What's a Teen Success Coach, Anyway?

The short answer is, the best gift you can give yourself and your child. Okay, maybe I’m a little biased. But practically speaking, a teen success coach is a trusted adult that helps your teenager be their best self. AKA: an adult who your teen will listen to because they’re not you. I know… (sigh)

Here’s the approach my company takes. It’s holistic in that it takes into account the entire experience of a child and is informed by our expertise in adolescent development. At Village, teen success coaching covers three main areas:

  1. Life Coaching

    • helping teens and tweens discover values and what motivates them

    • setting goals

    • building resilience and social-emotional skills

    • developing habits that are good for their minds and bodies

  2. Academic Coaching

    • develop effective study/homework habits and studentship skills

    • planning and organizing

    • providing learning resources and extra support when grades start dropping

  3. College Admissions Coaching

    • setting students up for success for selective college admissions

    • researching colleges and finding the best fits

    • developing college lists and understanding strategies

    • and for seniors, essay writing support to make sure they tell an impactful story

We wear three hats, sometimes all at once. But because our expertise is based on both research, theory, and practice, we are really good at helping teens thrive. Parents often ask how we do that. Mostly, we just “get” teenagers. We’re empathetic and non-judgemental, and we don’t have any ulterior motives; teens know that we’re a safe place to reveal what’s getting in the way of their success and that our only purpose is to help them reach their goals. 

The other question I often get is, “Do teens actually like working with a coach?” And the answer is a resounding YES. Our teens love us and the feeling is mutual. We are often only a text away to help them destress, think through a challenge, or provide encouragement or comfort. Most of our parents tell us that they wish they had a life coach when they were young. They are also extremely grateful to have another caring and knowledgeable adult in the life of their child who can help shoulder the load. And what a load it is these days. 

If you’re finding that you need a little more help raising your teenager these days (and who couldn’t?), reach out for a free consultation. Even if we’re not the right fit, we are more than happy to point you in the right direction and provide you with additional resources and tips. 


Cathy ChenComment