As the parent of a teen or young adult with special needs, it is important to remember that while your challenges may be unique, you are not alone. For all young adults and their families the transition from teenager to adult is complex. For young adults with disabilities this transitional time can be particularly challenging, overwhelming, and exciting. As your young adult transitions into adulthood, many parents have unanswered questions about how to proceed

You may have questions like “How do I know if my child is ready to be more independent?”; “Are the rules in the home going to change now they are older?”; “How do I help my teen or young adult make healthy choices?”; and “In what ways can I support my teen or young adult in developing lasting relationships?” Although this can be an exciting time in your lives, it also has the potential of creating tension. In our experience, families with the support they need and a well-developed plan in place have the potential to enjoy this transitional period.

Our supportive community can be an invaluable resource for you and your family. Whether it’s reaching out to our professionals for answers or just connecting with our team to share struggles and successes, you’ll find a team of people who are here to listen and provide practical supports. Parent coaching is a goal-focused strategy that concentrates on building the family’s capacity for knowledge, advocacy, and skill development. Parent coaching is a collaborative process and based on partnership.

Parent coaches can offer various tools that will allow you to support your young adult in advancing toward a greater level of independence; fine-tune your relationship with your young adult; and in turn allow him/her to uncover skills and abilities that will improve their overall quality of life.

Coaching sessions may include:

• Identifying family strengths and how these can be used to help your young adult meet his/her goals
• Getting a clearer picture of what your child needs and the resources available
• Evaluating your child’s current skill level and identifying realistic goals
• Anticipating potential sources of stress, and identifying strategies for coping with the challenges
• Identifying interventions that can be used to allow your child to take more responsibility for his/her daily routine.
• Practical support in dealing with difficult issues including: college drop out prevention, hygiene struggles, the development of healthy relationships, family conflicts, substance use, etc.
• Addressing safety concerns and putting supports in place
• Creating a partnership between you and your young adult that allows your child to move toward greater levels of independence and allows you to have an “adult relationship” with your child.

 

Please contact us at advancela@thehelpgroup.org for more information or schedule an initial phone consult by calling our Advance LA office (818) 779-5198