Adult Programs

Personal Safety and Empowerment Programs 
for your Workplace, Business, or Community Organization

Since 1990, Thousand Waves has brought Personal Safety and Empowerment programs to thousands of adults at their workplace or community organization. These trainings address safety issues both inside and outside the workplace.

Our programs range from 3-hour introductory seminar to a 12-hour in-depth course, and have been presented to a diverse group of clients. We can create programs of various lengths and address specialized content based on client requests. Our head instructors are certified by the National Women's Martial Arts Federation as trained self-defense instructors.

Offerings

• Personal Safety and Empowerment: Work, Home, Travel  

• Women's Safety Issues

• Travel Safety

• For Parents: Keeping Your Kids Safe from Violence

• 12-Hour Self-Defense and Empowerment Course

Testimonials

Click here to read testimonials from clients who hired us and from participants in the seminars.

Personal Safety and Empowerment: Work, Home, Travel

Adult programs for workplace settings address safety issues both inside and outside the workplace. Participants learn how to accurately assess areas of danger in their lives and increase their awareness, self-confidence, and safety. Our model includes mental strategies to help you think clearly under stress; assertive communication skills to help you set a limit or de-escalate a tense situation; and positioning strategies to limit your engagement and reduce vulnerability. We also teach simple and effective strikes and kicks to stun an assailant if avoidance is impossible.

Participants will:

• Examine statistics on violence and what they can teach us
• Learn to increase their own awareness
• Practice sending messages through body language and eye contact
• Practice prevention through verbal assertiveness
• Learn de-escalation strategies and techniques
• Understand what self-defense fighting is, and why it’s successful
• Practice fighting techniques and learn to generate a powerful blow
• Connect with resources to heal from violence

Format: 3 hour Seminar
Accommodates: Up to 30 participants
Fee: $650 ($500 for non-profits) includes materials and handouts.

To arrange a program for your organization or for more information, contact:

Marie O'Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs
email: violenceprevention@thousandwaves.org  
phone: 773-472-7663.

Women’s Safety Issues 

Violence affects everybody, but women face a much higher risk for certain types of violence, such as stalking, sexual assault, domestic violence, and workplace sexual harassment. Experiencing violence and living in fear of violence can limit the ability of women employees to effectively do their job and contribute to their fullest potential. 

Participants will:

• Examine the spectrum of passivity- passive-aggression-assertiveness-aggression, including how our socialization and upbringing may sometimes endanger us
• Learn and practice the core skill of assertiveness
• Learn how body language and positioning can strengthen our verbal boundary setting
• Practice verbal assertiveness skills in role plays
• Practice physical assertiveness, from creating more space to physically stopping an assailant with strong techniques
• Learn and practice strikes and kicks to stop an attack 
• Receive resource information on organizations that work to prevent violence and support survivors.

Whether a woman is limiting her life due to fear of violence, currently experiencing it, or struggling to heal from a past episode, this seminar will teach the skills needed to form a plan and take action for safety

Format: 3 hour Seminar
Accommodates: Up to 30 participants
Fee: $650 ($500 for non-profits) includes materials and handouts.

To arrange a program for your organization or for more information, contact:

Marie O’Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs
violenceprevention@thousandwaves.org
Tel 773-472-7663

Travel Safety

Traveling for work brings up special safety concerns. This seminar will cover the nuts and bolts of staying safe while navigating in unfamiliar environments; visiting clients at home; working late hours; staying in hotels; experiencing jet lag; and transitioning between settings such as car to office, cab to hotel, lobby to hotel room.

Participants will:

• Examine research about the testing process that many assailants use to select an “easy victim”
• Learn to project awareness and confidence
• Practice using verbal assertiveness to interrupt violence
• Identify the safest places in various environments
• Learn how to stop or stun an assailant if avoidance is impossible 
  

Format: 3 hour Seminar
Accommodates: Up to 30 participants
Fee: $650 ($500 for non-profits) includes materials and handouts.

To arrange a program for your organization or for more information, contact:

Marie O’Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs
violenceprevention@thousandwaves.org
Tel 773-472-7663

For Parents: Keeping Your Kids Safe from Violence

This violence prevention class identifies the types of violence most likely to affect children: stranger danger, bullying, and violence from adults known to children. Because it can be frightening to consider these types of violence, we’ll work as a group to address the issues, present strategies for dealing with each of them, and give guidance for talking with children about violence. 

Participants will:

• Learn facts and misinformation about violence against children
• Examine various examples of violence against children to determine how assailants operate
• Learn strategies for prevention and resistance
• Discuss how to talk to children about violence without frightening them
• Learn to teach safety strategies using clear and appropriate language
• Consider age-appropriate rules for their children when they’re away from their parents
• Talk about how to guide pre-teens and teens toward increased independence
  

Format: 3 hour Seminar
Accommodates: Up to 30 participants
Fee: $650 ($500 for non-profits) includes materials and handouts.

To arrange a program for your organization or for more information, contact:

Marie O’Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs
violenceprevention@thousandwaves.org
Tel 773-472-7663

12-Hour Self-Defense and Empowerment Course

Our complete Self-Defense and Empowerment Course covers a wide range of safety topics and can be taught in a series of weekly sessions or in a condensed 2-day form. Participants will discuss and practice skills that cover a variety of topics:

Participants will also receive a course handbook with additional resources.

Format: 12 hours of content; modular format varies
Accommodates: Minimum 10, maximum 20 participants
Fee: $130 per person ($100 for non-profits) includes materials and complete course handbook.

To arrange a program for your organization or for more information, contact:

Marie O’Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs
violenceprevention@thousandwaves.org
Tel 773-472-7663

Testimonials

Recent praise from participants from the Mothers Club at Queen of Angels School "For Parents: Keeping Your Kids Safe from Violence"

"Showed age and size doesn't affect ability to stay safe."

"A lot of good information and stats!"

"I wanted to be able to teach my kids how to protect themselves - and I too got self-defense."

"Comfortable atmosphere, friendly, informative."

From clients who hired us:

An all-around enriching, enlightening and empowering experience. The instructors were energetic, extremely knowledgeable and captivating. Participants left the seminar with a higher degree of self awareness, empowerment and effective tools -- which can be used in everyday work life as well as in violent situations. This is definitely a "can't miss" seminar. 
Attorney from Baxter Healthcare Corporation

Each time we contract with Thousand Waves we appreciate their high level of professionalism while addressing our specific program and staff needs. Our program staff report to us that they feel heard and understood. 

It is remarkable how Thousand Waves is able to connect with and engage our program staff from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of individual physical comfort, mobility, and strength. The balance of lecture, discussion, demonstration, and practice makes it possible for staff, no matter their own abilities, to find a comfort zone within which they can work with and benefit from the training. There is something for everyone. 
Nick Wechsler, Assistant Director of Parents Too Soon, Ounce of Prevention Program

From participants in the seminars:

“I learned how to physically, verbally, and non-verbally defend myself.”

“I had a lot of anxiety about taking the class, but it ended up exceeding my expectations. 
I learned good techniques, and now have less fear.”

“I learned how to stay safe by being both reactive and proactive.”

“Kept my attention for 3 hours – well done!” 

“I feel as though I can react with emotions other than fear in a scary or threatening situation.”

“Made me feel very confident and good about myself, that I am worth fighting for.”

“This is so empowering, especially to “regular” [people]: non-martial artists.”

“The instructor never faltered or seemed uncertain.” Others described the instructors as knowledgeable, engaging, clear, concise and passionate. They “made it fun” yet “presented their knowledge thoroughly.”

“Everyone should know and hear what Thousand Waves teaches. The information applies to all people and the exercises encourage self confidence.”