Why Me as Your Life Coach

  I’ll never forget the moment I knew my special talent was listening to people and offering supportive feedback.   A childhood friend of mine, from first grade, sought me out in high school. As we walked around the school, her sharing her current angst and I offering a safe space to be heard, she said, “No matter what happens, how close or far apart we get, I know I can always come talk to you about anything.” 

That's when I knew. 
That’s when it happened. 
This was my thing. 
This is what I would do, “when I grow up.” 
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With that calling guiding me, I went onto University at Buffalo to study Psychology and then Boston University School of Social Work for my Master in Social Work.  This gave me the education, training and credentials to practice as a Clinical Social Worker, aka therapist. 

Since 2000, I have extensively studied the social-emotional development of children, particularly young children.  In 2003, I began working with over 200 young children in a Head Start program. Head Start is a national, federally-funded, early education program that serves children between the ages of 3-5 years old. As I continued to work with other Head Start programs, I advanced into upper management positions. 

I, also, worked in Foster Care agencies and a local, non-profit, outpatient, mental health clinic for children from the ages of 3-17 years old.  The last position of my career was with Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education. 
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As I delivered play therapy services to individual children at my first position at Head Start, I made this observation: 

 I noticed that while I may spend 30min with a children in a 1:1 setting, their parent is with them every other hour of the day, day of the week and weeks of the year. 

 If I am going to truly impact a child’s social-emotional trajectory, supporting their parent(s) in their approach with their child is what’s required. 

 So I devised my own approach. 
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My unique approach of helping parents with their children, is that I work entirely, and sometimes solely, with parents.  I may never meet with your child. In most cases, I don’t. 

 Yet, parents over and over again say they are gaining, noticeably-improved interactions with their children, and some experience a deepening of their bond. 
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 This is critically significant for your child. 

 With my approach they do not become the identified patient/client/problem that needs fixing.  Children, already, experience tremendous stress, leading to anxiety and depression rates in our country that are only mounting. 

 As the parent, you hold the empowerment to greatly shift dynamics in your family, between you and your child.  And since this is coaching, no one needs to be identified as the “client” because it’s not therapy.  This also means no one needs to be diagnosed for us to do the work together, as we support your family.
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A current client had this to say, during just her fourth session with me: 

 I don’t know what kind of magic wand you have but things have changed so much at home. Less fighting, screaming, yelling. 

 Things are calmer, more peaceful, and nice conversations are happening at the dinner table, and to/from school. 

 She added, "I wish I found you sooner!" 
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And, to this client’s credit, she trusts my observations, suggestions and guidance.  She and her spouse implement the strategies I offer.   The change is a two-part process: 
my expertise, and the client’s implementation. 
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I have 4 openings starting in May for parent coaching clients. 

 If you would like to schedule a complimentary, 15-min consultation before the end of April, please text me at 8457977146, or follow this link for a submission form online. 
https://heatherlynnbarton.com/contact