Kids Life Coaching as an alternative to therapy
Recently I read a great article in Positive Psychology that made me feel so proud!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that Kids Life Coaching is finally being acknowledged in therapy circles...
The article spoke about the different types of therapy available to parents. Right there...at the bottom they had a specially allocated section called Child Coaching which they endorsed as another option for parents seeking therapy.
"Though not therapy, coaching can provide an additional resource to help your child. The benefits of coaching can add to a parent’s arsenal for battling behavioral distress. Coaches have special skills to support kids in developing resilience and other personal skills that will serve them throughout their life."
Whilst we are "seemingly" at the bottom of this list of interventions at first glance...Kids Life Coaching is no longer being ignored. Since 2003, I have been working hard to regulate the industry and to raise the standards and at last it is paying off.
Kids Life Coaching when done properly and ethically and sustainably with proper measurement tools in place can replace the need for therapy.
I always tell my global team of Kids Life Studio Coaches that they need to rely not only on their formal assessment of the child, but also on their intuition when making recommendations and possible referrals for further therapy.
All of us want to help, but sometimes it isn't in our remit, and a responsible coach will always refer on to a therapist if the need arises...however in my experience having coached children for over two decades ...majority of the time, coaching is effective and therapy isn't needed.
The fact is that very often, parents don't know where to get help when things go 'wrong' and if you read this list of different kinds of therapists in the Positive Psychology article it can be VERY confusing!! The trick is for parents to catch the problem before it spirals out of control so that therapy isn't needed!
A Kids Life Coach that is properly trained will know how to classify and categorise a child and to determine if they are able to assist. They are the glue that sticks their community together and if they are PROPER career Kids Life Coaches (not just the part-time dabble here and there kind...) then they will have a strong referral network and won't feel the need to work with the client just for the sake of making money....(I see that happen far too often in coaches who irresponsibly work with children who have been faced with trauma)
I believe every parent should start with a life coach for their child when faced with problems rather than dive head first into therapy. However just like in the case of looking for the right therapist, parents need to look for the right Kids Life Coach.
I am proud to say that all of our Kids Life Studio brand ambassadors are screened with an interview and then they have to provide their credentials, they undergo first aid training, they have child protection policies in place, the proper insurances but most of all they have had the PROPER training!
There are far too many irresponsible companies that are offering Kids Life Coach Training without proper structures in place to support the coaches in ethical and sustainable Kids Life Coaching. The things you should ask these companies is this...
1. Who is the founder?
If they don't have the education and a background reflecting they have put in the work to understand child development, stay away! If they aren't out there as a voice for children and making changes in policies as a mental health advocate...think again.
2. Who designed the training?
If it is an adult life coach...be wary...coaching children is NOT the same as coaching adults. If they don't have the experience actually having used the training themselves think again....
3. What credentials does the trainer have?
If the trainer and/or the founder doesn't have a psychology or equivalent degree and they haven't been involved in any research work think again....
4. Does the trainer/founder actually coach children THEMSELVES?
If the trainer hasn't coached children themselves for a minimum of 10 years and they don't have their own measurable track record with testimonials think again....
5. Do they have a heart for children?
If the company doesn't share your values for putting children first and they compromise on this in any way by spending money on elaborate marketing campaigns to get feet through the door rather than rely on word of mouth and good results...thing again...
6. Is there personal care and attention?
If you are just a number and going through a "sausage machine" of students and the training is purely online with no mentorship or support...think again...
As the founder of Kids Life Studio® Coach Academy, I can assure you that my company The Kids Life Studio ticks all the boxes above....feel free to check us out or fill in an application to become a certified Kids Life Coach.
I wish you well in your journey to becoming a world-class Kids Life Coach. Remember that what you put in is what you will get out.
Regards with Zeal
Zelna Zeal
Kids Life Studio & Kids Life Coach Academy Founder
