Kids & Family Coaching
As a Kids & Family Coach, I serve as a trusted intermediary and support system for parents and their children.
I co-facilitate the development of children’s emotional literacy and wellbeing, while working with the parents to develop a deeply nurturing and supportive dialogue within the family system.
Kids experience all the same emotions that adults do, but in much tinier bodies, and with way less language to identify, process, and express what they’re feeling.
This often leads to frustration, anxiety, and behavioral challenges that leave both child and parent feeling unseen, unheard, and at a loss. My role is to bridge that gap by helping children to understand, feel, and regulate their emotions, in a safe, healthy, and happy way.
HOW I WORK WITH KIDS
: I: i::→ Emotional Literacy: I help kids learn how to identify and process challenging emotions, and teach them how to communicate back to their parents
→ Social Anxiety: I build kids’ confidence, assist them in friend-making strategies & the navigation of bullying, social media, and peer dynamics
→ Mindfulness Techniques: I teach kids easy-to-remember tools, strategies, and visualizations to help ground their nervous system during times of stress
→ Focus, Attention, and Intrusive Thoughts: I provide techniques and support for children to improve focus, manage attention, and handle intrusive or challenging thoughts.
Parents can experience a range of emotions when they see their child struggling, too.
Many parents I work with feel burnt-out and overwhelmed, and often it leads to guilt for not always feeling like they can be the best version of themselves. Together with the parent, I create a safe space to process and navigate the dynamics of parenthood and personal identity.
HOW I WORK WITH PARENTS
→ PARENTAL SUPPORT. I create a space space for parents to share and process, ensuring they feel seen and understood.
→ INTEGRATION: I teach parents skills & strategies to work with their kids at home, reinforcing the emotional literacy work the child is receiving in sessions.
→ EMOTIONAL LITERACY: Parents often need support in navigating their own emotional landscape, too. I guide them through this work, enhancing their ability to show up for themselves as individuals, as partners, and as parents.
→ A LA CARTE SUPPORT: Parents have the option to add on additional 1:1 calls, where our focus is solely dedicated on the parent as an individual.
The Family Coaching Ecosystem
STRUCTURE & DETAILS
→ Family Coaching has a minimum 3 month commitment
→ Weekly, 45-minute sessions with the child.
→ Monthly, 60-minute session with the parent(s).
→ Weekly updates and communication with the parent(s).
→ All sessions are on Zoom; in-person available for
Mid-Hudson Valley, NY residents.
FAMILY SYSTEMS COACHING
methodology
Consistency & Trust
Regular weekly sessions with the child build consistency and trust, creating a safe space for them to express their emotions and challenges openly
Continuous Progress
Frequent interactions allow for continuous monitoring and support of the child’s emotional and social development. This consistency helps in addressing issues as they arise and ensures steady progress.
Tailored Child Support
Each session is tailored to the child’s current needs, whether it’s building emotional literacy, boosting confidence, or managing stress. Weekly calls allow for adjustments to the approach based on the child’s evolving needs.
Integrated Parental Support
Monthly calls with parents ensure that they are fully engaged in the coaching process. Parents are also able to add on additional 1:1 coaching calls and healing calls, where the focus is on the parent’s emotional health and identity as an individual.
Parental Feedback
Parent sessions provide an opportunity for parents to share their observations and feedback, allowing for adjustments to the coaching plan. This collaborative approach ensures that the support system around the child is cohesive and effective.
Candace G.'s experience with Kids & Family Coaching
“A few years ago, we were forced to recognize that our son (age 12) was struggling emotionally. He was overly worrisome and holding himself back from his potential, his happiness and his life.
To say the least, this was a significant challenge to the vision I had for him and our family.
We were so fortunate to begin working with Amanda and rediscover the sense of our relationship with our son, as well as a great easing of the many concerns we held.
From the very initial sessions, it was clear that Amanda understood John’s highly guarded points of fragility and the obstacles he was up against. This remained Amanda’s great strength as she steadfastly accompanied him, handing him tools, comfort and an open-minded approach to his challenges.
My son had been weighed down with different anxieties and a lack of self confidence, often frozen with perfectionism, standoffishness and unwillingness to apply himself. Amanda and he have been able to improve these areas together and most recently, have begun to relate their work directly to his functioning at school, with wonderful results. Most importantly, together they have enhanced his ability to support himself, and see the results he longs for and he feels satisfied with.
What has been the greatest resource for me as a parent is the intuitive nature that Amanda is able to use in her work, alongside her depth of knowledge for her profession. In this way, she has been able to show me so much about my child and who he is in the world, beyond what I have known and have been able to see without her perspective.
And, time and time again, as I speak to her about my wishes or needs for my son, she is already ahead of me on how and why to work on these areas for his own growth and goodness. I have also had to contact her in emergency situations where I felt lost, and I not only received the help requested but was always reassured to see the distance he has traveled and often the releasing of deeper patterns.
We were seeking guidance in what seemed to be a situation with no clear path forward and in the present day, we are feeling the freedom that comes from significant growth, orientation and a solid foundation and I find myself more grateful than I can even express to Amanda for the work she has shared with us.”
– Candace Gillen, Parent and Client
Meet Your Coach
Hi, I’m Amanda!
Parents see me as a trusted intermediary, a bridge that connects them to their children in meaningful ways. Kids see me as a trusted friend or big sister – someone who genuinely cares about their well-being and makes it a priority to truly understand them.
I approach each child with empathy and curiosity, striving to understand what makes them tick, what brings them joy, and what causes them sadness. By building a strong, trusting relationship, I create a safe space where children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings openly. This deep understanding allows me to tailor my coaching to their unique needs and personalities, ensuring that they receive the support and guidance they need to thrive.
My coaching style is rooted in authentic connection, and I approach each interaction with empathy and compassion. I listen attentively to both the children and their parents, ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected. This approach helps me gather important insights and fosters open communication within the family.
Above all, my heart is in this for you. By maintaining this balanced and empathetic coaching style, I help families navigate their emotional journeys together, creating lasting positive changes and fostering a harmonious and supportive family dynamic.
Happy clients, happy families
– Erin Buckley, Parent and Client