Coaching for
21st Century Teens
Christina
Young, M.Ed
Teen and
Tween Coach
21st
century teens navigate a uniquely challenging world. Teens face the ever increasing pressures of academic
achievement, the widespread impact and influence of media, and social networks
that stream 24-7. These pressures contribute to high levels of teen anxiety,
depression, and burn-out. They can make it even more challenging to learn how
to implement effective accommodations for learning differences and ADHD.
Having
literal and figurative space to feel quiet and grounded is essential for higher
level thinking that is reflective, creative, and productive. Yet, 21st century teens experience the
many important transitions from middle school through college amidst the
constant chatter of academic and social competition. 21st century teens have had access
to mobile technology their entire lives. At its best, that technology provides
access to global information and ideas.
At its worst, it reinforces every negative thought and fear.
Teens strive
for independence at the same time that they are faced with increased academic,
social, and emotional demands. That
means parents with the best of intentions often have a hard time connecting
with their teen when it may be most needed. Working with a personal coach allows for
objective, supportive feedback that holds teens accountable for their actions.
If frequent fights over scheduling and completing tasks disrupt your home,
working with a coach can help both your teen and your parent-teen
relationship.
Just as an
athletic coach helps teens develop the physical and mental fitness to compete
at their optimal performance, a personal coach helps teens develop the
self-awareness, confidence, and self-esteem to set and achieve meaningful
goals, internalize organization and motivation, and make healthy personal and
social decisions.
As a teen
coach, I work to provide the space to discuss the challenges teens face, create
an action plan, and increase communication within the family. In the absence of
such a space, teens often turn to peers or the media to inform their decisions.
Parents can
empower their teens and strengthen their parent-teen relationship by
thoughtfully engaging in coaching conversations at home using the following
tips:
- Share your concerns with your teen without
assumptions or judgment. Ask you teen
how they cope with the challenges they
faces every day.
- Empathize with the pressure your teen faces. Remain clear about your expectations regarding
personal and social decisions without judging peers who have made decisions you
believe are unhealthy and/or unsafe. Ask
your teen how they could respond to those pressures in a healthy/safe way.
- Listen to your teen. Give them the space to talk
through a challenge and potential actions without giving unsolicited advice.
Instead of evaluating their proposed actions, ask, “How do you think that will
go?”
- Try again. These conversations are challenging
and require thoughtful reflection from both parent and teen. Focus on short, intentional conversations and
follow up another time.
Our mission is to help people lead happier, more productive lives, regardless of their limitations. At the Hallowell Center, we employ a “strength-based” approach to treating ADD and other cognitive and emotional conditions. The strength-based model emphasizes first and foremost the search for what is good and strong and healthy in a person, then secondarily what is in need of remediation. Rather than treating your condition as a “pathology,” as happens in many clinical settings, we instead view it as a “gift” that can be “unwrapped” with the help of a customized treatment plan, leveraging all the best practices in the field today.