PAMELA BARKER,MA,EQCC,ACC
Educational Psychologist – Personal Growth & Relationship Coach

Teens and young adults thrive with the development of essential skills life skills and the extra support of an empathic and qualified coach. From identity moments so typical of adolescence to the "adulting" demands of your early twenties, it can be daunting to say the least!**​

 

As an empathic and qualified coach, I can help you with: ​

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• homework overload and academic stress

• time management and organization

• motivation, communication and engagement

• decision-making and problem solving

• peer teacher/mentor relationships

• identity development/job/college/career preparation

• ​basic "adulting" skills

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• **(I also work closely with parents to help them connect with their children in the most helpful ways during this period of growth and promise.​) 

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Today's youth are reporting higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression than ever before. Roughly 1 in 5 teens in the US experience symptoms of anxiety and depression (worse during school months)[1], and 3 in 5 young adults report feeling they a lack of meaning or purpose in life.[2] The related hopelessness and sense of overwhelm can lead to self-destructive behaviors, family stress, and diminished overall wellbeing, not to mention conjure fear for their future in them and their parents. Clearly, too many struggle to cope and need greater support in the terms of skills to be more resilient in difficult times. Stressors of identity formation, political uncertainty, climate change, social media and more challenge the optimism and motivation of youth so essential to meet their potential. They want to be hopeful and ready to take on the world, and sometimes they just need a little help. ​I help them recognize healthy and unhealthy stressors and develop skills so they can navigate stress in a way that builds resilience and  to helps them gain balance in school, relationships, work, and with family.

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TEENS

As a parent of a teen, I often found it difficult to know how best to help my teenager manage the unique demands of this often turbulent developmental period. And this was before the global pandemic! I had so many questions: Should I tell him to finish up an assignment versus agonizing more over its quality? How important was his homework compared to getting enough sleep? Were his peer relationships healthy? Did he need more confidence; more support; more consequences? Would he be able to get a job or attend a college that would be a good fit?...and so on. Believe it or not, teenagers often have the same struggles as their parents in knowing the right approach. I can help!

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YOUNG ADULTS

I am often reminded of my own youth and the hope and excitement as well as the steep learning curve in gaining independence – from financial management and navigating the basics of independent living to job hunting and managing career and relationship expectations – so called "adulting". Being "on your own" is not the same as feeling ready and/or capable of doing it on your own. Truly feeling capable requires navigating the tasks of daily living with confidence and optimism, developing gratifying and durable relationships, and learning to experience life as not simply the sum of your achievements but also as rich with meaning and purpose. If you are looking for some guidance as you navigate this exciting yet daunting phase of life, I'd like to help!

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(See Parenting with Connection.)

Works Cited:[1]https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/23/10/mental-health-challenges-young-adults-illuminated-new-report#:~:text=Thirty%2Dsix%20percent%20(36%25),compared%20to%2015%25%20of%20teens.

[2] Panchal, N., Rudowitz, R., & Cox, C. (2022). Recent trends in mental health and substance use concerns among adolescents. KFF. Accessed: May, 14, 2023.

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