It can be easier to trust a family coach who helps families get through parenting challenges every day. They employ parenting techniques backed by research. They are there to support parents, not judge them or go against their beliefs and values. They are there to ensure children can thrive in a safe environment.
Whether you are a parent who is struggling with how to discipline a child or having problems connecting with your teenager, a family coach can be a big help to you.
What is a Family Coach?
A family coach comes in to help families who come across challenges that can be tough to handle. Similar to a company that needs a business advisor, a family can also benefit from a family coach. That person can give your family considers all sides of the coin and can give insight into loopholes individual members of the family may be missing.
Kim Allen, co-founder of Family Life Coaching Association shared that a family coach is all about helping families identify their goals, and help them towards achieving those family goals, WRAL News reported. They provide both answers and support.
How is a Family Coach Different from a Therapist and Psychologist?
In therapy, the focus is on mental health and emotional healing. Meanwhile, a family coach is focused on helping a family set and achieve goals. Family coaching is a field in its beginning stages. In essence, its work is similar to that of a life coach. A family coach has a background in the psychology of coaching as well as in family science. They are trained in resolving family issues that do not require a clinical mental health doctor or psychologist.
A family coach may help a family who is going through divorce. They help families with children across ages. They help families through a breadth of family issues. They help families through transitions and even now amid the pandemic as families are challenged to adapt to the new normal.
A Family Coach has a Birds-Eye View
A family coach is not there to side with a specific member of the family. Neither is the family coach there to contradict any parent. Yet, a third party advisor can offer insight that parents and children fail to see. For instance, when a child is acting out, they are communicating an unmet need. A family coach can help parents navigate through an evidence-based approach specific to the child's behavior.
Family Coaching is Non-Intrusive
"It is very seldom a long process," family coach Allen revealed. Family coaches come as needed. Some families may need to call for the service of a family coach again in the future as conflicts arise. Allen revealed that a family coach will address a specific issue over the course of 4-6 sessions.
Hiring a Family Coach does not Create a Stigma
There is nothing to be embarrassed about seeking the services of a family coach. Family coaching does not have the same stigma as parent education classes and therapy. "We promote family coaching because there is no stigma which psychology and education have," the family coach said. In essence, you have a trained expert help your family work as a team towards achieving a common goal.
The main reason for parenting struggles may not be what you think. The parenting coach revealed that most of the time the issue is not necessarily about the parent-child relationship. Rather, family issues often arise due to a parent-parent relationship. Like when mom and dad are not on the same page, the children become confused. This can be tougher when going through divorce and parents are transitioning to co-parenting. As it is, when parents work as a team, it makes a big difference in the children's behaviors.
Family Coaching Leads to Harmonious, Happy Family Living
A family coach often comes in when parents are agitated, kids are unhappy, and family members are neglected or abused. They can help reduce the stress in the family's environment. They see the potential benefit for all family members, and help them work towards those benefits. They can help families repair damaged relationships and achieve balance in the quality of relationships within the family.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Family
A family coach may recommend families to work with the church or other community resources. They are trained to determine when behavior requires therapy or psychology education. The family coach will act as a strong support when parents are in crisis until they can get back on their feet. They remain calm, armed with their knowledge, and offer hope to families who are feeling hopeless, Safe Families for Children revealed.
