Coaching - The Key to a Successful Transition
For even the most levelheaded and courageous of girls, freshman year is a year of change and firsts. Brian Harke, Ed.D, Dean of Students, University of Southern California, wrote in a 3-part article for the Huffington Post that discussed nearly 74% of high school seniors did not cite the social adjustments related to college as a major concern. Yet, according to the U.S. Census and American College Testing Program, nearly 34% of new college students dropped out in the first year because they were overconfident, underprepared, and lacked realistic expectations about college. It is fair to say that over 70% of these students left because they were not prepared to adjust to their new social environment. This echoes my own experience with teens and young adults in my practice.
I didn’t set out to be a college transition coach. It came about all on its own. Many of the girls I saw for counseling or coaching throughout their high school careers were looking forward to going off to college and starting their new life. I started getting a lot of calls and texts from the girls as well as their parents to see if I could do a phone session with them as they were having a hard time acclimating. These phone sessions grew into weekly calls or online check-ins that really helped these girls with some or all the following:
Managing their stress and anxiety
Managing their newfound freedom and their emotions
Being academically responsible, accountable, and solving problems
Setting clear expectations and creating action plans
Making friends and dealing with breakups
Picking themselves up after a short-sighted decision
Making sense of the social scene and who they want to be at their new school
Seriously, a College Transition Coach?
You have already spent money on SAT prep and tutors to get into college, as well as college admission coaches to help your daughter get into her dream school. Let’s make sure your money was well-spent and your daughter is successful in making the most out of college.
The truth is that most of our girls are not prepared to go away to college. There is a college myth about their transition to college being simpler than they think. 37% of college freshman quit within the first six weeks. Much of this is due to being overconfident, underprepared, and having a lack of resilience when things get hard or uncomfortable.
The idea of going away to school and just focusing on your classes is much easier said than done. New social pressures and the expectation to transition with ease can be overwhelming, especially when everyone’s Instagram and Snapchat Stories make it appear that they are loving college and managing just fine. As fun as college can be for some, it can also get very lonely at times. Most girls have difficulty with this and some can make rash decisions due to not knowing how to move through uncomfortable situations such as making new friends and managing the new social scene at their school while trying to stay on top of their academic responsibilities. It is the biggest transition young adults go through until they graduate.
As a parent, you can be unsure of the best way to support your daughter as she makes this transition. It can be heartbreaking, frustrating, and bewildering at the same time. You don’t have to do it alone either.
From my own personal experience and professionally living half of my life in this world through my clients, I get what these girls are going through and how they can feel so sure of themselves one minute and clueless the next.
An investment in her successful transition is an investment in her future.
What is the Difference Between Counseling and Coaching?
Therapy consists of working through different emotions, behaviors, and trauma to manage anxiety. Coaching is more goal-oriented and focuses on learning the necessary skills to transition between different stages of life.
Renee breaks down the coaching packages and explains some common stressors and situations she helps clients overcome in her coaching programs.
She specializes in helping young adults step out of their comfort zone, find healthy ways to cope, and live a balanced life with confidence.
College Prep Package
74% of high school seniors do not cite the social adjustments associated with college as a major concern. Even if they are worried about it, most ignore their concerns and hope for the best. This is not a good strategy. The College Prep Package helps your daughter identify her strengths and weaknesses, develop an idea of what she wants her experience to look like, create an action plan of how to make that happen, develop an accountability plan, understand her responsibilities with strategies to be successful, and build confidence in her ability to thrive in college.
The Customized College Prep Package includes:
(1) 50-minute assessment to determine individual needs and goals of client
(4) 50-minute individual sessions with client
(1) 20-minute check in with parents
Unlimited email and text
1 check-in during the first two weeks of school
Digital resources and comprehensive workbook to guide through the process
This package is to be completed prior to the client attending college to set her up for a smooth transition.
If you want to help your daughter transition and get the most out of college, let’s connect! My 20-minute phone consultation will help you determine if your daughter and I are a good fit.
Transition to College Package
The Transition to College Package is a must for any girl beginning the journey into college life. It is designed to support your daughter as she enters a whole new world of independence, responsibility, and social newness. Your daughter is supported throughout her first or second semester as she encounters the excitement of new experiences and newfound freedom. She will be provided with a balanced and level voice to listen and encourage her as she makes decisions that are in line with who she is and who she wants to become. The Transition to College Package is designed to include elements of the College Prep Package by helping your daughter identify her strengths and weaknesses, develop an idea of what she wants her experience to look like, create an action plan of how to make that happen, develop an accountability plan, understand her responsibilities with strategies to be successful, and build confidence in her ability to thrive in college while giving her support at school and helping her adjust in real time. She will also be given additional resources on finding balance between the academic and social aspects of college as well as gaining skills in basic adulting.
The Customized Transition to College Package includes:
(1) 50-minute assessment to determine individual needs and goals of client
(7) 50-minute individual sessions with client throughout the semester
(2) 20-minute check-ins with parents to update progress and address concerns
Unlimited text or email contact
Digital resources and comprehensive workbook to guide through the process
Package sessions are to be completed within the semester which allows for increased coaching success and consistent plan building in current issues as they arise. This also helps to establish rapport between client and coach.
If you want to help your daughter transition and get the most out of college, let’s connect! My 20-minute phone consultation will help you determine if your daughter and I are a good fit.
Adulting Package - Growing Up Isn’t So Hard
This is the perfect package for the recent college grad or any girl that is apprehensive about growing up. As silly as it may sound, girls are more and more afraid of their ability to go out into the world and be a grown up. They experience different stressors and often feel lost, confused, and depressed. Girls can feel exhausted from working all day and not having enough energy for a life. With the Adulting Package, your daughter will learn not to fear being an adult and gain the independence and confidence she needs to thrive. Girls will have an assessment to determine their individual needs and given a customized plan to fit their needs and goals. They will be given the resources to help them organize their life and gain financial, domestic, work, social, and self-care skills. They will be assisted in building a plan they can carry out that will build their confidence and independence.
The Customized Adulting Package includes:
(1) 50-minute assessment to determine individual needs and goals of client
(7) 50-minute individual sessions with client
Unlimited text or email contact
Digital resources and comprehensive workbook to guide through the process
Package sessions are to be completed within a 4-month period which allows for increased coaching success and consistent plan building in current issues as they arise. This also helps to establish rapport between client and coach.
If you want to help your daughter transition and feel confident about adulting, let’s connect! My 20-minute phone consultation will help you determine if your daughter and I are a good fit.
Important Information About Coaching Packages
Coaching packages are purchased with a one-time payment at the start of services.
They are to be completed in 2-4 months depending on the package.
All payments are made online through the Coaching/Patient Portal.
