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“Use all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product.”
Psalm 25:21 MSG
I am a recently exonerated prisoner. I spent almost 20 years in prison for a crime I did not commit. From the time my husband was brutally murdered, and I was charged with killing him, I was in survival mode, not really processing the grief of losing my husband and then losing my life as I had known it.
Prison life is hard, filled with fear, brutality, and abuses on so many levels. One tries to find moments or corners of some kind of peace and safety within. A way to seek relief internally from all the horrors you see daily behind bars.
Early in my prison years, I and several others were invited by the prison school principal, Dr. Les Triche, to join a training on the concepts of Choice Theory / Reality Therapy in order to apply them to surviving prison life and getting along better with all the different personalities in prison, from antagonistic cellmates to domineering guards. What began quietly for some 15 interested prisoners, soon became a revolution behind bars, unlike any other uprising a prison system had ever seen.
More prisoners were invited to join the program. The original training grew into 5 phases of classes and working toward certification as an Internal Empowerment Coach to guide other women into this amazing new way of self-understanding and getting along with others. Weekly classes included role-play and experiential exercises, there was opportunity to explore examples of utilizing the Choice Theory principles and how it had worked out in each class.
The level of acceptance Dr. Les Triche exuded for each individual woman was a breath of fresh air for so many women who had never been accepted in any walk of life. Women spoke of the tragedies and dysfunction they had experienced in their lives and how they now understood the effect these life events had on the choices they had made in the past. A tight bond grew among the women participating and women actively supported and coached each other in resolving the many challenges of prison life.
The question that was repeatedly asked was, “What is it that I really want in life?” Perhaps for the first time in their lives women could see their way clear to making more effective choices to gain the kind of life we are all seeking – a life filled with love, acceptance, peace and an earned, respectable future. Many, many women completely reversed the path of their lives and became examples for even more women to participate.
Choice Theory, Internal Empowerment let me describe how this way of learning has changed my life. Choice Theory has helped me in so many ways. I am a leader in my church, and I have a group of people that I have been entrusted to be overseer. I have learned from Choice Theory to allow people to make their choices, and decisions.
Choice Theory has also helped me with myself to not keep looking at the past failures in my life, but to start looking at what the future holds. Being able to not allow myself to remain in the negative feedback loop. To recognize the old ways of thinking, behavior, and not allow myself to give into that way of life again. Knowing now that I have a choice.
Choice Theory has helped me to see when I’ve allowed myself to be played like a piano, and now I understand that I am in control of my own choices. I’ve learned to not allow the behavior of someone else to determine my course of action. How I should respond. But I literally have my own choice in the matter.
I am so very pleased to have taken this course, and I know that Choice Theory will always be a way of life for me.
My number 1 takeaway from the ‘Choice Theory/Reality Therapy’ thier Behavioral Health Practitioner program is how in control of my own responses to situations I can truly be!
Once I learned that I decide how I respond, it was a matter of practicing in order to be able to actually control my reaction to situations that would usually elicit a negative feeling. I was shocked at how much power I had over my reactions. I could choose whether I let someone make me feel upset or I could choose to brush it off. I made a conscious effort to think about why I was feeling a certain way and work through that on my own.
ow that I was more in control, I was able to look at each situation more objectively and make better choices about how to move forward. It is truly empowering to be able to evaluate situations and decide how to proceed without letting my feelings get the better of me. This way I make choices that are more sustainable and give me happier outcomes.
I find myself using the techniques I learned on a daily basis. Most recently I spoke with a friend who was feeling frustrated with her husband’s behavior, and we had a long talk about why she thought he was acting that way and what she thought he really wanted. After some thought she realized he must be going through something personal and given that, in their culture men don’t complain about their feelings, she decided to approach him in a way that he would respond positively.
Not all their issues were resolved but the biggest one is well on its way to being a non-issue. It wasn’t that I solved their problem, but I encouraged her analysis and reflection, and she was able to figure out what the issue could be and she to make sound choices that would allow for future success. It was a very proud moment for me and I was so proud of my friend for quickly learning and applying the principles of Choice Theory and Internal Empowerment.
Initially, honestly, I did not notice a change in my relationships. But lately I have noticed a 100% difference. After I finished the program, I didn’t apply the course material straight away. I think I needed time to digest the information. Now, I use the information on most situations, and I have started to teach my kids the basics.
I explain the principles to anyone that will listen, and I find that it has affected most of my relationships in a positive way. Since the principles are easy to understand most people are able to start practicing straight away.
I have and will continue to recommend this program to anyone who can afford it. Even if a person isn’t going into a field that requires this kind of training, I would absolutely recommend people take it so they can better understand themselves. I found it to be extremely therapeutic. The first section of the program felt like therapy! It felt like I had to dig up old feelings and really examine things that were a major source of pain for me. After going through that, I felt like a weight was lifted and I was able to approach my current relationships with less baggage. The biggest reason I would recommend this program is because of the therapeutic aspect. I can only help others after we help myself.
One final thing worth mentioning is how much I appreciate RoxAnne’s support! Throughout the program I always knew that I could reach out to her any time and she would be willing to take time out of whatever she was doing to support me in my learning. Like I mentioned, at the start it was difficult, RoxAnne was there to answer any questions I had and to make me feel better when I was struggling. Whether she knew it or not, she really helped me discover my inner strength and helped me realize what I was capable of accomplishing. Her kind words and encouragement were instrumental in my success.
Living a CT/RT Life: I learned about Internal Empowerment and Choice Theory/Reality Therapy (CTRT) from Les Triché. He taught me about Choice Theory before I even realized I was learning anything! It was the way he related to me, the way he spoke with me, and the way his character showed in everything he did.
Now I teach others the same way; just by what they see me doing and how they see me interacting with others. We teach others CT/RT when they observe our effective and responsible behavior.
It felt like CT/RT were the missing pieces to my puzzle of life. I was able to really begin to see how pieces of my life came together and to understand how I wound up in certain places in my life. As I realized that my Quality World pictures did not match up with the life I wanted to live, I was able to begin to make the necessary changes.
I was fascinated to learn about what motivated my misbehavior and as I began to look at myself in a new light people noticed the difference in me. I learned to see myself in a healthier way. I was so frustrated by choices that I had made in the past! I had to decide whether to drown in my shame and guilt or correct my behavior and move forward with tomorrow. There was nothing I could do about the past but there was everything I could do about the future! These changes let me relate to people more positively, have compassion for others, and adapt to challenges in effective and responsible ways.
Choice Theory/Reality Therapy opened my mind to my own ability to correct, adapt, and move forward. I stopped getting stuck in the old places, I stopped reliving past traumas, and I focused on resolving conflict in a healthy way. I stopped wearing the mask of my past pain and hurt. I wore that mast for such a long time! I learned who I really am independent of the mask and the past hurts.
I had worn a mask for so long to hide pain and shame. CTRT empowered me to take off the mask and be my authentic self. Because I can do that I can now meet people where they are and build relationships. I know how to communicate now and how to nurture my relationships. The future is bright!
One of the most wonderful things about the Internal Empowerment™ (IE) Program and Choice Theory®/Reality Therapy® (CT/RT) is that I had the opportunity to use the concepts on myself first! I learned so much from Les and RoxAnne and the students that were in my group.
The instructors were well equipped to bring us through this amazing journey and find the answers within our mind, heart and soul. With IE and CT/RT I started to see myself like in a mirror. I had the opportunity to analyze myself, to explore “why and how I behave,” learn the tools to have a better life through my own daily choices, understanding why other people do what they do, and my favorite: unleashing my heart’s pores to emanate empathy to others like a fine fragrance.
Today, I am still using what I learned in the IE program, both personally and with the little kids I work with. I use the concepts at church and with my nephew. Truth be told, I use it with anyone around me, and even animals! Yes, animals! They do respond to Internal Empowerment™. What I learned makes a great difference in how I choose to treat others. Using Internal Empowerment™ allows me to simplify my life-even in hard times.
I can’t change my past; but I can change my present and future. I choose to act with love and put any negative thoughts behind me. It is hard work but it is work that I choose to do because my present and my future are worth it. I recommend the Internal Empowerment™ program to everyone. If you are like me, tired of wandering around, trying to do good and failing miserably in aspects of life, you need Internal Empowerment™. It will help you have better and healthy relationships with yourself and others.
A woman with a humble heart, Lacey Leonard is an accomplished Relationship Coach & Motivational Speaker who is sought after for her witty, transparent, and inspirational message.
Dedicated to sharing her testimony to inspire others, Lacey knows first-hand the power of redemption and restoration. An authority in her niche, Lacey is a Relationship and Empowerment Coach who teaches women that faith can move mountains and marriages can be restored. Her services include: 1-on-1, group, relationship and personal development coaching. Through her program, she provides tangible giveaways that increase one’s self-worth and encourages healthy relationships.
She holds an MBA, Bachelor’s Degree in Communications & Certification in Scripture Therapy®. She is also the host of a podcast called “Life Lessons: Stories of an NFL wife” which talks about life, love, and relationships as a black married millennial.
You can follow Lacey on Instagram & Facebook at: @LaceyLeonard. Today, Lacey and her husband Louis reside in Fresno, California with their two sons Landon & Lleyton.
My #1 takeaway from the Internal Empowerment, Choice Theory/Reality Therapy Program is that everything that we choose in our lives is so that we can meet the needs of survival, love, belonging, power, freedom and fun. The more that we believe we have secured these areas in our lives, the more we are content and happy. When these needs are not met, this is why we begin to experience disconnect and are unhappy with certain things. From taking this course, it has helped me to understand how much Choice Theory and Internal Empowerment work together to create healthy and functional relationships.
I have begun to implement many of the transformative concepts such as: Choice Theory in my personal relationships because it has encouraged me to focus on my present narrative and not dwell on things from my past. As adults, we all have different things that have positively or negatively impacted who we are today. Choice Theory encourages you to focuses on living in the present and making the choice to do what you feel is best for you.
The sooner I began to understand this, I was able to release things that were not meant for me, to hold on to any longer. On the professional side, the concepts that I have learned from doing Scripture Therapy®, Internal Empowerment as well as Reality Therapy® have been instrumental in helping me gain a clear vision of creating tangible steps that can heal, restore and repair my clients who come to me for relationship and Empowerment Coaching.
I have noticed a tremendous difference in the way that I communicate with my children as well as my spouse because I know that I want to create a Quality World that I can be happy in. Having a Quality World for me is important because I believe that the pursuit of happiness is what I ultimately want to strive for and taking this course has made me more aware of that and how I can apply it in my daily life and business today.
One thing that I wish I could go back and tell my younger self is to build empathy for myself. I am absolutely my worst critic. I wish I would have told myself to give myself more grace growing up because I put a lot of pressure on myself, which I realize now as an adult has turned into limited beliefs in myself. We have to choose to grow and be willing to make the necessary changes and I would tell my younger self that it’s okay.
I would recommend this program to anyone who’s ready to implement the positive changes that are needed to have the life that you want. This program has provided me so much valuable content and actionable takeaways that I can apply in my life as well as the lives I impact with others.
Wendy Staggs completed all of the Internal Empowerment courses and also recently earned her Associate of Arts in Christian Counseling through Scripture Therapy® College & Seminary.
As a child I experienced many horrible events with no guidance or experience on how to manage them or cope with the traumas, let alone how I was feeling.
Engaging and becoming educated in Choice Theory and Internal Empowerment Coaching has shown me that this theory on how we approach making choices in our lives should be something that is taught in every school where minors are attending.
Think how much more beautiful God’s children would be as adults if they knew as children that they have the power to make choices that will not only benefit, but change them forever.
I then applied Internal Empowerment Coaching to God’s Word in Scripture Theory. This brought me closer to my Savior and to my fellow believers. I sit now and look back on my life before learning I have 5 basic needs. None of the 5 existed until I became informed and applied the knowledge to my life. Now my life has become balanced and more fruitful. Thank you Jesus, Les, RoxAnne and all my fellow peers for caring for me until I became strong enough to care for myself!
Scripture Therapy® has been an incredible experience spiritually, personally, and professionally.
I am incredibly grateful for the community formed by the amazing team of Les, RoxAnne, and Kristi that has been instrumental in helping every participant learn from each other and grow in our ability to help ourselves and those around us.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a relationship with God and have engaged in leadership roles, but as life happens the focus on these areas can change, so to be part of a dedicated space to combine reflection, growth, and Scripture was exceptionally helpful to center my goals and actions with God as my guiding star.
One of my favorite parts of the course was covering “How The Brain Works” chart, and having time to think about what we really want in our lives, as we often refer to in class as our “quality world.” There is a great graphic by Dr. William Glasser that shows many of the processes involved in reaching our quality world and one really important thing in it is the “behavioral system,” which identifies the behaviors we are currently doing and whether they are helping us achieve our quality world and, if not, to reevaluate those behaviors and change them. This has been incredibly helpful to create new behaviors that focus my efforts on things that are most important.
These courses have been amazingly helpful and I’m thankful to my friend Jadee for referring me to it. If you know anyone interested in joining, please don’t hesitate to join. It is an experience I have been grateful to have.
In 2021 Misty was the valedictorian of the first graduating class of Scripture Therapy® College & Seminary! Misty received her Associate of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and is working toward her Bachelor of Arts degree. Misty continues to be a cherished part of both the Internal Empowerment and Scripture Therapy® College & Seminary communities!
That I am never stuck in any situation, destined by my past, or a victim of circumstances. To look at every moment and ask if my choices are taking me closer to, or further-away from, my goals. To be coachable but not influenced. To not allow my fear of failure paralyze me but rather embolden me to press on, understanding that failure is part of the journey to success. To recognize when I am stuck in the Negative Feedback Loop and be willing to consider changing my Quality World pictures, my behaviors, and how I perceive what is happening.
I have learned to be honest with myself and others, this is not to imply I am crass, curt, or disrespectful but rather I have learned to recognize when someone is using the Disconnecting Habits and stop myself from accepting and receiving them. More importantly, I have learned to recognize when I am using the Disconnecting Habits and turn my behaviors around to instead use the Connecting Habits. In doing this one thing I have developed healthy, lasting relationships and I have pruned those unhealthy relationships from my life, focusing on the quality of my relationships not the quantity.
I’m in a season of my life that I never expected nor planned for. The trajectory of my 25+ year career seemed to completely derail, especially in a post-Covid19 world. Pre-CTRT I felt lost, frustrated, and defeated as I’d try repeatedly to find a job within my industry… thinking I couldn’t do any different … stuck in the Negative Feedback Loop. But because I use CTRT everyday, I have entered a new industry and have begun laying a strong foundation and building a good reputation. I have been willing to set new goals, (new Quality World pictures) and have successfully taken on new challenges, that I have never considered possible, and have gone after them in spite of the naysayers both externally and internally.
Before Scripture Therapy® and Choice Theory (STACT):
I was in the room of discovery. Being introduced to a new light – the gift of choice, its power and side effects. I still unknowingly had not connected with the inner part of my true self. Only allowing part of me to be available because overtime I felt the only way to be accepted was to dummy myself down (go along to get along).
I didn’t think I trusted myself and believed I didn’t trust in God fully. I could clearly see somethings but blind to my own self destruction. That’s what high levels of anger caused in me blindness and self-sabotage. So many other things that I have already spoken of like my joy and hope being resurrected. Happy and the strength building of my will came after STACT. However, I woke up!
After Class:
This class has helped me accept myself and realize – I don’t have to exlain myself unless the situation permits, and that is a God understanding thing. I learned, I do tryst myself, I was just living in other people’s doubts o themselves and I started seeing myself through their eyes that cause my mental illness (PTSD)!
My experience is when we allow anger or doubt-due to life’s pains inside, and it affects our minds view and turn our love into anything other than love. It creates a type of mind as related to heart pain.
This new mindset that I am practicing has made me feel a sense of freedom, and peace I have never felt. I am learning not to react to other people’s stuff (a process).
However, realized in all I was the person I was looking for- I was missing in action. Thinking I needed to be approved of! I see now am already approved. I just had to see me, and accept I am intentionally, and wonderfully made. I have my own specifications that many may never understand -because I am Gods perfect work.
So, I don’t need to beat myself up anymore because I don’t see where I fit in or wait to be approved of – I am approved. That’s why I love the verse above. It helps me rest in knowing I was always on purpose. No matter the journey – God always came and got me. I have come to understand I needed all the good, bad, and ugly to walk into true love – agape. All my experience after the washing and sorting.
Now I am on the path of true love. With that I realized I have always trusted God! I just let disappointment separate me and anger hold me hostage. I never stop praying or talking or questioning Him. I kept believing even when I fought through doubt and when my works crashed. I chose kept moving until with hope no matter how small the seed.
Now I see how God never left me and protected me through the storms that constructed me. Now I get to experience his continued resurrection within until He is finished.
So, this class help bring my understanding the operation of my Will into more clarity and how I view my decision making. I whole heartedly recommend this book and class when offered!
“While attending several Internal Empowerment Coaching (IEC) seminars and lectures sponsored by Dr. Les Triché and his wife RoxAnne Triché, I found it a very rewarding exchange of self-motivational skills designed to empower one’s self-awareness, achieving one’s career goals, and dealing with everyday situations that would normally challenge one’s aspirations. I can’t express the boundless rewards I have gained while implementing these teachings into my everyday life, while being acting Security Director for Active Security Solutions.
Dr. Les and RoxAnne Triché’s teaching has also gained me a spiritual awakening in my life. As a flawed race, pushing past these imperfections, treating ourselves and others with love, respect, and the Triché’s teaching, we can strive for perfection.”
“Over the past seven years, I have experienced a number of life changing events both on a personal and professional level. During these times, I found myself challenged and needing an understanding as to which direction I should follow. It is during those times I relied on RoxAnne Triché’s coaching to bring clarity to those situations and help guide me in the right direction.
Through our sessions and training in Internal Empowerment, I found the courage and strength to make well-informed decisions and the commitment to see them through. I am truly amazed that these models apply to all aspect of your life.
For instance, in my working life, when dealing with employees, customers, management, etc. I know I cannot control anyone else’s behavior. I can, however, fashion my management style to encourage and promote encouraging constructive communication, which ultimately increases morale and, of course, improve productivity and customer relations.
Also, these practices have helped me to make informed decisions when dealing with my family and friends. One of my favorite models is “loving someone from across the street.” This has given me the courage to know when I am dealing with people who are standing in the way of me achieving what I want; simply put, distancing myself from ‘toxic relationships.’
What I learned helps keep me grounded and on the right path. I consciously evaluate how I make decisions and what the potential outcome could be. On an internal level, I am more confident in how I make decisions on a professional and personal level.
I want to thank RoxAnne and Internal Empowerment for the encouragement, confidence, and guidance to always take a look within myself to live a life with healthy and fruitful relationships.
In closing, I would like to encourage others to contact Internal Empowerment for a life changing experience.”
“As a leader in corporate America for 19 years in the healthcare customer service industry, I have found the use of personal empowerment through IEC highly beneficial, both personally and professionally.
Actively employing the tools I’ve learned has enabled me to enhance my behavior, choices, and trust in interacting with difficult personalities and cultures within my diverse work environment.
This is significant because I have had the privilege to receive corporate, private university, and ministerial training from some of the most highly esteemed and effective organizations. However, I have gained skills and perspectives from IEC that are far more valuable and practical than anything I’ve been taught elsewhere.
Using IEC’s techniques enabled me to be a better manager. I have seen a significant improvement in the productivity of my direct reports, impacting profitability and positively enhancing the work environment.
Specifically, my direct reports have become better communicators, producers, team players, and committed persons to our organization. This is a direct result of the personal training and 1-to-1 coaching I received from Dr. and Mrs. Triché and their organizational staff. I highly recommend IEC to any organization or individuals that seek to improve efficacy, increased productivity,s and goal attainment within their organization.”
“I have a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, enjoyed a successful career, and raised two extraordinary human beings. That’s one side of me. I also struggled with low self-esteem, never quite felt I was understood or accepted, and endured a personal, professional, and legal trial that lasted over a decade.
To say that Scripture Therapy® is a game changer is an understatement. As I learned the principles of Scripture Therapy® it was like putting on eyeglasses for the first time! I looked around and marveled “Is this how everyone else has been operating?” It was freedom. It was fullness. It was illuminating. I began to really understand myself and my relationships.
I also began to understand that I made every decision in my life to the best of my ability, with what I understood at the time, and because I loved God and myself. Clarity began to crowd out the mist of regret, “what if?,” and grief. Even “bad decisions” were made from the same spirit and operation. I learned tools to make effective decision by listening to the Holy Spirit and thinking (why aren’t we teaching this in school?)! I was able to see how I ended up where I was, what contributed to it, and what changes I could make to have a better and healthier future.
These courses illuminate new communication strategies, insight into healthy and unhealthy relationships, and tools to manage the past once and for all. This program will change your life. It will empower you to move forward with excitement and focus and leave your past in the past. It will change every relationship you have and will have; perhaps, most importantly it will change your relationship with yourself.
You deserve this opportunity. Your family and friends deserve this opportunity. Your future self deserves this opportunity. Your past self deserves this opportunity. It is a life changer.
“I enrolled in this course because the title piqued my curiosity and I wanted to see how the Triche’s blended the two topics: the Bible and Choice Theory principles.
At the beginning of this course, I had been married for a year after being widowed for twelve years. I found the adjustments frustrating and I knew I had to take responsibility for my feelings and behavior. I also knew I couldn’t change his behavior; I could only change mine.During the course I noticed my frustration decreasing and I became peaceful. The content of the course helped me understand why I was frustrated: our “quality worlds” (things we want) were not in sync. One of the fundamental differences is that I’m retired and my husband isn’t yet.
I needed to make some changes if I wanted to replace frustration with peace of mind. I learned how to see things differently which helped me change my thoughts. For example, I retired from business world, he’s small business owner. I viewed situations through that lens. I was able to enlarge my view and begin seeing things the way he was seeing them and that helped us to relate better.
I especially loved how the course gave me the opportunity to dig deeper into the Bible to answer questions. For example, in Chapter 8, “What does God say about frustration and how you should deal with it?”, I found: 2 Peter 1:5-6 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness.
My relationship with my husband, myself, and God greatly improved after taking this course. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know themselves better, improve their relationships, and find peace of mind, i.e. happiness.”
“Corporate environments often are challenged with customer service obstacles, accounts receivable issues, and language translation complications. Therefore, I have used principles and practices of IEC to address these matters with ease.
In my position as Accounts Receivable/Credit Representative, I am fortunate to have learned to incorporate teachings of IEC as part of my daily activities to address corporate challenges. Facilitators of this organization taught me patience, self-reflection, and to remain focused on my corporate’s goals. I did this by realizing ‘the only behavior that I can control is my behavior.
Second, I look at my behavior as a means of addressing these stated challenges.
Third, I offer choices to customers that lead to effective communication and improved client relationships.
My personal efforts of stepping back and assessing situations from clients’ perspective, yielded enhanced relationships, improved communications, and enabled me to see solutions to obstacles from corporate and customers’ perspectives. Furthermore, using IEC’s principles enable me to tackle problems head on, with a clear and level head.
Finally, these principles enable me to take what I already know and blend teachings of IEC to strengthen and improve my ability to handle these difficult tasks. I feel comfortable knowing that I can put difficult situations on the table, sort through them, and determine best practices for problem-solving.
IEC’s training has made me a better person, in the long run: knowing I can respond to any situation with a positive and productive attitude, and solve any problem with confidence, knowing that I can use IEC’s principals and the personal mentoring of Dr. Les and RoxAnne Triché.”
“One of life’s lessons is learning about ourselves. IEC helps individuals gain the skills, knowledge, abilities, and character that come with in-depth internal exploration. This allows us to develop empowerment strategies to overcome personal challenges in our everyday lives. Speaking from experience, life is one hell of a funny teacher.
I have made choices in the past that were not responsible, whether I felt I had something to prove, or lacked confidence, the choices I made moved me further from my goals. In school, we used calculators or note cards to help on tests. Well, IEC is what I use to help me in life.
The IEC program is a series of courses designed to empower individuals to make effective and responsible choices by using cognitive behavioral studies, or what we know as internal psychology.”
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