Why Life Coaching Therapy Could Be the Answer for Your Teen Boy
As an unprecedented number of teens struggle through growing up in the aftermath of Covid, the toxicity of social media, and the addictive nature of video games, many parents are searching for ways to help their children. Parents may especially struggle to find support for their teen boys, as many young men are opposed to seeing a traditional therapist. And who can blame them? Our culture has often portrayed therapy as being geared towards women or a sign that someone isn’t able to handle their own problems. Worse, going to therapy could be seen as a sign that someone has a serious mental illness. Additionally, therapy is often focused on feelings and emotions which many teen boys don’t feel comfortable talking about. Life coaching therapy could be the perfect fit for these young men!
What is Life Coaching Therapy?
Life coaching therapy is a therapeutic style similar to solution-focused therapy or motivational interviewing. This type of therapy is focused on harnessing motivation to tackle problems by identifying strengths, learning new skills, and developing new ways of behaving. This process is focused on empowering each person to take control of their own lives and take steps towards a healthier and more successful version of themselves.
Life coaching therapy involves a five-step process:
Identify the problem by increasing self-awareness and discussing situations where the problem arises.
Set goals for the type of person you want to be, how you want to show up, and the values you want to live by.
Figure out what obstacles lie between the problem state you are in and your goals.
Break the obstacles down into manageable steps and create a plan for how you will overcome them.
Regularly check in with your life coaching therapist throughout the process in order to update the plan and deal with new difficulties as they show up.
Why Is This an Especially Good Fit for Teen Boys?
Many teen boys are unwilling to see a traditional therapist due to the stigmas associated with therapy or to personal discomfort with the idea of discussing feelings and emotions. However, they might not have the same discomfort with Life Coaching!
It is not associated with Mental Illness
They already have other types of coaches involved in their lives
It is focused on problem-solving and growing as a person rather than sharing feelings
It is goal-oriented and focused on creating action
It specifically targets motivation, responsibility, and taking ownership of life which many young men struggle with
The process helps create a template that they can continue to use to solve problems in life
Takes some pressure off of parents who may already be experiencing strained relationships with their teen
What is different between this and regular life coaching?
Regular life coaching can be a great solution for many people! However, if mental health, behavioral or developmental issues are involved it might be best to see a trained therapist. Whether it is anxiety, ADHD, relational issues, depression, or behavior concerns, a licensed therapist will know how to help! And while work may start out as just problem-solving and goal setting, as the teen starts to feel more comfortable with the therapist they are often willing to start talking about difficult emotions and experiences. A good therapist can also turn around and offer additional support to families by providing parent coaching, family therapy sessions, or important referrals.
Meet the Author
Life Coaching Therapist
Teen & Emerging Adult Specialist
Caleb works with teens and young adults to help them overcome obstacles to live successful, flourishing lives that they can be proud of.
