What Is Coaching?
Coaching is a professional relationship in which the coach supports the client in creating specific strategies for success. We identify roadblocks and develop plans to overcome them. Coaches do not tell clients what to do. Instead, we support the client in identifying personal motivators and obstacles and we implement strategies designed to help clients achieve their goals. We do this by asking questions, listening and creating achievable action plans.
Coaching vs. Therapy
Coaching focuses on the client's present and future. A coach is NOT a therapist, psychologist, counselor or someone who specializes in mental illness. A coach does not analyze or interpret a client's session. A coach focuses on the 'who in the present' whereas a therapist focuses on the 'why from the past.'
Coaching Categories for Children
Motivational & Reinforcement Strategies
Is homework time a struggle every single night? Morning routine giving you anxiety on a daily basis? Our unique children's unique needs require much more than that of a typical 'Time for dinner!', or 'Did you clean up your toys?'. By reinforcing the behaviors we WANT to see, we can help reduce the behaviors we DON'T want to see.
Creating Routines & Schedules
You may think it is boring to do the same thing, day in and day out, over and over and over again. Your atypical child disagrees. This routinization is exactly the thing that will comfort and calm our unique children. Repetition and familiarity with the routines provide a sense of security and stability.
Managing Meltdowns
Does your child have meltdowns? At the most inopportune moments? At bath time or shower time? During transitions? How about right at the moment you need to leave for an appointment? Somehow, our children know the exact moment to drop to the floor, screaming and kicking, making it impossible for us to leave on time.
Creating Optimal Homespaces
Play area always a mess? Having trouble separating play space from work space, and kid space from adult space? Misplacing things that you just had in front of you? Many people don't realize that having a child with unique needs also requires a unique home setup.
Bullying Recovery
Victims of bullying suffer long term effects. They have complex and challenging trauma responses, including difficulty making and maintaining friendships, isolation, shutting down in conflict, general mistrust and a lack of self confidence. Our coaches work with victims to identify triggers and how to manage their responses.
Academic Challenges
We support students as they pave their own way to success. Whether it is general academic stress, poor time management, executive functioning limitations, distractibility or social pressures that detract from focus, our proven process provides a foundation for balance and success.
Parenting (Challenging Children)
Parenting in today's society presents a unique challenge. Managing the struggles and unknowns of modern life, the symptoms of learning and behavior idiosyncrasies, and simply tolerating typical teen/adolescent behavior can be daunting.
Parent Advocacy
Getting your child classified while understanding the ins and outs of the process is extremely overwhelming. From your initial contact with the Department of Health... to the follow up interviews... to scheduling and having testing and evaluations completed... to then awaiting results...
Family Happiness
Families who attend sessions with our coaches will develop positive communication skills and an increased awareness of self and others. In a safe and non-confrontational environment, we discuss obstacles, destructive patterns and everyday challenges that modern families face.
Click the document icon to view a case study emphasizing the importance of coaching given the challenges kids face in today's society.