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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a parenting coach or consultant?
A parenting consultant is a parenting specialist who can give expert help and advice to help you with your child’s behaviour. It could be anything from your child not sleeping, tantrums, having problems getting a child to do homework, stealing, a teenager going off the rails, or anything you find difficult to deal with.
It is not ‘coaching’ in the traditional sense of the word, because you will learn effective (tried and tested) strategies, methods and techniques to change your child’s behaviour.
What does parent coaching involve?
Before we start working together, I need to find out about what issues you’re having with your child’s behaviour. You can have a free 20-minute call with me, free of charge, to check if parenting coaching is right for you.
During this call, I’ll let you know if I’m confident we can get the issues sorted. If you’re happy to go ahead, I’ll ask you to fill out a background form, with questions about lots of different aspects of your child (or children’s) lives.
Then, I will make a list of all the problems and issues, work out what parenting skills or strategies you need to get it sorted, and then teach you those strategies on your session(s).
Do you need to see my child?
No, I don’t need to see your child.
The most important thing is that YOU know how to deal with your child and change their behaviour. I will ask you to complete a background form, to help me understand every issue you’re dealing with. So, I can work out what to do and what skills you’ll need.
As you go through the sessions I’ll ask you questions to check how your child is behaving using the new strategies. I can then tweak the strategies so that they work well for your child.
These skills will be effective not just now, but in the months and years ahead.
What problems DON'T you deal with?
I will only start working with you, if I know I can help. I will generally not start working with you if
Your child has level 3 autism and is non verbal
Your child has a severe mental health issue
Your child is 17 or over
Your child is addicted to cocaine, Heroin or Meth
You need an Anger Management Courses
You need to attend a Domestic Violence Course
You, as a parent, have a severe learning difficulty
You, as a parent, don’t speak English
If you’re not sure, please email or call 01403 839683. We can discuss what’s going on for you, and I’ll let you know if I am confident I can help.
What problems DO you deal with?
I work with parents whose children are aged 2 to 16, and can show you how how to significantly improve or completely solve the following behaviours:
Anger Management issues: If your child is aggressive, hits, bites, kicks, pinches, pulls hair, etc. At home or at school.
Sleep issues: If your child won’t go to sleep on time, needs you t to lie with them to go to sleep or keeps waking up in the night.
Negativity: If your child only sees the negative, and is moany and grumpy
Tantrums, meltdowns or outbursts – if your child has regular, frequent or prolonged tantrums
Friendship issues: If your child struggles to make and/or keep good friends
Multiple births: if you have issues related to raising twins or triplets
Neuro-divergence: If your child is not neuro-typical and is on the autistic spectrum, has Attention Deficit Disorder, (ADD) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, (ADHD) or has any other learning difficulty.
Bullying: If your child has been bullied at school – OR if they have been accused of bullying another child.
Sibling rivalry: If life at home is exhausting because your children argue and fight so much.
Rudeness: If your child acts in an entitled or rude way towards you or other adults.
Homework hassles: If you struggle to get your child to do their homework to the best of their ability, calmly and on time.
Ignoring: if your child ignores you (as if you weren’t there) when you ask them to do something.
Not working at school: If your child’s grades at school don’t reflect their capabilities, or if there is a sudden deterioration in school performance.
Worries or anxieties: If your child struggles with separation anxiety, panic attacks, specific fears or is unable to do things that other children their age do, (such as going on playdates or going away with the school) because of anxieties.
Morning difficulties: if your child won’t get ready in the morning and you always end up shouting at them.
Mobile phone issues: If you’re worried about your child having a phone, or if your child is addicted to their phone.
Excessive screen time: If you feel your child spends too long in front of a screen but don’t know how to set sensible limits on their screen time.
Divorce: if you are separating or getting a divorce and want to help your child cope well with the changes.
Court-ordered parenting course – if you need to do a parenting course in order to have regular contact with your child or children.
Any combination of the above!
I also have a lot of success with children who refuse to go to school and children who wet themselves at school. However, I cannot guarantee to solve these.
Will I always get Elizabeth to run my parenting sessions?
At the moment, I work with all 1:1 clients.
In the future, you may have an option to work with a parenting consultant trained by me (watch this space!)
What availability do you have?
I only work with 8 families at a time.
Because of the planning and work involved to make sure you have the full level of service you deserve, initially, you may have to go on a waiting list.
Are there parents you don’t work with?
The free discovery call is to be sure I’m the right person to help and to explain how I work.
I need to be sure that you are willing to change and be open to using the new skills you’ll learn.
Why do you do all your sessions on Zoom?
I work with parents across the UK, in Europe, USA and Australia using Zoom.
It is easy and convenient doing the sessions from the comfort of your own home. Doing the sessions online reduces wasted time and money travelling and you don’t need to get a baby-sitter.
If you work from home, or you work in an office, you may find it convenient to do the sessions over an extended lunch break.
Alternatively you may prefer to do the sessions after your child or children have gone to bed. However, 8pm is usually the latest I will start a session, so you’re not too tired to concentrate.
What will I need to do the sessions online?
To do the session by Zoom you’ll need
A laptop or device which can access Zoom, which is free to download. During the sessions, I will share my screen with you, so you can see the sheets we’re covering, so your screen will need to be big enough to read the sheets.
A reasonable internet connection.
A printer (preferable but not essential) to print off the worksheets I’ll send you before each session.
When can you do the parenting sessions?
I try to be as flexible as I can because I know that parents are busy.
I prefer to do the sessions Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5pm.
However, I can also do sessions in the evenings.
Or (occasionally) on a Saturday or Sunday between 9 and 5.
What ways can I pay?
I prefer payment by bank transfer.
Your invoice will include my bank sort code and account number.
All payments need to be cleared 48 hours before the session starts.
If you want to stage payments you can arrange regular direct debit payments which will include a 15% surcharge.
How many sessions does it take?
The most you would need is six sessions. I will talk to you on the phone before we start, and let you know how many sessions I think you’ll need.
If you do six sessions, and you pay in full before the second session, you’ll get a seventh session, free of charge, as a bonus. That can be used to keep everything on track, and to deal with any new problems that crop up, after the course.
Can I carry on working with you afterwards?
Yes, some parents like to sign up for ‘Peace of Mind’ sessions.
Normally that is an hour’s session, once every two months, over the course of a year. 5 sessions in total.
This allows you to have some accountability, keep your parenting on track and tackle any new issues that arise.
How long is each session?
Each parenting session lasts 90 minutes. We cover a lot in that time so you’ll need to be ready to concentrate. Most parents say the time just flies by.
However, this needs to suit you! If you know you will struggle to concentrate for 90 minutes at a time, you can do the course in ten 60-minute sessions, at a small extra cost.
How long should there be between sessions?
It’s best to do the sessions every week or every two weeks.
That gives you a chance to practice the skills in between the sessions and keep up momentum.
In my experience, for the best results for you and your child, all six session should be completed within three months.
Is this investment, good value for money?
You are investing in your child and in your family life.
I am a parenting specialist with many years’ experience.
It’s not just the sessions you’re paying for, it’s the expertise to solve the difficulties you’re having.
Plus, if you pay for six sessions, you also have me to support you with unlimited texts and e-mails between the sessions, so you can get help and support whenever you need it.
Is it best to do the sessions on my own, or with my partner?
If possible, it’s best to do the sessions with your husband, wife or partner, so that you have a united front, and you both use the same skills and techniques, with your child.
However, many parents do the sessions on their own, for a variety of reasons.
Should I tell my child I’m doing parenting sessions?
Your child is going to feel much happier at home, after you complete the parenting sessions.
However, if your child is over the age of 7, they may be a bit suspicious about what changes may happen after your parenting sessions. They may imagine I’ll be like a really strict Super Nanny. So, it may be best not to mention the parenting sessions until after you complete the course.
What if it doesn’t work for my child?
If you put the skills into practice, this will work.
if you genuinely use the skills and it doesn’t solve the issues you have with your child’s behaviour you can have your money back. There are very few professionals who would be willing to offer you that!
Each time you do a parenting session, you’ll have the chance to talk about exactly how your child is responding to the new skills and techniques. That way we can tweak things until they work for your child.
Do you have a special offer?
My work is highly specialised, and the price is fixed.
However, on occasions I have a special offer, that if you pay in full before the second session of the offer you a seventh session free of charge 4 to 6 weeks after we finish and check that everything is still working the sessions to tackle any new problems.
What will I need to do, after each session?
After each session, it’s important to practice the skills you learned during the session. Sometimes it takes a little while to get used to using the new skills and strategies.
It’s a bit like learning any new skill. If you were learning French – it would take a while until you were fluent. If you were learning to drive a car, it would take time and practice until you could drive confidently, without even thinking about it.
The more you practice, the easier it will get. However, at the start, it will take a fair bit of concentration and effort to get it right.
What happens during a parenting session?
At the beginning of each session we’ll check up how things have been at home We’ll talk about any problems you been having and how your child has responded it to the new strategies.
During each session, we’ll aim to cover two new skills.
After the session, I’ll ask you to do three things (home play) to practice with your child before the next session.
Do I have to print out all the notes?
I will send you some sheets before each session to print off which you’ll complete during the session.
At the end of each sessions I will send you all the sheets we have gone through during the session.
You can then choose to print them off where you can refer to them. Or save them to your device or laptop.
What qualifications do you have?
My most important qualification is I’m the mother of four children. So, I have over 30 years’ experience of all the difficulties in raising children.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and I have also worked for five years for Home-Start, a charity that supports families with children under 5. I have also worked for the YMCA, helping parents who have suffered from abuse or neglect and the past to break the cycle of abuse.
I have trained to run four different types of parenting courses:
The Parent Practice
Parent Gym
The Solihull Approach
Webster Stratton’s Incredible Years
I am also accredited by ‘Can Parent.’ A bit like OFSTED for parenting courses.
I’ve been running my business, Parent 4 Success for 13 years helping parents solve numerous issues.