Coaching for Teens

Coaching is a supportive, one-to-one space where we work together to explore what’s going on for you right now - whether that’s at school, at home, or in everyday life.

It’s not about being judged or told what to do. Instead, it’s about helping you understand yourself better, build on your strengths, and find ways forward that feel right for you.

You’re the expert on your life and I’m here to guide, support, and help you to navigate things in a way that works for you.

Before your first session, you’ll be asked to share a little about what’s been going on for you and what you’d like to be different.

Sessions are 45 minutes and take place online. We’ll start with a relaxed introduction, then explore what’s been challenging and what you’d like to work towards.

We always begin by looking at your strengths: what’s already working well, what makes you you, and what you’re good at (even if you don’t always see it yet). This helps you realise you’re much more than any label or difficulty - you’re a unique individual with your own way of thinking and experiencing the world.

From there, we’ll agree on small, manageable steps (or what we can term “tiny experiments”), to try between sessions. These aren’t about getting things perfect, but about trying things out and seeing what works for you.

This might include things like:

• Finding a way to make schoolwork feel more manageable.

• Breaking tasks into smaller, less overwhelming steps.

• Building confidence in speaking up or asking for help.

• Developing routines that support your energy and focus.

• Learning ways to manage stress, emotions, or overthinking/ruminating.

• Thinking about what helps you feel calm, motivated, or more like yourself.

Everything we try is flexible and we’ll keep what works and change what doesn’t.

Executive functioning skills are the brain’s “management system” - they help you plan, focus, organise, manage emotions, and get things done.

For many teenagers, and especially those who are neurodivergent, these skills can develop at a different pace. This might affect things like:

• Self-awareness

• Organisation and planning

• Motivation

• Impulse control

• Memory

• Managing emotions

At the same time, your brain is going through a huge period of change. During the teenage years, the brain is rapidly reorganising and strengthening its connections - almost like it’s upgrading and rewiring itself. This is actually the second most important stage of brain development (the first being early childhood), and your brain continues developing into your mid-20s.

This means two really important things:

1. The challenges you experience are not fixed - your brain is still growing and changing.

2. Trying new strategies and ways of thinking can genuinely help shape how your brain develops.

In coaching, we take a strengths-based approach. This means we start with what you’re already good at and build from there, creating strategies that work with your brain, not against it.

This will depend on what you’re looking for. Some people prefer weekly sessions over a few months, while others choose fortnightly sessions.

To experience meaningful progress, I usually recommend starting with at least four sessions.

We can always adjust things as we go, and sessions can be tailored to suit your needs.

Coaching is for you if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward - or if you simply want to understand yourself better and make positive changes in your life.

Many people come to coaching not quite knowing what they need, just that something doesn’t feel quite right.

It can be especially helpful if you’re open to reflecting, trying new approaches, and taking small steps towards change (with support along the way).

If you’re unsure, that’s completely okay - we can use the first session to explore whether it feels like the right fit for you.

A parent or caregiver is welcome to join part or all of the session if that feels helpful and supportive.

Some teenagers prefer to have a parent involved, while others feel more comfortable having their own space and both options are completely ok.

For safeguarding purposes, a parent or caregiver will always need to provide an emergency contact name and number before sessions begin.