• Inspired by the Sydney Ministerial Summit on Body Image and Eating Disorders called by NSW Health Minister
  Andrew  Refshauge in August 1996
  
• Based on sound psychological theory, Mirror Mirror is designed to reinforce the positive reflections of acceptance, belonging and approval, and to deconstruct the negative messages which impact so heavily on self-image and self-esteem.
  
• Designed to be experiential and playful rather than simply information based.
  
• Accomodates students with few traditional learning skills
  
• Beautifully presented, the program includes the telling of a wonderful four-part modern fairytale written by Mirror Mirror’s founder, Denise Greenaway.
  
• Presents each girl with a recording of the fairytale as well as a beautifully illustrated booklet.
  
• Takes the girls on a journey - through the fairytale - to the other side of the mirror. The mirror represents all the
  negative and positive reflections of society - peers, parents, media, fashion and school. Having completed the
  program, the girls emerge with a clearer sense of self.
  
• Is tailored to the needs of individual schools and existing peer support structures. A ‘whole school’ long-term approach is most effective.
  
• Guarantees confidentiality and privacy for each participant.
  
• Ideally includes all junior students, with senior mentors selected from the school community providing the essential follow-up support.
  
• Celebrates with a sumptuous feast.
  
• Provides a meaningful experience of relevant nutrition
  
• Invites mothers to participate in a complementary program.
  
• Is facilitated by Denise Greenaway, an educational psychologist with impeccable credentials .
  
• Provides participants with the skills with to survive bullying and harrassment.
  
• Is of particular value in settings where “put downs” abound.
  
• Is soundly based in the psychology of the self; hence the ability to re-form self image and re-build self-esteem.
  
• Utilises the strengths of peer support and group dynamics, whilst providing absolute confidentiality for each participant.
  
• Is universal in  relevance and  appeal.
  
  

A letter to teachers, school administrators and any other organisational leaders

Once you have discussed the program with your colleagues, we can assist you in bringing the Mirror Mirror Programs to your students by:

• Holding a free information session for parents and teachers.
  
• Liaising with the media - alerting them to the free information night and, should you proceed, the use of the program in your school.
  
• Organising a date and venue.
  
• Providing the mentors with the peer support package.
  
• Ensuring the school receives maximum benefit from the program.
  
• Advising on appropriate sponsorship possibilities.
  

What to expect on the day:

• The nominated group(s) of participants and mentors will attend the workshop at a venue provided/suggested by the school.
  
• Where transport to the venue is required, extra time needs to be allowed. The workshop duration is 3-4 hours.
  
• Mentors may assist in preparing and serving the lunch provided by  Mirror Mirror .
  
• A minimum of one Mentor per five participants will attend in the role of guardian.
  
• Mentors who attend the program do so without charge.
  
• Mentors are provided with guidelines necessary to facilitate the follow-up  upport.
  
• Total cost for the workshop includes: lunch and the gift of a book and an audiotape for each participant.
  
  

Mirror Mirror deals with the following issues:

(a) the problems of dieting and the pressures of fashion.
(b) the distorting reflections of poor body image and damaged self-esteem.
(c) the effects of negative messages and destructive self beliefs.
(d) the potential freedom of life without the pressures of image, labels and scales
(e)  Empowerment  through the discovery of positive self talk and enriched self esteem

Q: what is self image ?
A: the way one views oneself; greatly affected by outside influences.

Q: what is self esteem?
A: a set of attitudes and beliefs with which a person views herself and the world.
`...In psychological terms, self esteem provides a mental set that prepares a person to respond according to expectations of success, acceptance and personal strength...'
(Stanley Cooper Smith)


The Mirror Mirror Programs delivers positive self image and the priceless gift of self esteem.

What does improved self esteem bring?

• Positive self image
  
• Increased confidence
  
• Improved relationships
  
• Decreased stress and tension
  
• Increased clarity and direction
  
• Inner resourcefulness
  
• A new, more positive way of seeing the world
  
• Clarity in communication
  
• Self reliance
  

The ideal implementation of the program is as follows:

• Groups of girls participate in the initial  process for a minimum period of 3-4 hours, in the company of specially selected peer mentors.
  
• The peer mentors follow the guidelines provided to facilitate the follow-up process for a period determined by the school.
  
• Ideally, the ‘whole school’ eventually implements the Mirror Mirror Programs.
  
  

What the experts say:

`... there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that puberty changes happy, confident, fearless pre-pubescent girls into fragile, self conscious, image-obsessed, guilt ridden young women.  And yet what is done by society to support girls through this harrowing period of transition?  Schools provide PD and Health Ed information, but we know that information alone does not change behaviour. If it did, girls would not be smoking at such a rate.  Girls can list all the carcinogenic properties of the substances they are about to spark up but  they'll tell you (if you listen) that basically they don't care...' DG

Elizabeth Campbell, Founder of Peer Support Foundation, Australia.
`...As the author and founder of the Peer Support Program, I would like to introduce your school to Mirror Mirror , an exciting, innovative program which addresses issues associated with self image in girls and young women. Designed by Denise Greenaway, psychologist and educator, the Mirror Mirror Programs empower young women by assisting them to identify the image making process and to deconstruct negative impact.

I experienced Denise as a dynamic and creative group facilitator when I attended her seminar on Self image and relationship at the Sydney Summerfest 1997.

Her approach to the problems of self-image and self-esteem in young women is quite remarkable. She has authored an original modern fairytale which is beautifully illustrated and narrated. and used is as the basis for her program, which has been successfully trialled on the North Coast of N.S.W

As the founder of the Peer support Program I am endorsing  Mirror Mirror  because of its outstanding compatibility with the philosophy and structure of the Peer Support Program. I do hope your school will take advantage of this exciting new program...'

Marilyn Crozier, Head Teacher, Welfare,Taree High School, N.S.W.
"Supporting Denise at the Mirror Mirror programs for our girls was a great honour. A truly moving experience. Our whole family has become conscious of the media's depiction of girls and women since. Mirror Mirror is truly a worthy cause. It attracted sponsorshiop from many individuals and local businesses so that most girls did the program for no cost to them or their families. A great achievement."

Julie Deall: Public Relations, Central Coast Grammar
"I think this program should be in every school. When a girl's self esteem is low it affects her whole life, her social life, her academic life and her future life. Mirror Mirror has had a great impact and it has been very well supported by our community""


What the girls say

"Mirror Mirror is a beautiful story and the tape really helps me" Crystal aged 15

"I play the tape lots. It makes me look past my looks and down into my soul" Kylie 14

"The Mirror Mirror Program helped me to be proud of myself and not to care what any body else thinks. Every body is different." Leah 13 yrs

"I like myself a lot more than I did before I did the program and that is saying a lot" Becky aged 14

"I feel a whole lot better, more happy and more in touch" M. aged 14

"Now I feel happy myself and the way I look" Tara 14

"I finally feel good about who I am" Rebecca 14

"I don't care so much about what I look like. As long as I like myself I'll be happy" Sandy 13 yrs

"Mirror Mirror helped me by letting me know I don't have to try to change myself. I am fine the way I am" Lexie 12 yrs

"I love Mirror Mirror and Denise. She really helps you see yourself properly. It's the best thing I've ever  done"  Milika 14 yrs

"Mirror mirror gave me love for myself and showed me my true self" Crysta 13 yrs

"It helps me when I look in the mirror. It helps me like what I see" Megan 14 yrs

"I feel great and positive about the way I look instead of negative and angry" N.13 yrs

"The tape calms me down when I get worked up about the way I look. It relaxes me when I feel hypo and it gives me a natural high" Carole 15 yrs

"Now I am happier with myself. Loving myself for who I am" Karen 15 yrs

"It helped me understand what magazines do to our personal images and how our mirros reflect our negative messages" Mylie aged 15

"I'm going to keep the power by being proud of who I am for ever" Isabelle 14 yrs

"It helps you take yourself for who your are. Makes you confident and self loving" Lakshmi 14

"I feel nurtured, happy and better in my ownself" Maria aged 13

"I fell carefreeeeeeeeee" aged 11

"Now I know I don't have to feel bad about myself" Melissa aged 10

"It makes me feel relaxed" Trudy aged 11

"It's helped me because I was one who looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw" aged 10

"I feel heaps more outgoing" aged 14

"It helped me to accept myself and like myself too" aged 12

"I now know that everyone is unique and special and I LOVED the story" aged 13

"It 's magic how it makes you feel better about yourself" 13

"I am much more confident and less worried about my appearnace. Aged 15

"I no longer obsess about my weight or my appearance" 14

"I told my mum to throw out the scales and all those dumb magazines. She hasn't yet but I think she will. She wants to do Mirror Mirror too" (12)
 
 

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