Where are parents to turn to find help for their teens? When most people think of a teen that needs “help” they think about troubled teens. When they think about troubled teens they are thinking about the ones that have “serious” problems and have actually gotten into trouble at school or even with the law. If these are teens that have gotten into drugs or violence then it is best to seek out programs in your community that have the specialized skills to work with these issues.

There are a lot of other teens that need help that never get into actual “trouble”. They may be the girl that is seeking attention for the wrong reasons or the boy that isolates himself because he feels is socially awkward. These teens are just the kid down the street that may go unnoticed. In my experience working with teens and being the mom of two teenagers myself, I find that all teens are troubled by something. Although there may not be any outward signs that they need help. Where can a parent go to find help for their teen if they aren’t really in trouble but could just use some extra support and life-skills?

Many people may not be aware that there are Life Coaches that work specifically with teens rather than or as well as with adults. On their website, the International Coaches Federation (www.coachingfederation.com) defines a life coach as someone who is “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential”. Coaching focuses on the future and on desired results and experiences by being empowered in the now. This differs from counseling or therapy in that Coaching is not concerned so much about what the underlying root of the problem is but how the teen wants life to be from here and the role that they can play in that future. Coaching can help teens form solid identities and help equip them with tools they need to navigate the sometimes rough waters of their teen years. It can provide a solid foundation easing their transition in to adulthood.

Teen Life Coaches can provide help for teens on general as well as specific issues. Some have further specialties as well, such as body image and dating or family and conflict resolution. A Teen Life Coach acts as an ally to your teen and can provide valuable insights that can be very helpful for them and acts as an advocate and ally for your teen’s brightest future.

Ronda Wada empowers teens and parents to have authentic, emotionally healthy relationships with one another. She is a coach, facilitator, and premier show host on www.thewinonline.com. Her proudest accomplishment is her own two teenagers, Neil & Alyssa. She can be reached at Ronda@RondaWada.com.