WHY

Coaching lends itself so well to teenagers and emerging adults. They are in a sensitive stage of development and therefore are more in tune with others’ judgement. They are more self-conscious as they are forming their identities and trying to fit in. As they deal with heightened emotions and sensitivity with hormone surges, they are more impulsive and willing to take risks as they separate from family and create their own community. A non-judgmental approach is healthy for everyone but especially important during this developmentally vulnerable stage. Feeling heard can make the difference between if they reach out for help when they’re struggling or get the support and guidance they really need as they navigate toward healthy independence. A non-directive approach is a way to respect their need to develop their own voice, choice and self-confidence (Youth Coaching Institute).

Where Science meets Art

A collage of various cut-out images and illustrations, including a woman with glasses pointing at a pink abstract painting, scenes of nature, a smiling mouth, and text snippets with phrases like 'Listen without expectations', 'Trust, in its simplest form', and 'Small victories'.

“Research shows that having just one caring adult can make the difference between whether a child will thrive or not.”

Marc Brackett, Permission to Feel

A collage of various photographs including a lush green canyon, a person with a backpack, a person wearing painted skull face, a clown with a red nose, several black-and-white images of people's faces, a solitary tree in a field, and abstract colorful designs.

“We can choose how we approach life, especially during major inflection points-adolescence, midlife, times of loss or trauma. We can ignore the existential questions, and the booting-up of our spiritual awareness. We can medicate with pharmaceuticals that dull the pain of the questions, or with substances that give us a temporary reprieve-or a synthetic version of the transcendence we long for. Or we can open the door to a reshuffling of meaning, to the foundational, felt awareness that we are loved and held and part of it.”

 Lisa Miller, The Awakened Brain

Collage of fashion illustration and cut-out images with motivational messages, including a woman in striped clothing, stylized graphics, and text about positive energy and beauty.

“The teenage brain is especially primed to learn during the growth spurt. As the white matter grows, it allows for more and stronger interconnections within and across brain areas permitting sophisticated, smoother, faster communication.”

Lea Waters, The Strength Switch

  • An infographic titled 'The Problem' with statistics on mental health issues among children, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicide attempts, with pie and percentage graphics and text highlighting rising trends and a call to action for a National State of Emergency in children's mental health.

  • A page from a book with a black-and-white photograph of a woman's face and layered hands on her forehead; handwritten quote in teal and black ink about coming out of the storm and prevention.

  • A classroom with students listening to a teacher at the front, with a quote about the importance of caring adults in children's development on the left side.

  • A digital infographic explaining how social emotional learning (SEL) works, with icons of a graduation cap, the Earth, and a group of people. The text describes SEL as a process for developing healthy identities, managing emotions, and making responsible decisions. Highlighted points include: SEL leads to improved academic outcomes and behaviors, SEL benefits are long-term and global, social and emotional skills help improve lifetime outcomes.