Why is adolescence so difficult and how to use life coaching to prevent mayhem

As a visionary, I have a single-minded allegiance to Life Coaching. A life coach helps a person reach their goals, overcome obstacles, and provide direction and motivation. As a life coach my passion is to empower families and teens to help themselves and others achieve their full potential. I train adolescent students grades 6th through 12th and first-year college students on how to self-coach and coach their peers in key areas impacting their lives such as peer pressure, bullying, substance use, mental health challenges, justice-involvement and other challenges.

In quest of peer approval, teens often participate in risky behaviors. That being said, let’s consider the impact on the teen and parents as they navigate the acceleration of their physical development, psychological and behavioral changes.

Adolescents become stronger and more independent before they have developed good decision-making skills. Many adolescents are at increased risk for depression and potential suicide attempts. This can be due to pressures and conflicts in their family, school or social organizations, peer groups, and intimate relationships.

The key to helping our youth is to equip them with life coaching skills.

The more instruction and assistance you provide the more you are needed. Self-mastery is the capacity for your teen to take control of their life and self-awareness helps them to be present and in tune with their thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviors. If not, your teen may become vulnerable.

It’s important that you encourage your teen to share their opinion and feelings and you should summarize and rephrase what they’ve said, as this will encourage them to continue the conversation. This is important. You may want to say, “Can we talk about the thing that matters most?” This question extends the conversation. Follow up by saying, “Tell me more.”

These are some basic questions to communicate with your adolescent and don’t worry, you will have more opportunities to practice your coaching during the school summer break. Think Attentiveness! Attentiveness is the word for the summer break. Summer is a time when teens are more likely to engage in dangerous, unsafe, and unhealthy behaviors simply because they have less supervision and structure. As a parent we must learn how to be present for our adolescents. Your attentiveness to their tone and modulation will improve communication and your relationship.

Still unsure? Here are a few more questions to help initiate coaching conversations.