Coach Mentors

Andrew’s story

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 02:31:48 +0000

Stepping into our client’s life:

For his entire adult life, Andrew struggled with various mental health challenges. At age 32, he had recently completed an intensive residential treatment program and had even successfully gone through their supported living program. Andrew chose to remain in the same city where his treatment program was located and was still connected to a therapist and psychiatrist there. His parents lived back home (in a different state) and supported Andrew with his first real go at independent living, with the hopes that he would be able to build his competency and confidence so he could eventually move back to his hometown.

As time progressed, his parents felt something was wrong – he did not sound well, and as much as they could discern, he was not keeping his therapy or psychiatrist’s appointments consistently. Clearly he was not happy, but they were also concerned about where this downward cycle would lead. This is when Coach-Mentors was asked to intervene.

How Coach-Mentors helped:

As the coach-mentor got to know Andrew and as he began to trust him, we learned that Andrew had let a “friend” move into his apartment. Andrew was feeling lonely, but he felt it was good to finally have a friend. However, it became clear that the friend was taking advantage of Andrew – taking his car when he wanted to, not returning his keys, becoming domineering of Andrew, and effectively preventing Andrew from getting to his appointments, getting a job, etc. He did not want to lose this friend and thus did not know how to navigate this difficult situation.

Over time and with the support of his coach-mentor, Andrew was able to set limits and regain his apartment and his car. Coach-Mentors helped him re-establish contact with his therapist and psychiatrist, get back on schedule with his medication, and support him in joining a local tennis club, where he worked with a tennis coach and met new people, some of whom became friends.

Andrew also was supported in preparing for a job search, exploring options, preparing his resume and practicing for interviews. Andrew got his desired job working at UPS where he was able to become increasingly financially independent.

He also began to resume regular communication with his parents and reconnected with a social club sponsored by his former treatment center.

Takeaway:

The value of meeting our clients face to face, at home and in the community is evident in Andrew’s case. No one would have known about the predatory roommate without showing up in person and being part of Andrew’s day-to-day life. To his parents’ credit, they allowed us to help Andrew learn how to set his own boundaries and gain control over his life, rather than intervening for him, and that opened the door to the amazing growth Andrew experienced.

Beth’s story

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:31:47 +0000

Stepping into our client’s life:

As a young adult, Beth seemed stuck, going in circles. Having been in residential treatment and attempting to live independently, she struggled with mental health symptoms. She was seeing a therapist virtually and was compliant with her prescribed medication, but she was unable to get a job that would allow her to be autonomous and self-sufficient. Her parents, who live in a different state, want to be supportive but also want her to be accountable, and for there to be some light at the end of the tunnel. She struggled with impulse buying, enjoying the delivery of packages each day, and this led to a hoarding situation of sorts. Her apartment was in disarray and she was unable to navigate a routine and structure that is healthy and productive. She spent most of her “free” time online. Drinking is also a concern.

With her therapist’s and parent’s endorsement, she also engaged the help of a local clinic providing neuroofeedback therapy, which required that she does sessions and exercises online each day. Despite the financial investment, Beth was not following through with these exercises.

How Coach-Mentors helped:

Coach-Mentors was asked to help support Beth with all of the above challenges. The coach-mentor selected for her spent meaningful time with her developing a trusting relationship, and in small steps, they began to work on issues. In addition to helping to provide structure and support for her neurofeedback session work (which she ultimately completed), they initially worked on “organizing” the apartment, which included going to the dollar store (which got her out of the apartment, into the community) and purchasing things that would help with organization. This momentum provided the opportunity for Beth to begin donating or getting rid of items that she did not need, and room by room, they were able to clean/organize her apartments. Beth was quite excited about this and shared pictures with everyone of how cool her place was! Of course, the whole time they were talking, laughing, sharing stories and this foundation provided the opportunity to press in on setting limits on purchasing, working on money management and budgeting and a serious job search.

Over time, Beth was able to get a job (and then also changed to a better-paying job that was more convenient to her apartment), she also, with the mentor’s assistance, shopped for and moved to a new apartment in a safer area of town, providing her with work and social opportunities. Beth also began to be less demanding on her other for money and allowed for more accountability of the financial support her parents were providing (showing her budget).

As is usually the case, there came a time when Beth regressed and struggled with her mental health issues. She used the coach-mentor support, increased her frequency with her therapist and spoke with her psychiatrist about a med change, and thus what would have previously led to a residential placement, she was able to fully use the supports available for her to get back on track. Although she did lose her job at this time, she and the coach-mentor worked on rebuilding and using it as an opportunity for something new.

Takeaway:

While so many young adults are motivated to be independent, many lack the skills to be fully self-sufficient and some are hindered by mental health symptoms that can derail the “adulting” trajectory. Coach-Mentors is well positioned to help support young adults in their quest for independence by showing up in real life and walking the walk with them. The therapy and medication aspects are essential, but sometimes more is needed. The opportunity to be supported in taking action in everyday life is the aspect that Coach-Mentors does the best.

Mark’s story

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:41:47 +0000

Stepping into our client’s life:

Mark entered adolescence diagnosed with ADHD, a learning disability, and slow processing. His father had been diagnosed with a degenerative disease a few years ago, and this was difficult for Mark to cope with. He witnessed his father’s gradual decline. His school attendance and daily functioning declined. Working with an experienced educational consultant, Mark entered treatment and eventually did very well in a program that specializes in anxiety disorders.

Unfortunately, shortly after he returned home, his father passed away. Mark had just turned 14. The whole family struggled to cope with this loss. Over time, Mark began to regress into isolation and depression. He was not able to maintain the gains he made to manage his social anxiety. He stopped going to school and was only episodically able to meet with his therapist (even virtually). His hygiene was deteriorating, and his mother expressed concerns that she was “losing him”. The decision was made to keep him at home and build in the support he needed there, versus sending him back to residential.

How Coach-Mentors helped:

Coach-Mentors was asked to help support Mark with establishing a daily structure and positive routine, including improved hygiene. We were also tasked with helping to support his confidence in leaving the home and getting involved in some activity in the community. The ultimate goal was to help support his reentry into school, starting first with virtual learning at home and culminating with in-person schooling.

We were pleased to work with a collaborative team, including Mark’s therapist and the mother’s parent coach. The coach-mentor began slowly, meeting Mark at home and building a rapport and relationship with him. Over time and in close collaboration with his therapist, Mark and the coach-mentor were able to help Mark leave his home and go places in town. We helped build structure and routine for him at home, something he benefited from in his residential program but was not maintained back at home. There were some environmental issues at home, as well as an unhealthy sibling dynamic that the coach-mentor was able to observe and help support change with.

Over time, Mark got involved in a community-based social activity with his coach-mentor. He also began attending therapy in person more consistently and eventually did so independently of his mother’s assistance. As time progressed, he was able to integrate into a small private school setting which was the ultimate goal!

The opportunity of meeting Mark where he was at and gradually supporting his confidence while reinforcing the skills he was learning in therapy was instrumental to the positive outcome. Meeting him at home became quite important as several environmental issues at home were contributing to his mood and functioning. These issues were not known by his therapist or others working with him – as the coach-mentor was the only one meeting him and spending time with him at home.

Takeaway:

The value of meeting Mark at home and being able to schedule frequent shorter, in-person touch points with him through the course of the week, based on his readiness and tolerance, as well as being able to work closely with his therapist, was instrumental to the success of this case. The team met regularly via Zoom to share observations, exchange ideas and ensure we were working in close collaboration with one another.