Your Family Matters   

What is life coaching? 

Life coaching is a partnership which helps clients identify and build on their strengths in order to create the life they want.  Change is inevitable and often holds people back.  A coach helps you break through what keeps you from moving forward, and change obstacles into opportunities for extraordinary results.  Your focus shifts from 'what's wrong' to 'what could be', and then anything is possible!

Parent coaching, in particular, helps you develop specific skills for being a
more effective, positive parent.  Your children didn't come with an owner's manual, so it may feel as if you're making it up as you go.  Your children's emotions and attitudes change so quickly that it's hard to keep up.  What worked with your ten-year old won't work with a sixteen-year old.

At Your Family Matters we believe that parenting (and life) are simpler when you know exactly what your values are, and you live those values to the best of your ability.  You are your child's most important teacher and she is always watching you, even if she's not listening to you.  When you 'walk the talk' you show your child how it's done.  With expert coaching and nationally recognized parenting and coaching programs, you will have the tools and self-confidence to lead your teen into self-sufficient, confident adulthood.

The Ten Priorities (made famous by the character development program of  Hyde School in Bath, Maine) have helped thousands of families to create respectful, loving and responsible relationships between parents and teens. These priorities will bring clarity to decision-making with your teen.  You'll never make a mistake when you know your core principles and stand by them.

How important is attitude compared to ability?  Do you value failure as well as success?  How do you respond to difficult situations?  These are important questions we will address  as you fine-tune the way you parent.

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen (developed by Faber & Mazlish) provides the skills to go from silence to sharing and from conflict to calm in your family.  We'll help you:

* develop the listening skills that will make you a trusted adult when there's something important to talk about.

* shift responsibility back to your teen by teaching problem-solving skills.

* help your teens understand and accept the consequences of their choices and actions.

 **See the Services page for specific information on parent coaching, group and teen coaching programs.