Coaching
Most young people are on a roller coaster that does not seem to end. They feel a need to live up to, the pressures of being accepted, growing up and developing a successful future, can bedifficultto handle.
Many young people have been brainwashed by the exposures in their childhood and the unintentional lies that have been told by the world around them. They have been brainwashed by over protectiveness and neglect. Other people have lied to them through social media and other mediums of communication. There is a lot of manipulation and control in the world of today. Even experts manipulate them intobelieving their product is for everyone but that can’t be true. In all of this we have forgotten to tell our young people that life comes with its fair share of problems. They rarely hear the sore stories of their parents, schools are threatening them with high grades, and social media is threatening them with the best manipulated pictures and the holiday pictures. Young people don’t know how to look inwards at the gifts they were born with and the skills they have acquired through their experiences, rather they are chasing after everybody else and can’t understand why they are so stressed, out of place and not succeeding the way they expect.
The ‘what’ of youth coaching
Youth coachingis designed to help young people make sense of their life, tease out the unnecessary stressors, believe more in themselves, understand and thrive on the power of relationships, learn new life skills and understand how to manage some of the stresses that come with their own peculiar journey .
- building confidence
- setting and achieving goals
- managing stress
- discussing difficult issues
- Knowing the truth
As a parent, you probably worry about your teenage child. You may think about their happiness and hope they are doing well at school and in other surroundings. You take comfort in the idea of them having an encouraging, nice group of friends to support them through their journey. But what if they are the opposite of what you think and they are alone?
It can be a hard truth as a parent that despite your worry, teenagers simply don’t or feel like they can discuss some of their personal lives with you. It is not because they don’t love you but rather that they are trying to protect you. They have seen your raw emotions in the past.
As much as it feels like they are trying to break free from the rules and regulations of their parents, youll be surprised to know they are just trying to grow up and can do a terrible job of it because they are young. They is also a part of you doesn’t want to let go. Young people have the right to keep secrets but, as a parent, this can be distressing. If you want your child to receive help and guidance, yet they believe that you are not the right person to confide in, one easy solution can be to connect them to a youth coach.
Youth coaches do not aim to replace parents, teachers or friends. They are there to supplyunbiassed, trustworthy,provision without being judged. A youth coach can providea young person with the chance to vent freely and confidentially about anythingthat bothers them, or they constantly think about. What would you rather have? Fighting to get them less secretive to no avail or knowing that they are able to speak to someone about their difficulties?
The ‘why’ of youth coaching.
The thought of getting older can be an exciting one for a young person but just like everybody else they can experience difficulties in life.
The teenage years can be a strange and difficult time for everyone involved. During this time, the family dynamic can change dramatically. Teenagers begin to fight for their independence and parents fight to maintain control.
Every young person can respond to difficulty in life differently. Where one child may express their thoughts and feelings, another may act out. A young person going through stress can mask their emotions; their behaviour may start to change as they retract inwards rather then become reflective with the right support.
When going through these changes, it is important to let your child know you are there for support. However, they may not feel confident enough to discuss their issues with you. This is where a youth coach can help – they are an impartial source of support who can listen and understand the challenges your child is facing.
A youth coach can:
- Help improve family dynamic
- Help a troubled teenager get back on track
- encourage a better work ethic
- help young people deal with difficult or embarrassing issues
- Discover potential and set goals to reach it
How can a young person benefit from coaching sessions?
The transition between childhood and adulthood is driven by chemical imbalances, mood swings, and heartbreak and overwhelming physical changes. For young people who are feeling overwhelmed and under a lot of pressure, a youth coach can give them the chance to recognise and voice their worries. With a youth coach, the young person can discover what is most important to them, what they really want to do and where they want to be.
There are many things a young person feels they need to know and achieve by the time they are leaving the education system. You may hear your child say, “Everyone expects me to…” or “I should do this…” rather than “I want to…”
This stage of life can be a balancing act; young people are learning who they are, as well as trying to make friends, family and teachers happy.
Talking with a youth coach can help a young person say, “I really want to do this” confidently, proudly and without guilt.
Young people who visit a youth coach can benefit in the following ways:
- They get the opportunity to talk about difficult subjects, such as bullying and relationships.
- They learn to handle and manage emotions.
- They learn to guard their minds which is their powerhouse
- They are encouraged to see the world from a fresh perspective.
- They can begin to set goals for self-improvement.
- They get the support of an objective and non-judgemental mentor.
- They will leave with a new sense of motivation and boost of inspiration.
- They learn to build confidence and social skills.
A youth coach will work with them to identify their needs and discuss their concerns. They will act as the support beside them while they jump the hurdles towards a stable future. While some will need a hand held throughout the journey, others may only need to be pointed in the right direction.
How can your young person enrolling in coaching sessions benefit you?
Youth coaching can also have a great many benefits from the perspective of a parent. While you’ll always want to be there for your children, sometimes the best thing you can do is accept that in some situations, it simply can’t be done. The fact is that some young people believe certain parts of their lives need to be secret and cannot be shared with their parents.
We know this can be difficult to accept. Time goes quickly and suddenly your small, innocent child is grown up and wants to discover the world. They want to explore their changing bodies, experimenting with everything that life has to offer. You can’t control the things they may encounter and you may know that part of your role as a parent is to stand back and let them learn on their own. What you can do as a parent is to ensure there are enough measures put in place to give them the best chance possible.
A youth coach can approach any subjects your child feels unable to talk about with you, such as sexuality, body-image issues and sex. Even though you may not be able to help them personally, you can rest easy knowing they have someone to talk to.
A youth coach will help your child develop mature ways to deal with conflict, stress and anger, which could potentially make family life easier.
Coaching can help your child to better understand the emotions they are experiencing and how to manage them. When a child appears to lash out or react aggressively, they may be battling feelings of worry or fear. Youth coaching helps young people understand and control their confused emotions, encouraging an easier parent-child relationship.
What to expect in a youth coaching session
It is important to first discuss with your child their options and find out if they would like to consider visiting a youth coach. If your child agrees, the next step is to find a youth coach that both you and your teenager trust and feel confident with. As the coach is there to help, it is important that your child builds a good rapport with the professional.
After attending an initial meeting, your teenager will be invited to attend a series of sessions. Each session will last between 30-minutes to an hour. During the sessions, the youth coach will ask a selection of questions to get an idea of where any problems lie, establish what kind of attitudes and values your child holds and work out what actions are needed for them to move forward.
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