People are always looking for better ways to raise a family, and even the best parents need some help. So that’s why many moms and dads are turning to a coach. Juli Auclair tells us about the growing trend of parent coaching for prioritizing parents.
Lisa and Bryan Levey of Woburn are like most parents: juggling work, life, and kids.
"With 2 boys there's a lot of physical intensity and um sometimes that can be a lot for me, you know," Lisa explains.
So for help, she's called in a coach.
"It's not another layer of education, it's more sort of practical skill building," Lisa says.
"If you're questioning things all the time, am I doing this right or not sometimes it's just someone coming in and saying yeah that seems reasonable to me," Bryan adds.
Lisa schedules phone appointments with her coach from the Parent Coaching Institute in Bellevue, Washington. This allows her to hash out new ways to become a better parent. Sessions run about 75 dollars.
"The reason I like the coach concept is they build on your strengths," Lisa says.
The Leveys are not alone; coaching is fast becoming the hottest trends to hit the playroom, helping moms and dads to develop and fine tune their parenting skills.
Coaches help on a variety of issues from discipline, child development, sibling rivalry, temper tantrums, and more.
Donna Mayerson is head of coaching from another popular coaching company, called aboutmykids.com.
"All of our coaches are trained professionals that have a counseling background," Mayerson explains. "It's good for any parent."
Aboutmykids.com provides help over the phone and online.
"We're not about advice giving, we're really about clever problem solving," Mayerson says. "So really, helping parents develop their own tools."
Dr. Eli Newburger is the Director of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital. He says, while he's all for parents looking for help, he's concerned about any kind of advice that is being doled out and from whom.
"But just because its new, just because its dressed up in the clothing of modern technology doesn't necessarily mean that its good," Dr. Newburger says. "A person called on the telephone or sent an internet message may not ask the appropriate questions or even know how to approach these issues."
Dr. Newburger worries a child in crisis will not get the right help. But, parent coaching organizations claim that when a person is properly trained, they not only help empower parents, but they also help detect issues that would warrant therapy.
Donna Mayerson says aboutmykids.com makes referrals to appropriate resources for parents.
Boston work and life coach Sharon Teitelbaum says for some, being a better parent is learning how to balance careers and kids.
"In this coaching conversation, people are able to see actually what's going on for them and they can take some action," Teitelbaum explains.
As for the Leveys, coaching is about having a sounding board.
"It makes us better parents and so that sort of brings down the anxiety level in the house," Bryan says.
The costs of parent coaching range depending on the company and sometimes it's covered in an employee benefit package. For more information, click the links below.
Dr. Eli Newberger
About My Kids
Hummingbird Coaching Services, LLC
312 Walnut Street, Suite 2525
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513.287.6529
877.240.4588
The Parent Coaching Institute
16148 SE 16th St.
Bellevue, WA 98008
206.654.2994
888.599.4447
http://www.parentcoachinginstitute.com
Sharon Teitelbaum-Life and Career Coach
165 Irving St
Watertown, MA 02472
617.926.8393
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