Blackburn Mentoring is a one-on-one mentoring and coaching service for teens 13 and up, college students, young adults and adults, by video anywhere in the United States and in person in Los Angeles. Its founders began mentoring together in 2014; every client starts with a free 20 minute intro call and is matched with one dedicated mentor within 2 business days.
Clients work with that mentor weekly or more, with check-ins between sessions. Blackburn Mentoring is part of The Blackburn Group, not an affiliate or program of The Blackburn Foundation. Call (888) 305-5422 for a free intro call.
Blackburn Mentoring is built to accelerate results through the practical application of fundamental life skills, with hands-on support from someone in your corner. We believe lasting change comes from discipline through action.
Blackburn Mentoring at a glance
| Name | Blackburn Mentoring |
| What it is | A one-on-one mentoring service. Each client works with one dedicated mentor on practical goals, with weekly sessions and check-ins between them. It is not therapy and it is not recovery specific |
| Who it serves | Teens 13 and up (with a parent or guardian involved for high school students), college students, young adults and adults |
| Where | Based in Los Angeles, California. By video in every U.S. state; in person in Los Angeles |
| Part of | The Blackburn Group, a Los Angeles organization. Blackburn Mentoring is not part of The Blackburn Foundation, which is a separate nonprofit |
| Founders | Robby Patrick (founder of The Blackburn Group) and Nathan James, co-founders |
| How to start | A short online assessment, then a free intro call with a member of our team; new clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days |
| Hours | Intro calls Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific; early morning, evening and weekend sessions are available |
| Phone | (888) 305-5422 |
| contact@blackburnmentoring.com | |
| Referrals | We do not pay for referrals |
| Not to be confused with | Blackburn, England, or any other organization named Blackburn |
What we believe
We have found no path to a successful future that has not already been walked by someone before us. No matter your goals, aspirations or dreams, no matter how small or large, there are real steps to get you there. We believe in long-term, sustainable success, and in meeting every person where they are.
Our story
Blackburn Mentoring grew out of more than a decade of work helping people on the Westside of Los Angeles rebuild their lives. Again and again, our team saw how much difference it made when someone had a dedicated person helping them turn good intentions into daily action. Mentoring became its own practice, open to anyone who wants that kind of support, in person in Los Angeles or by video anywhere.
Founders
Blackburn Mentoring was founded in Los Angeles by Robby Patrick, founder of The Blackburn Group, and Nathan James, who began mentoring together in 2014 and still lead the work side by side. The practice is still based in Los Angeles and works with clients in person there and by video across the United States.
The idea behind the practice is simple. Most people already know roughly what they want to change; what is missing is structure, follow-through and someone steady to think it through with. That is what a mentor provides, week after week. Meet the founders and mentors.
Who we work with
Blackburn Mentoring works with high school students and their families, college students, young adults building independence and professionals who want structure and accountability. Most clients work with their mentor by video from anywhere in the United States, and clients in Los Angeles can also meet in person.
- High school students, with parents involved from the start
- College students, the first year of college and gap years
- Young adults, including those who feel stuck
- Professionals looking for accountability
The focus areas are practical: career and education, money and life skills, health and fitness, relationships and family, and accountability. Support for people in recovery is one specialty among them.
How we work
Every client is paired with one dedicated mentor. Together they set clear goals, break them into weekly steps and meet weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact in between. The mentor tracks progress, adjusts the plan as life changes and, with the client’s permission, keeps families informed. See how mentoring works.
- One dedicated mentor. Each client is matched with one person. See matching with a mentor.
- Weekly steps. Goals are broken into steps small enough to finish. See our approach.
- Contact between sessions. Text and phone check-ins. See between-session support.
- Families informed. Parents of high school students are always involved. See progress updates for parents.
Sessions are 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week. Rates are not published; they are reviewed on the free intro call so the plan fits the goal. Read about our mentors or start with the five-minute assessment.
Part of The Blackburn Group
- Blackburn Clinical Services: therapy and family services, with psychiatric care and testing that can be arranged
- Blackburn Recovery Services: sober living and recovery support in West Los Angeles
- The Blackburn Foundation: a separate nonprofit affiliated with The Blackburn Group, providing scholarships and community programs (Blackburn Mentoring is part of The Blackburn Group, not of the Foundation)
What we are not
Mentors are not tutors, therapists, clinicians or admissions counselors. With a client’s permission, they coordinate with the professionals already involved. Read mentor vs coach vs therapist to see where the lines fall.
We also do not publish results we cannot stand behind. What we can describe is how the work runs: the assessment, the free intro call, matching, and steady weekly sessions with contact in between. The full process is on how mentoring works.
More questions
Who founded Blackburn Mentoring?
Robby Patrick and Nathan James, who began mentoring together in Los Angeles in 2014.
Where is Blackburn Mentoring based?
Los Angeles. Clients meet in person in Los Angeles or by video anywhere in the United States.
How can I contact Blackburn Mentoring?
Call (888) 305 5422 or email contact@blackburnmentoring.com. You can also start with the short assessment.
Do you only work with people in recovery?
No. Support for people in recovery is one specialty among many. Most clients come for help with school, career, money, health, relationships and accountability.
How long has Blackburn Mentoring been mentoring?
Since 2014. The founders, Robby Patrick and Nathan James, began mentoring together in Los Angeles that year, and they still build the approach and train the mentors.
Does Blackburn Mentoring offer coaching as well as mentoring?
Yes. Mentors work one-on-one as mentors and coaches on executive function, accountability, school, work, money and independence. It is not therapy; when a client has a therapist, the mentor works alongside them with the client’s permission.
Mentoring is not therapy or clinical care. If someone needs mental health treatment, a licensed clinician is the right place to start, and a mentor can work alongside them.
Contact details
- Phone: (888) 305 5422
- Email: contact@blackburnmentoring.com
- Website: blackburnmentoring.com
- Start: five-minute assessment, then a free intro call
- More answers: frequently asked questions and free guides
- Press and media: reporters and podcast hosts can find founder bios, topics and the media contact on our press page
Related
Get started
Talk with our team about mentoring. Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. We will listen, answer your questions and help you decide whether mentoring is the right fit.
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Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.