Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly is mentorship? How is it different from therapy?
Mentorship is forward-focused, practical support for your son’s growth as a young man.
I focus on:
Emotional strength and regulation
Accountability and responsibility
Communication and relationships
Confidence, purpose, and direction
Therapists diagnose and treat mental health conditions. I do not diagnose, prescribe, or offer clinical treatment. My work focuses on guidance, skills, and maturity, rather than medical or clinical care.
I often work alongside therapists when appropriate. If I ever feel your son needs a higher level of care, I will tell you directly and recommend you connect with a licensed professional.
2. What age range do you work with?
I work with young men ages 14–28. For those still living at home, I also coach the parents.
For young adults, the work is more independent, with parent involvement only when appropriate and agreed upon.
3. What kinds of challenges do you help with?
Common issues I help young men with include:
Anxiety, overwhelm, and internal pressure
Low confidence or negative self-talk
Feeling stuck, unmotivated, or directionless
Withdrawal from family or friends
Difficulty expressing emotions or needs
Struggles with follow-through and responsibility
Life transitions (school, work, adulthood, identity)
If you’re not sure whether your son’s situation fits, we can talk it through on a consultation call.
4. When is mentorship not the right fit?
Mentorship is not appropriate as the primary support when your son is:
In an immediate crisis or at risk of harming himself or others
Experiencing severe mental health symptoms that require clinical treatment
In need of medical, psychiatric, or intensive therapeutic care
In these situations, a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or crisis service should be the first line of support. I may be able to be part of a broader support system later, once appropriate care is in place.
If there is ever active suicidal intent, self-harm, or danger, please contact local emergency services or a crisis line immediately.
5. How often do you meet with my son, and for how long?
Most young men start with weekly 60-minute sessions.
Once there’s traction and stability, we sometimes move to bi-weekly. The length of the overall mentorship varies. Some work with me for a few months, while others continue for longer as they progress through multiple transitions. We’ll revisit this regularly and decide together what makes sense.
6. Do you work online, in person, or both?
I offer:
Online sessions (video)
In-person sessions when location and logistics allow
We can discuss what’s available and practical for your family during the consultation call.
7. How involved are parents in the process?
For minors (under 18), I see this as a three-way relationship: your son, you as parents, and me as a mentor.
I maintain your son’s trust and privacy regarding what he shares.
If requested, I also keep parents' sharing confidential.
I strongly recommend that parents be open to and available for coaching sessions with me. Your son is not the only one involved; everyone plays a part in the success or failure of this process.
For young adults (18+), parent involvement is decided on a case-by-case basis and always with your son’s consent.
8. What about confidentiality?
Your son needs to feel safe to speak openly. I treat what he shares with respect and discretion.
For teens:
I keep session content confidential except in cases of safety concerns (risk of harm to self or others, abuse, or serious legal risk).
I may speak in general themes with parents (e.g., “We’re working on responsibility and communication”) without sharing every detail.
For young adults:
I maintain confidentiality as I would with any adult, unless there is a serious safety concern.
If there is ever a risk of serious harm, I will act to keep your son and others safe, which may include informing you and/or relevant professionals.
9. What if my son doesn’t want mentoring?
This is common. If he’s hesitant, I usually suggest:
One low-pressure initial session where his only task is to meet me, ask questions, and see how it feels.
Making it clear that I’m not there to “fix” him or take sides against him. Sometimes, young men warm up after a first contact with no expectations attached.
If he’s completely resistant, I’ll be upfront with you: forced mentorship rarely works. We can explore other ways of framing it or call it "not for now."
On occasion, I work with parents only. Our work together will have a positive impact on you and your son. Additionally, he may become curious about mentorship and, at a future date, request it himself.
10. How long does it take to see changes?
Every young man is different. Some families notice small shifts within a few weeks:
Better communication
A little more openness
Slight improvement in mood or follow-through
Deeper changes in confidence, identity, and direction often take months, not days. My focus is on real, lasting growth, not quick behavior tweaks that fade. I will be honest with you about what I’m seeing and how your son is engaging in the process.
11. What do you actually do in sessions?
A typical session might include:
Checking in on what’s been happening recently
Talking through a situation he’s struggling with (school, friends, family, work, internal pressure)
Helping him name and understand what he’s feeling
Challenging unhelpful thoughts or patterns
Building specific skills (communication, boundaries, planning, regulation)
Setting small, realistic commitments for the week ahead
It’s a mix of conversation, reflection, and practical tools — always grounded, straightforward, and respectful.
12. Do you give “homework”?
I might ask your son to:
Have one honest conversation he’s been avoiding
Practice a specific grounding or regulation exercise daily
Make one concrete decision
Follow through on a commitment we set in session
The goal is not to overload him with tasks, but to connect our conversations to real life so he builds confidence through action.
13. What if my son is already in therapy?
Mentorship can often complement therapy.
Therapy generally focuses on healing trauma, diagnosis, or processing past events.
Mentorship concentrates on daily habits, practical choices, accountability, and identity as a young man.
If he already has a therapist, I’m happy to stay in my lane and, with permission, coordinate so we are rowing in the same direction.
14. Do you work with girls or young women?
My primary focus and deepest experience is with boys and young men. This allows me to be very specific, informed, and effective in my work. If you’re seeking support for a daughter, I can recommend other practitioners.
15. How do we get started?
The first step is simple:
Book a free parent consultation.
We will talk about your son, your concerns, and your goals.Decide together if it’s a good fit.
If it is, we will schedule an initial session with your son and move from there. You don’t have to have everything figured out before contacting me. That’s what the first conversation is for.
