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Parental Coaching
Raising children is universally acknowledged as one of the most difficult and important jobs there is.
Parents can find themselves at a loss as to how to handle a particular stage or situation in a child’s development. We can fear that somehow we have really blown it, or that we are not the right parent for our child. In our worry, we assume that the solutions will be complicated or even unsolvable. We think, “Well maybe my child will out-grow this,” and yet our peace of mind is interrupted by wondering if there is something that could be done.
If we have an accounting problem or a leaky roof, we do not hesitate to consult with someone who knows how to fix it. In the same way, parents sometimes need professional advice about how to handle a child-related problem.
What is parental coaching and how is it different from therapy?
Therapy implies a longer-term process in situations where ongoing psychological or emotional problems have led to a level of disturbance within the child or family that is impairing the child’s emotional development. However, many parenting and child-related problems do not require therapy. Parent-and-child coaching involves providing new information, new strategies and new ideas to solve a particular issue that arises within an otherwise well-adjusted child.
Parental coaching includes the process of clarifying and defining child-related problems, and then finding solutions to them. It assumes that no parent is perfect and that perfection itself, is an unrealistic goal. Parental coaching is non-judgmental, sympathetic and practical. It does not focus on weaknesses, past failures or pathology. It involves assessing, teaching, demonstrating, mediating, resource directing and recommending. It is solution-focused, pragmatic and short-term. |
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