Parent coaching is a relatively new subset of personal coaching that was thrust into the spotlight in 2007 when a Los Angeles County Court ordered Britney Spears to work with a parent coach or lose custody of her children. Most families seeking coaching are not court ordered, nor in crisis; they simply want help with issues such as school related problems, discipline decisions, shared parenting, and more.
Why Hire a Parent Coach?
Parent coaches are professionals who work with parents to help them develop a sense of direction, consistency, and satisfaction in their role as parents. Though many parents hire a coach for a specific issue such as toddler tantrums, or a defiant teen, the goal of coaching is broader. Most parent coachs' websites say their purpose is to empower parents by giving them a set of strategies and skills to enable them to handle any parenting challenge, present or future, in a thoughtful, positive way.
How Does it Work?
Coaches usually work with one or both parents in a series of conversations over a period of eight to twelve weeks. Often these weekly conversations take place on the phone. This is not only convenient, but means parent coaching is available to families worldwide.
What is the Parent Coaching Process?
Though coaches have individual styles, generally they help parents discover the positive aspects of their situation, focus on their preferred future, and work with parents to design actions that move them toward their long-term goals. The coach asks thought-provoking questions, provides resources, support, and accountability for parents. Parent coaching is not counseling, which focuses on healing hurts from the past. Instead, coaching focuses on creating a better future.
What Does Parent Coaching Cost?
A typical session costs $50 to $100 an hour, though some coaches offer discounts when clients pay for several sessions in advance. Currently coaching is not covered by most health care plans often making it a luxury limited to affluent families. Most parent coaches offer free introductory sessions, allowing parents the opportunity to ask questions, get a feel for the style and personality of the coach, and to discuss fees and schedules
What to Consider When Hiring a Parent Coach
Parents should not assume all coaches have the same education or training. There is no licensing board or regulatory agency for parent coaches, though most tend to be professionals who’ve worked with families in other fields such as education, family counseling, social work or pediatrics. There are a variety of parent coach training programs from independent study courses lasting a few weeks to an intensive year long, post-graduate program offered through Seattle Pacific University by the Parent Coaching Institute in Bellevue, Washington. The Parent Coaching Institute maintains a directory of their certified coaches on their website.
At some point during the child rearing years, most parents could benefit from a little additional support. Increasingly, parent coaching is an option many parents are choosing.
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