What is Parent Coaching?
What is parent coaching?
Parent coaching is just that, coaching. A certified leadership parent coach trains, teaches, and guides parents in the fundamentals of the parenting process. The goal of parent coaching is to remove the stress and frustration of parenting to empower you to be the calm, confident parent you long to be.
It is a short-term, collaborative process that helps parents identify unsatisfactory parenting patterns and develop a successful, proven, parenting-style based on common sense and leadership principals.
Parent coaching also assists in devising and implementing discipline strategies in your home to target specific parenting challenges such as potty training, school performance, rebellion, and disrespectful attitudes.
Parent coaching can take place in-home, over the phone or through Skype. Thanks to technology, parents and coaches no longer need to live in the same city, making scheduling sessions much more flexible and individually specialized.
Parent coaches also offer seminars and workshops to parent groups, schools, and churches.
How does it work?
Initial interview - the parent coach will meet with the parents to learn about family dynamics, what is working and what is not. Key problem areas will be identified and the parents will leave the interview with fundamental leadership and communication skills to begin implementing at home. Parents should expect to see marked behavior changes after the initial interview.
First session - will take place within a week of the initial interview. The parent coach will present a parenting plan for the parents to initiate at home. Additional training and guidance will take place at this time.
Follow-up sessions - at first will be scheduled, then may take place as needed. During these meetings, the parent coach will provide ongoing support to reinforce new behaviors.
Parent coaching usually last 4 to 6 sessions.
What parent coaching is NOT
Parent coaching is NOT therapy. Therapy usually deals with resolving past emotional hurts. Parent coaching looks to change current and future behavior.
Parent coaches do not diagnose. Parent coaches will refer mental health issues to an appropriate medical professional.
Parent coaches rarely work with children. The focus is on the parenting process. It is important that parents initiate the changes in order to establish leadership in their home.