The Blackburn approach is simple: one dedicated mentor, clear goals broken into weekly steps, and frequent contact so the plan actually happens. Mentoring covers the practical parts of life, from school and work to money and health, and works alongside any professionals already involved. Blackburn Mentoring was founded in Los Angeles by Robert Patrick and Nathan James, who began mentoring together in 2014.
One dedicated mentor
Every client works with one mentor. That person gets to know their goals, schedule, strengths and sticking points, and they are the same person in every session and every check-in. Consistency is what lets a client be honest about what is really getting in the way. See how matching works.
Clear goals, broken into weekly steps
Big goals stall because they are too big to start. “Get my life together” or “do better in school” cannot be done on a Tuesday. A mentor helps turn them into something specific, then into steps for this week.
- The goal: find a full-time job in a field that fits.
- This month: a finished resume, a target list of employers and a few conversations with people in the field.
- This week: draft the resume, send it to the mentor and pick five employers to research.
Each session looks back at last week’s steps and sets the next ones. Our guide to goal setting shows the method in more detail.
Frequent contact
Clients meet weekly or several times a week, in 30 or 60 minute sessions, on a weekly plan billed week to week or a monthly plan. Sessions run by video anywhere in the United States, scheduled in the client’s local time zone, or in person in Los Angeles. Between sessions, mentors stay in touch by text and phone.
Practical life areas
Mentoring here is about the day-to-day parts of building a life. Focus areas include:
- Career and education: classes, applications, job searches and first jobs.
- Money and life skills: budgets, bills, routines and running a household.
- Health and fitness: sleep, exercise and habits that support everything else.
- Relationships and family: communication, boundaries and friendships.
- Accountability: doing what you said you would do, week after week.
- Support for people in recovery, as one specialty among these areas.
Who we work with
Clients include high school students, college students, students in their first year of college, gap year students, young adults (including those who feel stuck), professionals and families. For high school students, a parent or guardian is always involved: they join the intro call, agree the goals and get regular progress updates. For adult clients, updates to family happen with the client’s permission. Read how parents stay informed.
Working alongside other professionals
Mentors are not therapists, clinicians, doctors, tutors or admissions counselors. When a client already works with a professional, such as a therapist or school counselor, the mentor coordinates with them, with the client’s permission, and focuses on the practical follow-through. If a concern touches mental health or substance use, a licensed professional is the right step. In a crisis, call or text 988. For the differences, see mentor vs coach vs therapist.
Where we started
Robert Patrick and Nathan James began mentoring together in 2014 and founded Blackburn Mentoring in Los Angeles. More about the team is on our about page. To see the steps from first contact to regular sessions, read how mentoring works and what happens in a first session.
Related
Common questions
Is Blackburn Mentoring online or in person?
Both. Sessions are by video anywhere in the United States, scheduled in your local time zone, or in person in Los Angeles.
How often do clients meet with their mentor?
Weekly or several times a week, in 30 or 60 minute sessions, with text and phone contact between sessions.
Is this therapy?
No. Mentors help with practical goals and follow-through. With the client’s permission, they coordinate with any therapist or other professional already involved.
Who founded Blackburn Mentoring?
Robert Patrick and Nathan James, who began mentoring together in 2014 and founded Blackburn Mentoring in Los Angeles.
Get started
Want to see whether this approach fits? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.