Determining the Right Support for Your Child

Every day we talk to parents willing to go to any length to get the support their child needs, but they are often overwhelmed by all of the different options. We hope this explanation of the types of support available is useful as you consider the best route for your child.

Tutor
A tutor is a great option for a child who is struggling academically. Consider a tutor if your child could use support with:

• content knowledge–a specific content area (English, math, etc) that they are struggling with
• organization and time-management–keeping track of notes and assignments and planning
  for larger projects
• note-taking, study skills, and/or test-taking strategies
• critical thinking

Because tutors are not required to have a certain level of education or licensure, it is up to the
consumer to determine a tutor’s qualifications. Tutors are usually teachers or other education professionals or current or past students who performed well in an area of study. Before hiring a tutor, verify their education, experience, and other credentials.

Therapist
According to TalkSpace “‘Therapist’ is an all encompassing term referring to psychotherapists,
psychologists, and counselors.”

• Psychotherapists–psychotherapy “can be provided by a number of different types of
  professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed
  professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurses, and
  others with specialized training in psychotherapy,” according to the American Psychiatric
  Association. There are many different types of psychotherapy, but one of the most common is cognitive behavioral therapy, in which “the goal is to change clients’ thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations.”
• Psychologists–The American Psychological Association explains that psychologists “help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems” using a variety of techniques and treatments, mainly psychotherapy. Psychologists have a doctoral degree in the field of psychology and the clinical training to evaluate and diagnose psychological conditions.
• Counselors–Counseling is defined by the American Counseling Association as “a
  professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.” Counselors typically require a graduate degree in therapy, counseling, or social work and licensure with the state where they practice.
• Psychiatrists–The American Psychiatric Association describes psychiatry as “the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.” As physicians, “psychiatrists can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests” and can prescribe medication and other medical treatments.

Life Coach
Just as a dance or soccer coach works with their students to improve skills and performance in their sport, life coaches work with their clients to improve skills and performance in life. Life coaches are typically individuals who have experienced growth and success in one or more areas of life and share their personal knowledge with clients to assist their clients in reaching personal and/or professional goals. Life coaches are action- and goal-oriented. While there are some similarities to therapy, life coaching acknowledges the impact of past events and future worries while focusing on the power of our mindset and actions to achieve the results we want in both the present and future.

Mentor Coach
At Positive Presence we add an extra layer to life coaching by partnering life coaching with mentorship. MasterClass perhaps best describes the “classical” definition of mentor that our founder, Michelle Marie King, had in mind when she coined the term Mentor Coach: “The word ‘mentor’ … is based on Mentor, a character in Homer’s Odyssey, who accepts a request from his friend, the hero Odysseus, to look after his son, Telemachus.” Our definition of Mentor Coach includes this aspect of trusted friend–our coaches aspire to develop this trusted friend relationship with their students, and we take great care to pair our students with coaches who have been where their students are and succeeded in getting to the other side. It is because of this personal experience that our coaches are able to understand, empathize, and strategize with students to achieve the changes and results they desire. Our expert coaches have personal experience and are trained to work with students on issues such as:

• self-confidence and self-worth
• authenticity
• growth mindset
• limiting beliefs
• self-discipline
• motional awareness
• communication
• relationships
• stress management
• resiliency
• budgeting
• body image
• health and nutrition
• goal-setting
• purposeful living

In one hour weekly or bi-weekly sessions, our coaches provide an unbiased and unconditional source of support, encouragement, and guidance and help students establish lifelong habits and skills such as emotional awareness, practicing gratitude, and celebrating wins. They work with students to identify opportunities and strategies for growth and offer support, encouragement, and accountability between sessions to keep students on track to achieve their goals. To discuss how one of our expert coaches can help your child, visit positivepresenceglobal.com or call 1-855-905-0935.