Exploring Social, Emotional Intelligence and Development

Navigating life on your own can be difficult and sometimes, it might help to have someone you can turn to for guidance.

What is Youth Coaching

Youth Coaching in its essence is someone that is trained to coach and guide teens and young adults when they encounter hardships. A Youth Coach can coach them to handle difficult decisions by exploring alternative solutions to the problem, and guiding the teen towards healthier coping mechanisms.

When should I seek out a youth coach

Generally, you can seek out a youth coach when you want to see a change but are not sure how or where to start.

The statements listed below are some of the more common reasons for people to get in contact with a youth coach:

  • Young adults and teens who had brushes with the law for drugs, gangs, and other petty crimes
  • Young adults and teens facing lack of motivation for school and school refusal issues
  • Troubled and concerned young adults and teens who need advice and inputs on career choices and course of studies
  • Young adults and teens who struggle with friendship/love relationships and emotional problems
  • Young adults and teens who face confidence and self–esteem issues
  • Young adults and teens with anxieties, depression, and mental health concerns
  • Supporting and preparing young adults to discover their purpose and passion in employment

Usually, coaching serves as the first level of intervention by identifying the youth’s needs. Following which, the youths and their families may be linked to additional resources and support networks to equip them with self-reliance.

Coaching a young adult is one way to ensure their up-skilling. During a session they are exposed to ideas and perspectives of getting things done while understanding their personal unique strengths. This can help to increase their professional development opportunities.

Benefits of Coaching

With better physical and cognitive abilities, young adults tend to make plans for the future, find people to share their experiences, and try out new roles. But, it can also be challenging, stressful, and scary as we realize that a lot of responsibility comes with such freedom.

Development is a process, and we aren’t suddenly adults at a certain age. There are many developmental changes during early adulthood that can confuse, concern and stress young adults out if they lack the proper guidance.

Havighurst (1972) describes some of the developmental tasks of young adults.

  • Achieving autonomy: attempt to establish oneself as an independent person
  • Establishing identity: more firmly establishing likes, dislikes, preferences, and philosophies
  • Developing emotional stability: becoming more stable emotionally which is considered a sign of maturing
  • Establishing a career: deciding on and pursuing a career or at least an initial career direction and pursuing an education
  • Finding intimacy: forming first close, long-term relationships
  • Becoming part of a group or community: young adults may, for the first time, become involved with various groups in the community. They may begin voting or volunteering to be part of civic organizations (scouts, church groups, etc.). This is especially true for those who participate in organizations as parents.
  • Establishing a residence and learning how to manage a household: learning how to budget and keep a home maintained.
  • Becoming a parent and rearing children: learning how to manage a household with children.
  • Making marital or relationship adjustments and learning to parent.

 

What Should I Look For in a Youth Coach?

Many of us tend to turn to friends and loved ones, but sometimes, it takes a toll on the individuals as they are not trained to deal with such issues.

Many people often feel embarrassed when dealing with their struggles, especially teens and young adults who are still finding themselves.

Firstly, it is important to check on certification. You want a coach that is trained in their craft and approach using evidence-based approaches and frameworks.

Next, you should think about the match. Consider what you like to do, how you are as a person and what kind of guidance style you would like.

Some people require a bit more support and others prefer guidance from a distance. Understanding your personal style can help your youth coach better adapt to your style.

Perhaps you don’t know how to start, but that’s okay. As a youth coach myself, I’ve found that there is an art of involving youth people in the process. This allows us to co-create solutions.

Through this process, I am also able to model and coach parents, teens and young adults alike.

Throughout these years, I have witnessed thousands of families, youth and young adults discover a new sense of hope and future for themselves and as a family.

 

My Experience

I have 20 years of experience and have conducted more than 20,000 hours of fieldwork with youth and young adults. I am also trained in multi disciplines in the field of youth work. I am trained in social work, therapy and coaching. These different disciplines and approaches are complementary to aid in my work with youths.

 

Ready to take charge of your life? Drop me an email at joe@coachjoechan.com and let’s connect.