Notice
Name a possible feeling, body signal, thought and urge. An emotion does not excuse a harmful action.
MODULE 02 · PUBLIC EDUCATOR OUTLINE · PRIVATE LESSON IN REVIEW
Feel the emotion. Choose the action.
The Power of the Pause is a 55-minute interactive learning workshop for teenagers and adults. It teaches how to recognise emotions and use a respectful pause in ordinary disagreement — while understanding that coercive control is not solved by calming exercises.
Module 02 · What learners explore
Four steps. One essential difference.
This is a suggested discussion model, not a test that everyone must follow. It is useful for ordinary, safe disagreements and does not replace safeguarding.
Make space
Pause without demanding obedience, trapping someone, punishing them with silence or restricting their choices.
Check
Ask whether a thought is a fact or a guess. Respect others’ independent decisions and boundaries.
Choose
Return respectfully, apologise for harm if needed, and seek specialist support where threats or control are present.
Sample mini challenge · fictional situation
Pause or punishment?
Tap each statement to reveal the intended teaching explanation. These are examples for discussion, not diagnoses of real people.
A teenager says: “I need ten minutes before we discuss that message. I will reply later.”
Potentially a respectful pause. A brief break can help during an ordinary disagreement if it is safe, freely chosen and not used to pressure or punish another person.
A partner says: “You are not allowed to see your friend until you learn to respect me.”
Control, not a healthy pause. Banning friendships attempts to restrict somebody else's freedom, even when framed as concern.
A young person says: “My partner is threatening me, and I am afraid to switch off location sharing.”
Safety and safeguarding first. Do not tell them to calm the other person, use couples mediation or confront the partner. Offer a private trusted adult or specialist route.
How it will be taught
Interactive online and in person.
- Signal Detective: separate feelings, thoughts, body clues, urges and actions.
- Movable pause cards: drag, tap or physically arrange the steps.
- Choice Point: consider age-adapted fictional decisions and consequences.
- Pause or Control: classify respectful actions, coercive behaviour and safety concerns.
- Teacher answer keys, printable cut-outs and learner worksheets.
55-MINUTE TEACHING FLOW
One module, different formats.
05m
Agree group safety rules.
08m
Teach the pause and responsibility.
19m
Play Signal Detective and move cards.
17m
Decisions and control-or-safety exercises.
06m
Knowledge check and signposting.
Safeguarding and availability
The full Module 02 lesson has been prepared as a private facilitator-review draft. It is not publicly accessible, licensable or approved for school delivery until independent domestic-abuse and safeguarding review, age-appropriate checks, accessibility testing and organisation access controls have been completed. This module is educational; it is not therapy or a domestic-abuse perpetrator programme.
Immediate danger in the UK: 999. School learners can ask their safeguarding lead. For adult support, consult relevant specialist domestic-abuse services. The UK Respect Phoneline supports people concerned about their own abusive behaviour.