Ruth Paris
        Coaching Support and Help for Teenagers

If you've found your way to this site, you may be going through some problems, or feeling unhappy. One thing I've realised over the years is that everybody needs help at some point in their lives - we all have times when it feels like a struggle. If you relate to two or more of the following statements, then coaching really can help you:

• I feel like nobody understands me
  
• I'm finding it hard to concentrate on my work
  
• I find it hard to talk about how I'm feeling
  
• I don't feel good about myself, but don't know how to make it better
  
• My self confidence is really low
  
• I worry about what other people think about me
  
• I don't know what I want to do
  
• I find myself behaving in ways that get me into trouble
  
• I wish I could have better relationships, but don't know how
  
• Everybody seems to nag me, but nobody really knows how to help
  
• I feel lonely
  
• I'm confused

So how does coaching help - what do you get?

• You are really listened to, without judgement
  
• You choose the issues to focus on
  
• By asking very clear questions, I help you to clarify for yourself what you want, and why that's important for you
  
• You decide what your priorities are
  
• Together, we look at how you can move towards what you want and what the best options are for you
  
• You look at the pros and cons of how you want to move forward and determine what will work best for you
  
• We look at it from various points of view to make sure this will work for you and for other people affected by your decisions
  
• I support you to take the actions you decide on
  
• We work together on any setbacks or problems that come up or get in the way
  
• You build up the skills and confidence to succeed on your own

What do clients say that coaching gave them?

• A friendly ally who will not judge or try to change you against your will
  
• The confidence that anything we talk about is completely private and confidential
  
• A place to talk in a way that's real for you - in your words
  
• A space to explore areas of life where you feel confused or misunderstood
  
• Being asked questions that help you get a better understanding of what you really want and how you can achieve it
  
• Respect for who you are now and who you want to become in the future
  
• A sense of your own power and potential - to do what you want with your life in a way that is right for you

What's the next step?

The first step is to have an initial meeting with me - if at the end of it you don't want to continue, I will respect your judgement. Otherwise we would continue to meet regularly, normally for six sessions, working with whatever is the key issue for you - understanding what's really going on and then finding options and plans for you to move forward to a life that is what you want for yourself.

At that stage you will probably feel confident to bring our sessions to an end, though you may want me to facilitate a final joint session with your parent(s) to clarify how you want them to support you in your new way of behaving. Or we may have a review and you choose to continue to have occasional meetings to help you stay on track, though usually this won't be necessary. Basically, I will be guided by you and we will decide together how best you will go forward with your life.

I hope this has been helpful. If you have questions or aren't clear about anything here, please feel free to email me on ruth@ruthparis.com

In the meantime, remember you're a unique human being, full of potential and have the whole of your life ahead of you to live to the full, as you choose. It's your life - if you don't take charge of it, then it's likely other people will - the choice is yours, and coaching can really help you to make that choice in ways that will work for you.

With best wishes,
Ruth