Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a youth life coach?

A youth life coach is both a trained certified coach and experienced in working with this particular profile of clients.

In terms of training and credentials, it is always good to seek out credentialed coaches with regulating bodies like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) where standards and quality of practices are upheld by the member coaches through the credentialing process.

With regards to the relevant experience of the coach in working with youth, it is good to consider those experiences where the coach was working in paid and volunteer settings helping youth and their parents through various situations and challenges.

What is youth life coaching?

Youth life coaching is a supportive and collaborative process designed to help young people and parents navigate challenges, set and achieve goals, and develop essential life skills. It provides them with an avenue to work through different concerns and take away tools and strategies to build confidence, make positive decisions, and create a fulfilling future.

How can life coaching benefit my child?

Life coaching can benefit your child in numerous ways, including improved self-confidence, enhanced decision-making skills, better time management, increased motivation, and greater clarity about their goals and aspirations.

Is life coaching for my child similar to therapy or counseling?

No, life coaching is distinct from therapy or counseling. While therapy focuses on healing emotional or psychological issues, coaching is forward-looking and aims to help young individuals set and achieve specific goals. Having said that, I am also trained and experienced in working with clients using the counselling approach.

How will the coach start to work with my child?

The coach needs to be introduced to the child and they have to understand the context of what the sessions are for. It is important at this stage that the coach works with the parents first for one to two sessions first to understand the family dynamics and situation.

Once the coach has established a safe environment for you and your child to openly discuss their goals and challenges, the coach may choose to work individually with your child or continue to involve the parents in the sessions. The coach will ask powerful questions, actively listen, and provide guidance to help you and your child gain clarity and develop actionable steps toward their goals.

Why is there a need for parent/s to be involved in the sessions?

One of my strong beliefs in working with young people is that change is only possible when the solutions are constructed within a realistic context that the young person and parent/s face every day.

Thus instead of spending extra time after individual sessions to get inputs from the parent/s, it will be useful to have some of these discussions done jointly with both the young person and the parent/s.

But at times when I assess that young person would benefit from individual private discussion, that would be proposed as well along the way.

What type of issues can we bring to a life coach?

Life coaches can assist with a variety of challenges that young individuals may face, such as academic goals, career exploration, time management, confidence-building, stress management, and personal development.

However, it is important to have an open discussion on the goals that we are working on in order that we can be clear that the young person is on board with the goals chosen.

How long does a typical coaching engagement and session last?

The duration of coaching engagements can vary based on your child’s unique needs and goals. It may range from a few sessions to several months. The coach will work with you and your child to determine the appropriate duration.

In terms of frequency, it would typically be between bi–weekly to monthly sessions so as to stay focused on the discussions and goals that are chosen.

As for the duration of the sessions, it would typically last around one and half hours per session because of the need to engage with the parent/s and the young person in the same session. It is also common for our mental focus to decrease after a certain time when the quality of the interactions will be affected.

Where are the sessions conducted?

Due to the unique profile of youth clients, it is important for the coaching experience to be as positive and smooth as possible, suiting this group of clientele. Therefore, all the sessions are either carried out at the client’s place or at a neutral location like cafes or parks.

Especially at the beginning of the engagement where the young person might be apprehensive about the sessions, it is better for the coach to come to the family where they are.   

Is the content of coaching sessions confidential?

Yes, life coaching sessions for youth are confidential. Coaches adhere to ethical guidelines and professional standards as set out by International Coaching Federation which can be found here. This would include respecting you and your child’s privacy and maintaining confidentiality.

How do I choose the right life coach for my child?

Choosing the right coach for your child involves considering factors such as the coach’s experience working with youth, their coaching style, areas of expertise, and client testimonials. It’s also important for your child to feel a positive connection with the coach.

How can I support my child in getting the most out of their coaching experience?

Encourage your child to be open and honest with their coach, and remind them to set clear goals and be committed to taking action between sessions. Offering positive reinforcement and celebrating their progress can also contribute to a successful coaching experience.

Are the sessions in person or online?

Based on experience, young people would require a lot more time and effort to earn their trust before they would share openly about their concerns. Thus, in person sessions are always preferred where the coach engage with the whole family as needed.

As for online sessions, there will always be the different distractions that may occur which may affect the quality of the sessions.

Are the charges by the hour?

We charge by the session so that both the client and coach can be clear and upfront in terms of the financial investment needed for the sessions. So we won’t have to be bothered about the exact duration of the sessions for the charges.

Please remember that this FAQ is intended to provide general information and may not cover every individual circumstance. Always feel free to discuss any specific questions or concerns with me.