Support For Young People

Mentoring & Coaching

Growing up in today’s society can be a challenge for our children and young people. The enhancement in modern technology, introduction of social media platforms, school pressures and navigating everyday life can result in the need for additional support or to seek out opportunities to develop skills, improve confidence and enhance wellbeing.

At Focusing Minds, our coaching and mentoring support is pitched at entry level when it comes to mental health needs. We have the skills, knowledge and experience to support with a range of every day challenges making us ideal candidates to provide our support where children and young people may not reach thresholds for more complex services.

We are proud to utilise a person-centred approach, putting those who access our support services at the heart of the work undertaken with them. Quite simply, any support must be valuable and beneficial to them, focusing on specific needs and preferences to help make progress and increase impact.

Take a look at our services below to discover what we offer and how we deliver our support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help a child or young person you know.

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Our son has accessed Focusing Minds support for help with his self-awareness, self-esteem, and general anxiety. After a brief period of getting used to opening up and building a relationship (this was very brief as his worker, Andrew, is so personable and warm) he really looks forward to every session and has made such noticeable improvements in his behaviour, ability to articulate what he is feeling and now has strategies to help prevent meltdowns developing to their previous level. His time with Focusing Minds each week is one of the highlights of his weekly schedule and we couldn’t recommend them enough.
Paul and Emily, Parents
The most positive shift I have seen has been in terms of their attitude at home with all of us. They are much less quick to anger, are more able to chat in general, and tends to isolate far less. Prior to working with you, they would often self isolate for hours, hiding in their room or the cellar. Now they are with siblings, chatting even though they have felt a little under the weather lately. I have also invited them to spend time with me whilst cooking, and they have done, and they have baked with me too. They told me that I was good company last week Their room is also much tidier - it just used to be very messy and now they are taking pride in organising it and keeping it tidy. Every weekend they have been out with friends, taking part in different activities too. So I feel that their self worth is growing.
Linda, Parent

Mental wellbeing and personal development support services for children and young people:

Mentoring & Coaching Support

The context:

We know that young people today face many challenges as they grow older which can impact on their mental wellbeing and skill development. Although there are many services who can support children and young people, few cater for entry-level needs and even fewer work in ways which is directly relevant to an individual’s needs. Our services aim to support young people in developing self-awareness, confidence and key skills to  help reduce the need for more complex services in their future.

How does this service work?

Our traditional coaching and mentoring services offer support to children and young people for a host of everyday worries or concerns. We use a person-centred approach; this means:

  • The child/young person is put at the heart of our support.
  • We listen.
  • We offer a judgement-free environment.
  • We have an empathic approach.

Our sessions aim to develop self-awareness, confidence and independence through our person-centred approach.

Coaching and mentoring sessions are one-to one and held weekly or fortnightly, for either 40 or 50 minutes, subject to availability across our two support spaces in Brighouse and Ossett.

This service is ideal for:

This service is suitable for any child or young person between the ages of 8 and 18 who may require support for any of the following:

  • Education concerns: work/homework, school anxiety, exams and more.
  • Anxiety: school or social. 
  • Fears and worries. 
  • Confidence: academic or personal.
  • Self-esteem and self-image.
  • Friendship and bullying.
  • Behaviour, anger and frustration.
  • Soft skills development.
  • Personal development. 

Transition Phase Mentoring

The context:

Moving schools or to new education settings can be a worrying, anxiety-inducing time for children and young people. The thought of the significant changes moving to secondary school, 6th Form/College or University can bring often pushes our young people outside of their comfort zone. Adapting to new rules, standards, expectations and often entire changes to routine, for some, can be a truly daunting task.

How does this service work?

To help prepare young people for the challenges ahead, a course of transition phase mentoring may help. Drawing on personal experiences of the transition process, sessions cover core skills, such as organisation and communication whilst also looking at expectations of the place of education relevant to the young person accessing the service.

Like our 1:1 coaching and mentoring support, all sessions are bespoke and relevant to the individual’s needs.

This service is ideal for:

  • Year 6 students heading to secondary school.
  • Year 11 students progressing to college/6th Form.
  • Year 13 students moving to university.
  • Students transitioning to a new school/education provider.
  • Students reintegrating back into mainstream education.