Parenting Coaches Near Me

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FAQs:

What is a Parent Coach?

A parent coach is an experienced and skilled individual who helps parents with parenting challenges by offering alternative viewpoints around family circumstances, disclosing techniques to shift behavior and family dynamics, and encouraging parents to accomplish their parenting objectives.

What Does a Parenting Coach Do?

Entering parenthood, we often carry specific notions about how we envision ourselves as parents. The reality, however, may not align with these preconceived plans. Parenting challenges can take us by surprise, our reactions may not be what we hoped for, and our envisioned parenting environment might seem elusive. A parent coach steps in during these times, offering crucial support to facilitate positive changes and foster the bond you yearn for with your family.

A parenting coach comprehends that no single solution fits all parenting scenarios. Instead, they work closely with you, taking into account the intricacies of your unique situation, values, and experiences. Rather than attempting to "fix" your child or you, a parent coach focuses on understanding your strengths, aiding you to evolve as a family from a place of empowerment and encouragement.

A parent coach doesn't dictate how you should parent. They respect your values, priorities, and goals, providing the necessary accountability, nurturing reflections, and feedback that allows you to actualize your parenting vision.

Going beyond mere instruction, your parenting coach enhances your understanding of child development and the latest research in the field, bolstering your confidence and capability as a parent.

A parent coach guides you through your parenting journey, recommending new strategies, fostering empathetic listening, and suggesting resources that can help you address problems in a manner that resonates with your family dynamic. Most parenting coaching services are rendered by certified professionals trained in effective, connection-based parenting techniques.

What is Parent Coaching?

Parent coaching is a type of therapy where parents and caregivers learn how to use specific skills and strategies to address behavioral challenges and/or support their child’s development. A parent coach is a certified professional with expertise in evidence-based strategies to address a wide array of challenges. They can help you look at the big picture and offer a neutral perspective. Your parent coach can work with you to implement individualized strategies and help you troubleshoot and adjust as you go. They can educate, support, and empower you to become the parent you want to be. Parent coaches are mental health therapists with expertise in parenting and child development, and you are the expert on your child. You will work together as a team to find solutions that work for you and your family.

How Does Parent Coaching Work?

Part of it is simple math. Think about the number of hours your child spends with you versus one hour per week spent with a therapist. As with any new skill, practice is key. While a weekly therapy session can teach gold-standard strategies, parents and caregivers have many more opportunities to support their children in their real-life application—not to mention the benefits of consistency over time, in different environments and contexts.

Research shows a strong relationship between a child’s environment and their behaviors. Parent coaching can support parents and caregivers in creating an environment that fosters positive behaviors and reduces negative behaviors. For instance, parent coaching may help a parent implement a positive reinforcement system at home to increase a certain behavior or help a parent realize that they have been inadvertently reinforcing an undesired behavior and learn how to shift that dynamic.

Who Needs Parent Coaching?

The perfect potential client for working with a parenting coach is someone who simply wants to improve their relationship with their children. This client is likely someone who knows they want to parent differently. They just don’t know how! By discovering empathy, compassion, connection, and communication, they’ll learn how to guide their kids to grow into loving, nurturing, and understanding adults who become great parents themselves down the line.

Examples of those who can benefit from parent coaching include parents who: 

1. Experienced generational patterns of family trauma, conflict, disruption, or separation.

2. Don’t want to repeat the way they were parented and worry about following in their parent’s footsteps.

3. Are committed to parenting without punishments, threats, yelling, or consequences while still effectively teaching kids to make good decisions and take positive actions in their lives. 

4. Filling the gap between the way they want to parent and the day-to-day reality of their parenting experience.

Can You Become a Parenting Expert?

Believe it or not, you're already a parenting expert because no one knows your child better than you. Being a true expert requires a commitment to sharpening your skills and continuously learning about the ever-evolving landscape of parenting, child development, and brain science. If you’re as passionate about parenting as we are, you can even become a Parenting Coach and expert for other families longing for support. 

Humility is a crucial aspect of being a parenting coach, acknowledging that we don't know everything and that parenting is an ever-changing journey. Being open to making mistakes and learning from them is vital to nurturing better relationships with our children and clients. 

Trust plays an essential role in parenting. Trusting that your child is developing as they should and that you can teach them new skills along the way can foster an atmosphere of acceptance and presence. With this framework, you can enhance your expertise and contribute positively to the parenting community.

What are the Different Parent Coaching Options?

Parent coaching can take place in person, virtually, or over the phone. It is useful for anyone who is caring for your child —parents, foster parents, grandparents, married, co-parenting or single parents, nannies, etc. Ideally, all parents/caregivers attend the sessions, but even if only one parent or caregiver can attend, parent coaching has still been shown to be effective.

What Makes a Good Parenting Coach?

A good parenting coach does not force their agenda. A coach in any part of life is there to guide you, point out blind spots, and hold you accountable for the goals and actions that you set for yourself. 

A parent coach should be a non-judgemental ally that keeps you looking forward in the many moments in life that become difficult. 

When investing in a parenting coach, you invest in an accountable person. A safe coach will not judge how you got into the family struggle that you are in but will learn where you want to go and teach you the tools to get there. When the parenting coach notices you veering off course, they will respectfully call you out and seek to find a solution.

What Does a Parenting Coach Not Do?

It's important to note that a parenting coach is not an attorney and does not provide legal advice. Their expertise lies in guiding parents through the emotional and practical aspects of co-parenting, offering support in areas such as communication, conflict resolution, and the creation of a child-centered parenting plan.

While they do not replace the role of a legal professional, a parenting coach can assist by providing valuable legal education. They can help parents understand the basics of family law, the implications of court orders, and the importance of adhering to custody agreements. By fostering a clear understanding of the legal framework, a parenting coach empowers parents to make informed decisions regarding their co-parenting journey within the bounds of the law. This collaborative approach ensures that parents are equipped with both emotional support and a foundational understanding of the legal aspects involved in co-parenting after separation.

How Much Does Parent Coaching Cost?

The cost of parent coaching can vary significantly depending on several factors. These factors include the qualifications and experience of the coach, geographic location, and the structure of the coaching arrangement.

Whether parenting classes are free can vary widely depending on the organization or institution offering them, your location, and the specific program you are interested in.

Typically, parent coaching is offered either on an hourly basis or as part of a package deal. Hourly rates can vary from $50 to $200 per hour. Some coaches may provide package deals with a set number of sessions at a discounted rate.

It’s advisable to research and interview potential parent coaches to find one whose services align with your needs and budget. Some coaches may offer free initial consultations to discuss goals and assess compatibility.

Furthermore, subsidized or low-cost parent coaching services may be available through certain organizations, community centers, or non-profits, making support more accessible to more parents. Parent coaching can yield significant long-term benefits for your family’s well-being and your child’s development.

What Does it Take to Be a Good Parent?

Contrary to popular belief, good parenting doesn't equate to perfection. It entails authenticity, doing our best, and mending our mistakes. It's about loving our children in a way that resonates deeply with them. While children need us to listen, understand, and be there for them, they also need us to grow with them and value their perspectives. Most importantly, they need to know they can always turn to us for support and protection without fearing our reactions.

Four Pillars of Parenting

As parents, our ultimate goal is to raise happy, well-adjusted children who are prepared for life’s challenges. To achieve this, it’s essential to build a strong foundation based on the four pillars of parenting: making kids feel safe, seen, soothed, supported, and challenged. When these pillars are in place, children develop a sense of security that paves the way for resilience, confidence, and healthy relationships.

1. Safety:

Kids need to feel safe and protected. This means creating a home environment where they know they can rely on their parents for comfort and protection. It’s about being there when they need you, whether it’s to hug away their fears or listen to their worries. Safety also involves setting clear boundaries and providing a stable and consistent routine. When children feel safe, they can explore the world around them with confidence.

2. Seen:

To make kids feel seen is to truly understand them. It means paying attention to their thoughts, feelings, and interests. Ask questions, listen, and engage in their world. Show appreciation for their uniqueness and individuality. When children feel seen, they develop a strong sense of self-worth and identity.

3. Soothed:

Helping kids manage their emotions is a crucial pillar of parenting. Teach them healthy ways to express their feelings and cope with stress. Be a source of comfort and support when they’re upset, anxious, or frustrated. This reassurance helps them learn to regulate their emotions and handle life’s ups and downs.

4. Supported and Challenged:

A balance of support and challenge is essential for a child’s growth. Provide support by being there to help them when needed. Encourage their efforts and praise their accomplishments. But also challenge them to try new things, take on responsibilities, and learn from their mistakes. This balance fosters resilience and self-confidence, as children discover their abilities and develop the skills they need to thrive.

When these four pillars of parenting are strong and stable, children grow up with a strong sense of security and the ability to form healthy relationships.

5 Steps to Positive Parenting

Positive parenting aims to promote children's development and manage children's behavior and emotions in a constructive and non-hurtful way. It is based on strong, nurturing relationships, good communication, and positive attention to help children develop.

Positive parenting involves emphasizing the positive and planning to prevent problems. It also involves using everyday situations and creating opportunities to help children learn and to motivate them to do their best.

Children who grow up with positive parenting are likely to develop the skills they need to do well at schoolwork, build friendships, and feel good about themselves. They are also much less likely to develop behavioral or emotional problems when they get older. Parents who learn to use positive parenting skills typically feel more confident and competent in managing daily parenting tasks, are less depressed, less stressed, and have less conflict with their partners over parenting issues.

1. Ensure a Safe and Engaging Environment

An important part of helping your child grow is to encourage them to play and explore their world and the first step is to make sure that their environment is safe and interesting. When environments are free of health hazards like sharp objects, cleaning supplies, and uncovered electrical outlets both children and parents can relax and enjoy quality time together. As a parent, you can create an interesting environment without having to spend a lot of money. By providing children with a variety of toys and crafts to play with, you keep your child busy and they are less likely to become bored and misbehave.

2. Create a Positive Learning Environment

Children need a supportive, nurturing environment to develop their skills. As a parent, you can help create a positive learning environment by paying attention to your children. This doesn’t mean you have to be with them every minute but it’s important for your child to know you are there for them when they come to you for help or attention.

3. Use Assertive Discipline

Discipline plays an important role in a child’s emotional and social development. It can help children learn to accept rules, develop self-control, consider others when expressing their feelings, and take responsibility for their actions. Assertive discipline involves being consistent, acting quickly when children misbehave, and teaching them to behave acceptably. How parents deliver discipline plays a key role in how successful it can be. For example, when parents use strategies like preparing in advance, setting ground rules, giving clear calm instructions, and praising good behavior, they are more likely to be successful than when they resort to yelling, name-calling, threatening, or spanking as forms of discipline. Assertive discipline works best when parents support each other and use the same approach.

4. Have Realistic Expectations

Children are all individuals with different personalities and even within the same age group they can develop at different rates. You as the parent mustn’t expect more, or less, of your child than he or she is physically or intellectually able to do. For example, parents who expect that their children will always be polite, happy, and cooperative or always neat and helpful are setting themselves up for disappointment and conflict with their children. If you are unsure whether your child is ready to learn a new skill, seek advice.

5. Take Care of Yourself as a Parent

Raising children can often feel like a full-time job and it’s easy to get into a pattern of putting off your own needs. But parenting can be easier when you take the time to seek out peer support, companionship, intimacy, recreation, and even time alone! If your own needs as an adult are being met, it’s much easier to be patient, consistent, and available to your child. Some tips to help you take care of yourself include, balancing work and family by having realistic expectations of yourself at work, when you are upset with your child take time to identify what negative things you might be saying to yourself and try to change those thoughts to more helpful ones, and work as a team with your partner by finding ways to back each other up.

Parent Coaching Strategies

Parent coaching can help a parent or caregiver receive support and address several parenting issues, including:

1. How can you effectively set and enforce house rules? Are you being too strict or letting things slide too often? Are you going too far with your punishments or not far enough? How do you get your child or teen to abide by the rules or do their chores without a battle?

2. How can you scaffold skills in an age-appropriate way to ensure that children are gaining independence? How can you balance structure and restrictions with allowing your child or teen to develop an age-appropriate amount of autonomy?

3. How can you get your child to sleep through the night in their bed? How do you ensure your kids and teens are getting enough sleep?

4. What should you do if your child refuses to go to school or do their homework? How do you stop homework time from being a daily struggle?

5. How can you help your child overcome fears, like fear of the dark or social anxiety?

6. How can you improve your relationship with your child or teen through trust and communication?

Issues And Challenges that a Parent Coach Can Help With

Each parent coach will have different areas of expertise that they are qualified or trained to support families with. Here are a few examples:

1. Parenting your child in a values-oriented way

2. Sleep challenges

3. Play skills 

4. Toddler behavior 

5. Sibling rivalry

6. Tantrums

7. ADHD-related behaviors such as planning, following routines, and executive functioning

8. Family routines that feel out of control

9. Navigating big emotions

10. School advocacy

11. Parenting children with an ODD diagnosis

12. Supporting neurodivergent girls

As mentioned above, a registered psychologist or clinical counselor might be helpful to seek out if your child has a diagnosed mental health issue.

5 Reasons You Need a Parent Coach

Parent coaching is a good way for you to up your game as a parent. Unlike family therapy where people are treated for mental health disorders, coaching helps improve any kind of family dynamic—even if things are going well. A coach/consultant can help give you ideas that might well improve your life and that of your kids. So read about five good reasons and benefits of working with a parent coach.

1. Responding More Thoughtfully

Parenting is a tough job. There are many times when you have to respond quickly and without thinking. But that’s not always the best way to go about handling things. Having a coach will help you learn how to react thoughtfully instead of impulsively. You’ll become more patient with your children, and you won’t be as quick to punish them for their mistakes. It also helps when you know what the next step should be when they act out or misbehave, making discipline more deliberate and firm. Parent coaching can also help you work on any personal issues that might be making it difficult for you to parent effectively. Whatever the cause may be, having a coach can help you explore these issues and come up with strategies to overcome them, making your parental skills an extension of the best version of you.

2. The Kids Want More Attention 

All kids want attention. It’s in their DNA. Growing up, children crave praise and attention for being who they are, and for doing what they do. Many parents don’t know how to keep up an earnest concern without seeming disingenuous or distracted. Kids can tell when attention is feigned or lacking. They get frustrated, which makes parents get stressed and deteriorates the entire family situation. Good parent coaches teach parents how to give their kids attention in a positive way so that it doesn’t backfire and lead to power struggles between parent and child. The coach will help you learn new skills to support growth and show children that you care.

3. Improving Communication

Parents often find themselves fighting a losing battle with kids who just won’t listen. But this isn’t inevitable. With good communication, families can build relationships that make successful parenting easier. It’s easy to get frustrated, angry, or bored when communication isn’t going well, so making sure it doesn’t break down should be a priority in maintaining a healthy family. A parent coach is trained to promote the fundamental level of communication required for all other parental activities. They recognize the difficulties of parenting, especially with busy lives and outside commitments. That’s why having someone interested in keeping the channels of communication open can be a boon to overworked parents. The time with your kids shouldn’t be spent figuring out how to talk to them, it should be spent enjoying each other’s company and sharing meaningful lessons.

4. Improving the Whole Family

Of course, the parent/child relationship is the bedrock of a parent coach’s concern, but the other dynamics are equally important. Relationships between partners and siblings also play a big role in the success of a family. Parent coaching can help work out the negative feelings that come from living in constant proximity or bring new life into relationships strained by distance. By promoting happy couples and quality siblinghood, the impact of parenting can go further with less effort. Coaches can pinpoint the points of tension by providing an outside perspective. Looking at a family as an objective observer can smooth out conflicts without hurting self-worth or setting a bad example. 

5. Best Practices

No parent is perfect but you are doing your kids a favor if you try to improve your skills.  The toughest issues of raising kids in the modern world are almost impossible to understand if you didn’t grow up in a similar environment. From social media to video games, to the strain of education, being a child today looks different than it did twenty, ten, or even five years ago. A parent coach is trained to know, quite simply, what’s best. Screentime, appropriate content, and other sensitive issues are easier to tackle with a professional who is well-versed in the research surrounding their impact on development. 

Regardless, you know your kids better than anyone else. You know what they need, you know how they learn, and you know what makes them happy. But do you always get the results you want? If you’re not, or you find it hard to get them, a parent coach may be right for you. A parent coach can help you put your existing parenting skills to work for you and your family and build new ones that will make the future easier and better. They can help you feel more confident in the decisions you make for your kids and help you find solutions to the problems that arise in this most difficult of jobs.

Six Benefits of Parent-Centered Coaching

Parent-centered coaching is about empowering and supporting you in your role as caregivers and educators. A Focused Approach. It aims to develop parenting skills and knowledge, recognizing your important role in a child’s development and well-being.

Some key benefits parents get from working with a parent coach using the Parent-Centered Approach are:

1. Empowerment:

Parent coaching emphasizes your expertise and unique perspective. It aims to empower you by increasing your confidence, skills, and understanding of your child’s needs. Coaching makes you more empowered and confident in your parenting abilities by being recognized and respected as a child expert.

2. Collaboration:

Parent coaching emphasizes collaboration between coaches and parents. The coach works with you to identify your goals, concerns, and challenges. Through active listening and open communication, coaches provide guidance, resources, and strategies that are aligned with your family’s needs and values.

3. Individualization:

Every family is unique. Parent coaching recognizes the importance of tailoring support to meet individual needs. Coaches work closely with parents to understand their circumstances, strengths, and areas for growth. The coach can help you develop effective parenting techniques for your situation by tailoring strategies and interventions.

4. Building Parent-Child Relationship:

Parent-child relationships are significant for the healthy development of children. Parent coaching recognizes this and emphasizes the importance of fostering and strengthening the bond between you and your child. Coaches understand the importance of positive, responsive interactions and can help improve communication and foster secure attachments.

5. Holistic Approach:

Parent coaching takes a holistic view of parenting, recognizing that various aspects of a parent’s life can impact their ability to provide optimal care for their child. Coaches consider factors such as parental self-care, stress management, and overall well-being. By addressing these broader aspects, coaching supports parents in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for their children.

6. Long-term Impact:

Parent coaching aims at sustainable, long-term change. Beyond coaching sessions, we provide the skills, knowledge, and strategies that will have a lasting positive impact on both children and the whole family.

7 Parent Coaching Techniques That Work

Parent coaching techniques are essential tools that can aid parents in navigating the challenges of raising children in today’s fast-paced world. Here are some effective strategies that can do wonders if done properly:

1. Become aware

The foundation of effective parenting is awareness. By observing your feelings, words, actions, and the environment around you, you can identify patterns and trends. Such heightened awareness can be uncomfortable, but it’s crucial for understanding and addressing challenges. Journaling can further support this process, offering clarity and tracking progress.

2. Listen with purpose

Active listening is vital. It means setting aside distractions and fully engaging with your child, ensuring they feel heard and understood. Even a few minutes of undivided attention daily can make a significant difference.

3. Hold space

Remember the scene from Pixar’s “Inside Out” where Sadness listens to Bing Bong without offering solutions? That’s holding space. It’s about being present and allowing your child to express their feelings without judgment or immediate solutions.

4. Get curious

Instead of always offering answers, ask questions. This approach promotes understanding and opens the door to your child’s perspective. By being curious, you can uncover the motivations behind their behaviors, leading to more effective problem-solving.

5. Simplify

The modern world is overwhelming. As parents, you can structure your child’s environment to reduce distractions and create more room for relaxation and play. This might mean decluttering their space, setting screen time limits, or revising the weekly schedule.

6. Choose playfulness

Differentiate between playing (engaging in joyful activities) and being playful (maintaining a lighthearted attitude). While it’s essential to play with your child, being playful in everyday interactions can facilitate a positive environment. This approach doesn’t mean being permissive; it’s about delivering messages with a positive, playful tone.

7. Create a connection

Building a strong parent-child bond is paramount. Small acts of loving attention, like a reassuring smile or a gentle embrace, can nurture this connection. This bond not only supports your child’s emotional development but also serves as a foundation for trust and understanding.

What to Look for in a Parent Coach

While there are some parent-coaching certification programs, there is no official parent-coaching degree, and there are no regulations around who can call themself a "parent coach." So it's up to the parent to do some research to make sure a coach will offer what they need.

Some coaches specialize in a certain developmental stage, while others might hone in on a particular issue like struggles over technology. Almost all will offer a pro bono introductory session so you can find out if their coaching style is a fit for you.

Just remember: to make the most out of working with a parent coach, you have to be willing to take a deep look at your impulses and what's causing your challenges at home.

Tips When Hiring Parenting Coaches Near Me

Tip #1: COMMUNICATE WHO IS ON YOUR ENTIRE TEAM WITH YOUR PARENT COACH.

If you are working with a therapist, counselor, or other coaches, share that with your parent coach. They will want to make sure the strategies align. Working with people from different perspectives points you in different directions would be confusing.

T.I.P. #2: SET UP BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR PARENT COACH.

During that first call, it is so important that you speak openly and honestly with your parent coach. If there are topics that you want out of bounds- share those. Coaches empower clients by asking questions. Sometimes those questions might start to poke triggers you weren't even aware of. When talking with a parent coach for the first time- set up a PAUSE word for when things get too tough for you. Your parent coach will not want you to feel caught in a corner, so setting up a strong boundary will empower both parties to speak openly and clearly with each other!

T.I.P. #3: ASK FOR HELP BEFORE THINGS GET WORSE AGAIN.

After you work with your coach, the goal is to feel awesome as you are doing the work. It's natural to slip back into your old habits and welcome in the old ways- sometimes simply because it's easier in the short term. But when things start to get to be too much, or you have the gut feeling that it's going off course- REACH OUT AND SCHEDULE A SESSION! Investing in a tune-up is better than getting to the point where "things are back to how they were before we worked together." There are ways to prevent a total landslide and give you that respite- but you must reach out to your support network.

Sources:

Coach Foundation

Jai Institute for Parenting

CHC Online

Be Kind Coaching

Birt Law

Popsugar

PTS Coaching

Self Care Impact

Kidslink

Informed Families

Marriage

Behavioral Collective