Youth Mentoring
Mentoring Offerings
Child's Play~ Ages 5-11
Teen Mentorship~ Ages 12-17
Playful Work
It takes a unique approach and understanding to develop a caring and skillful relationship with children, teens and young adults. Though youth are ultimately seeking the same senses of balance and satisfaction that Fulfillment Mentoring addresses, their focuses, challenges, and circumstances are unique. And this requires a unique mentoring style.
Successful Youth Mentoring requires and often demands a certain kind of flexibility, a great humor and patience. It requires the ability to see them, truly see them, as equals, as powerful beings here to do something amazing. But often for them to really open up they need their mentor to come into vulnerability with them. They demand a great ‘realness’; youth are acutely aware of pretense and fabrication.
I have always always been one to play, either naturally as a child, or professionally later on. I have held many positions working and playing with youth since the age of 16, as a Babysitter, a Parks and Recreations Counselor, a Youth Group Leader, a Sleep-Away Camp Counselor, and a Camp Director. As my bio indicates, my own teen years and early 20’s were deeply challenging; at times they seems inescapably dark and dangerous. Yet this is the path of the ‘wounded healer’- the path of being prepared to heal others through one’s own trials of illness.
Because of my own journey, what I bring to the Mentorship is sincerity, skill, and experience. I know what it is to look out into our world and feel apathy and despair. I know what it is to break under the weight of chaotic social pressures and obligations. I know doubt and fear and misdirected emotions. And I know the promise of a different way. This is why I mentor youth.
Successful Youth Mentoring requires and often demands a certain kind of flexibility, a great humor and patience. It requires the ability to see them, truly see them, as equals, as powerful beings here to do something amazing. But often for them to really open up they need their mentor to come into vulnerability with them. They demand a great ‘realness’; youth are acutely aware of pretense and fabrication.
I have always always been one to play, either naturally as a child, or professionally later on. I have held many positions working and playing with youth since the age of 16, as a Babysitter, a Parks and Recreations Counselor, a Youth Group Leader, a Sleep-Away Camp Counselor, and a Camp Director. As my bio indicates, my own teen years and early 20’s were deeply challenging; at times they seems inescapably dark and dangerous. Yet this is the path of the ‘wounded healer’- the path of being prepared to heal others through one’s own trials of illness.
Because of my own journey, what I bring to the Mentorship is sincerity, skill, and experience. I know what it is to look out into our world and feel apathy and despair. I know what it is to break under the weight of chaotic social pressures and obligations. I know doubt and fear and misdirected emotions. And I know the promise of a different way. This is why I mentor youth.
Is Your Child Or Teen Ready For Mentoring?
Youth Mentoring provides a unique opportunity, but there are certain essential factors that must be present. If these qualities are lacking, the Mentorship may run aground.
First, the youth must be able to understand rewards and consequences. If he or she can understand how certain actions generally lead to certain results, as well as the processes of immediate and delayed gratification, then the basic structure of mentoring can take hold. This is also connected with an ability to see agency, choice, and accountability. Further, and often overlooked, the youth must want to have a mentor.
If these qualities are present, mentoring is a valuable option.
First, the youth must be able to understand rewards and consequences. If he or she can understand how certain actions generally lead to certain results, as well as the processes of immediate and delayed gratification, then the basic structure of mentoring can take hold. This is also connected with an ability to see agency, choice, and accountability. Further, and often overlooked, the youth must want to have a mentor.
If these qualities are present, mentoring is a valuable option.