Life coaching for teenagers
Somewhere to think out loud that is not school, not home, and not therapy. We work out what you actually want, and what gets in the way of it, with someone who is not going to lecture you.
What we work on
The stuff nobody really helps you figure out
Coaching is practical. We start with what is actually going on in your life right now, not a questionnaire.
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Working out what you want
School, work, a trade, moving out, none of the above. We look at what you want rather than what everyone keeps telling you to want.
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Getting started when you are stuck
Knowing what to do and doing it are different problems. We work on the second one, in steps small enough to make it happen.
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Confidence that is not fake
Speaking up, making a decision, handling it when something goes badly. Built from real situations, not affirmations.
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Friendships and relationships
Working out which people are good for you, how to say no, and what to do when a relationship is not a good one.
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Pressure and overwhelm
When everything feels like too much at once, we sort out what is urgent, what is noise, and what you can put down.
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Getting on better at home
You may not be able to change your parents. You can change how these conversations go, and that usually changes the temperature at home.
Understanding the options
What a life coach for teenagers actually does
A teen life coach is someone in your corner who is not grading you, parenting you or reporting back on you. We meet regularly, talk about what is going on, and work out what you are going to do next.
It is forward looking. We spend less time on why things are the way they are and more on what would make this week better than last week. You set the goals. I ask the questions that make them clearer, and help you stick with it.
Sessions happen by video, so it works wherever you live, and you do not need a parent sitting in.
Is coaching the same as therapy?
No. I am a licensed therapist in Texas, but coaching is a different service. Coaching is about goals, decisions, and momentum. Therapy treats mental health conditions. If what you are dealing with needs therapy, I will tell you honestly and help you find the right person.
Who you would be working with
Meet Allie
I am Allie Haydon, and I have spent fifteen years working with teenagers and young adults. Residential programs, outpatient work, alternative peer groups and recovery high schools, so very little surprises me.
I am a straight shooter. I will tell you what I actually think rather than what sounds nice, and I use humor when things get heavy. Most of the young people I work with say that is the reason they kept showing up.
I am not here to report back to your parents or to talk you into their plan for you. I am here to help you work out your plan.
How it works
How coaching works
Three steps, and you can change your mind at any of them.
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Get in touch
You or a parent can reach out. Tell me roughly what is going on, in as much or as little detail as you want.
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A short consultation
A quick conversation to see whether this feels right. No pressure, and no commitment if it does not.
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Start coaching
We meet by video and get to work on whatever matters most to you first.
Not sure if this is for you?
Most people are not sure at first. A short conversation costs nothing and you will know pretty quickly.
Who I work with
If any of this sounds familiar
A few of the things people say in our first conversation.
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"Everyone keeps asking what my plan is"
You are meant to have it figured out, and you do not. The question is starting to feel like an accusation.
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"I know what to do, I just don't do it"
The list exists. The motivation does not. Nothing moves and then you feel worse about it.
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"Home is exhausting right now"
Every conversation turns into the same argument, and you have stopped bothering to explain yourself.
For parents
If you are the parent reading this
Coaching works best when your teenager has some say in it, so it helps if they are at least willing to try a first conversation. You are welcome to make the initial contact and to be part of that call.
If your teenager is not open to it yet, that is common, and there is still plenty you can do. Have a look at parent coaching, where the work is with you instead. When things change at home, young people often come around on their own terms.
You do not have to have it all worked out
That is rather the point. You just need somewhere to start, and someone who takes you seriously while you do.
Experience
A bit about my background
Fifteen years of this work, and most of it in the harder rooms.
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15
Years spent with teenagers, young adults and their families
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3
Licences held: LPC-S, LMFT-S and LCDC
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6
Levels of care I have worked in, from residential through to outpatient
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TX
Licensed across Texas, based right here in Houston
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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Teenagers from thirteen upward, and young adults. If you are under thirteen, I am not the right fit, and I am happy to point you somewhere better.
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No. Coaching is available anywhere in the US, and internationally too. Therapy is the only service I offer that is limited to Texas.
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No. Coaching is about goals, decisions and getting moving. It does not diagnose or treat anything. If therapy would help you more, I will say so rather than keep you in coaching.
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A parent usually sets things up and handles payment, but the sessions are yours. I will not report back on what you say. The exception is safety: if I am worried you or someone else is in danger, I will tell you and we will work out the next steps together.
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It depends on what you are working on. Some people come for a few sessions to get through a specific decision. Others prefer regular support over a few months. We will agree on a plan in the consultation, and you can stop whenever you feel ready.
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$175 a session, and it is the same rate whatever we are doing, so there is nothing to work out in advance. Coaching is paid privately, as insurance does not cover coaching. If you are not sure what you need yet, book a consultation and we will work it out first.
Fancy a conversation?
Life coaching for teenagers, by video, anywhere in the US.