trying to quit, but it has been hard. I’ve broken important rules I’ve made, such as only getting high on special occasions, and not smoking weed in my room, and this has led to a lot of guilt. I also started smoking about 2 months ago and that’s been the hardest to give up. But with the information you’ve given me, I hope to break free of my addictions. Your talk was something I needed, for a few weeks now I have been praying that a guide or mentor would step into my life, so today was a great surprise and a beautiful sign. I’ve been on a self-improvement journey since last December and recently it fell apart, I’ve been working hard to get everything back together, and your talk was that last little push I needed. I’m going to keep working towards my goals, and I’ll update you a long the way. Thank you so much.”
Year 12 student, Tully High School
“I wanted to let you know your speech has really impacted me. After your seminar I have decided I want to do better. I have been struggling with an addiction and in turn this has damaged my self esteem, but after hearing your words I’ve been able to start making better decisions. I’ve started back at gym again for the first time in a weeks, and for the first time ever right after gym I went on a run on up Castle Hill, after not running for over 6 months thank you so much for getting me back on the right path.”
Year 11 student, Calvary Christian College, Townsville
“Today when my friend and I found out about this talk, we were not excited at all. Because we thought it would be like the other program(s) we do that state the complete opposite of what we discussed today. My friend and I, you could say walked in very arrogant at the beginning of your talk. But as we started to listen to you and realise you actually knew what you were talking about we started paying much more attention. The things you spoke about today were very real, The way you spoke about the different phases of addiction to porn and such were unquestionable. Thank you for the amazing speech you gave today and it really helped me and my friends, not even 20 minutes after leaving we were all discussing how surprisingly good it was, we were not expecting someone in clearly good physical condition and proper knowledge of the topic. Messages like the ones you spread are absolutely positive and amazing to learn about. Keep up the strong message and the positive words flowing.”
Year 10 student, Southern Cross Grammar
We get emails like these every week. We keep them.
HOW IT RUNS AND HOW TO BOOK
1 hour. In-person, on your campus. We don’t run this online. Available to high schools and education organisations globally. Glen travels.
Pen and paper. No phones in the room. Total respect, quiet enough to think. You provide the hall, the AV, and water. We bring the rest.
Every student gets the Unplug and Untangle workbook to take with them, so the language and the plan they build in the room comes home to the kitchen table that night.
The earlier you get in touch, the more flexibility you’ve got on dates that fit your year-level calendar.
Tell us your school, your year level, and the term you’re aiming at. We’ll come back inside the next 2 working days with available dates and a quote.
Email us, call, or use the enquiry form below.
