Adolescence is a time when young people begin to differentiate themselves and discover who they truly are. This natural quest for autonomy can be challenging for parents and the adults in their lives. Through Pearl, students navigate this important stage with guidance, mentorship, and positive strategies that support their growth.

WHY

Coaching lends itself so well to teenagers and emerging adults. They are in a sensitive stage of development and are therefore more in tune with others’ judgments. They are more self-conscious as they form their identities and try to fit in. As they deal with heightened emotions and sensitivity with hormone surges, they are more impulsive and willing to take risks as they separate from family and create their own community. A non-judgmental approach is healthy for everyone but especially important during this developmentally vulnerable stage. Feeling heard can make the difference between whether they reach out for help when they’re struggling or get the support and guidance they really need as they navigate toward healthy independence. A non-directive approach is a way to respect their need to develop their own voice, choice and self-confidence (Youth Coaching Institute).

Coaching vs Therapy

Where Science meets Art

A collage of various cut-out images and illustrations, including a woman with glasses pointing at a pink abstract painting, scenes of nature, a smiling mouth, and text snippets with phrases like 'Listen without expectations', 'Trust, in its simplest form', and 'Small victories'.

“Research shows that having just one caring adult can make the difference between whether a child will thrive or not.”

Marc Brackett, Permission to Feel

A collage of various photographs including a lush green canyon, a person with a backpack, a person wearing painted skull face, a clown with a red nose, several black-and-white images of people's faces, a solitary tree in a field, and abstract colorful designs.

“We can choose how we approach life, especially during major inflection points-adolescence, midlife, times of loss or trauma. We can ignore the existential questions, and the booting-up of our spiritual awareness. We can medicate with pharmaceuticals that dull the pain of the questions, or with substances that give us a temporary reprieve-or a synthetic version of the transcendence we long for. Or we can open the door to a reshuffling of meaning, to the foundational, felt awareness that we are loved and held and part of it.”

 Lisa Miller, The Awakened Brain

Collage of fashion illustration and cut-out images with motivational messages, including a woman in striped clothing, stylized graphics, and text about positive energy and beauty.

“The teenage brain is especially primed to learn during the growth spurt. As the white matter grows, it allows for more and stronger interconnections within and across brain areas permitting sophisticated, smoother, faster communication.”

Lea Waters, The Strength Switch