Youth/Young Adult Coaching
It is my quest for young people to have a resource which focuses on their possibility and brilliance. Coaching helps youth and young adults feel empowered within the experience they are having. It helps them understand situations clearly, and make age appropriate decisions. There are opportunities for celebration, empowerment, self discovery, and confidence-building. We also open the windows to the development of personal responsibility, self discipline and discernment.
The stories and limitations we impose on ourselves, based on experience, develop at any age. What if… young people had the opportunity to get confident, knowledgeable and aware?
Young people are “going through it”. The world has changed ALOT. Relationships, schooling, career paths and trajectories, and social dynamics/interactions have all changed. The skills and thinking needed to navigate these things successfully have also changed. Old maps and old ways don’t work anymore, and sometimes the changes are happening right under our feet, and the new way forward is evolving right in front of our eyes.
In some cases connection has been lost (to self and other), while in others young people are seeking connection but the world doesn’t seem to be seeking back. Not only has their world changed, but THE world is changing. It is pulsating and vibrating, and growing up in this kind of uncertainty is not easy. The questions and stresses that are encountered by young people are not necessarily therapy questions, they are self-discovery questions, self awareness questions, and tool-building questions and my style of coaching is built to give young people space to explore, express, learn and grow.
We see more anxiety and depression in young people, and as we also continue to become more awake to neurodiversity, we see that support, and a container for growth is highly beneficial to young people, and and they gain skills that serve them through their lifespan, no matter what is on their plate.
There is something fundamentally important in giving youth a voice early in life, to help them start identifying what makes them unique and powerful, and enables them to discard blocks to success that are developing. This process fosters internal confidence, understanding and resilience.
I can honestly say that my son is a changed person. What’s changed most is his attitude, which makes things possible that weren’t possible before. He has dropped his long standing self sabotaging habits, has recovered his curiosity and creativity, and is open and confident about approaching the challenges of life. I truly feel that [Leah] saved my son’s life and set it on a fulfilling course.
Parents connect their youth and young adults to me for many reasons.
They include (but are not limited to):
- separation/divorce resiliency
- family conflict/unsettled relationships
- anxiety exploration and management
- self confidence/self esteem development
- neurodiversity support and skill building
- support for school/career decisions and maximization (for both high performing and under performing students)
- difficulties with friendships, social and or school expectations
- internalized anxiety, anger and/or sadness and resulting “behaviors”
- self harming
- trauma recovery
- embracing neurodiversity and building skillsets for success and happiness
- building plans for their life, and walking the path to achieve them
My coach approach varies based on the age and stage of the individual. Calls are approachable, fun and intentional. While we are doing important work, it does not have to feel heavy and like something they “have to” do, but rather, something they “get to” do. The exact blend of phone and Zoom work is determined based on individual circumstances, to provide the maximum involvement, privacy and comfort. While there is some parental involvement, there is also a strong boundary for confidentiality. We will find the combination that works.
I am also a good fit if your young person has something going on, that you think is bigger than a Life Coach can handle. Maybe they are neurodivergent/complex/2e. Maybe they have tried counselling before and it “didn’t work”, or they “didn’t get into it”. I come to coaching with a wealth of past therapeutic/intervention/trauma recovery training and experience with children and families. Mixing this with my coach approach, allows me to bring a positive focus to self determination and healing even if there are “clinical” factors to consider. Youth often find success with my coach hybrid approach after demonstrating resistance to traditional counselling.
Coaching agreements for youth, are as individual as the youth themselves. One of the fundamental cornerstones of coaching is CHOICE, therefore youth who benefit from coaching, have willingness to be curious and engage in the process. Doubt and fear are sometimes present in the beginning, and that’s ok too. We start wherever we can start, take one step at a time and build from there.
So, if there is a young person in your life you would like me to meet, please reach out and we will tailor an experience to fit their particular circumstance. It is never too early to begin coaching. If you can find the root now, and deal with it, your young person can return to a more natural state. The sooner they have the skills and awareness they need, the sooner they can use them. To book a free 45 minute sample session or to discuss your coaching needs:
