What is Parent Coaching?

Parent coaching is an approach for parents and their children that provides caregivers with specific and goal-oriented strategies to improve both the behavior of children and strengthen family relationships. Like any other type of coach, a parent coach gives directions and support to those caring for children to implement new actions and foster positive outcomes in their children and family dynamic. This approach can be tailored to address a variety of struggles and parenting challenges. It involves the teaching and coaching of parents and caregivers in learning skills and strategies to support the development of their child or address behavioral challenges. A parent coach can help you offer a neutral, unbiased perspective of your specific situation and implement individualized strategies to help you along.

The reason why parent coaching works is because parents can utilize the skills that they are taught in any scenario, and the child learns through their trusted caregiver. This is why the parents meet with the parenting coach to learn real-world skills and implement them with their child—an effective strategy to support their child in a consistent way in many different contexts. This differs from a child seeing a behavioral therapist and practicing behavioral skills in the therapy space, where the lessons learned may be isolated to that context. 

Common topics of parent coaching include, but are not limited to:

• Enforcing house and behavior rules such as chores, bedtime, and manners
• Balancing structure while still building child independence
• Daily struggles such as meal times or homework
• Helping your child overcome fears
• Improving the communication and trust between you and your child

It is important to remember that seeking parent coaching is not a sign of being a “failed” or “bad” parent. Rather, parent coaches work alongside you—building skills you likely already possess to strengthen bonds with your child and create a more harmonious household. A trusted parenting coach is a judgment-free space where you are able to work through the challenges and struggles you face as a parent and develop tools to navigate through these times without fear. Every parent understands the struggle, and you do not have to work through the hard times without help.

Co-parent Coaching

Parent coaching is suitable for parents in any marital situation, such as single or married, as well as for foster parents, grandparents, nannies, and parents of children with various needs or behavioral challenges. However, parent coaching can be especially beneficial for developing strong co-parenting techniques between parents who are separated or divorced. This form of parent coaching supports parents in building healthy approaches between each other as well as with their child, creating stable and child-centered strategies for family resolutions. We help co-parents come together through parent coaching—when you’re on the same page, the entire family will benefit.

The path may look different for each child and family unit. What works for one family is not a perfect fit for every other family, and so it is important for a parent coach to tailor strategies to your specific situation.

Premier Counseling Center is ready to connect you with a parent coach who will support you at your current stage and help you move forward. Schedule a consultation today to discuss more about what parent coaching can do for you and your loved ones.

Serving all of Florida, including Boca Raton and surrounding areas: Learn more about parent coaching in Boca Raton with Premier Counseling Center.