Blackburn Mentoring works in four steps: a short online assessment, a free 20 minute intro call, a match with one dedicated mentor within 2 business days, then one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions weekly or more, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles. It serves teens 13 and up, college students and young adults, has been mentoring since 2014, and keeps in touch between sessions so the plan keeps moving.
Questions: (888) 305-5422.
Every mentoring relationship at Blackburn follows the same simple structure: get to know the person, build a plan around their goals, meet consistently and keep moving forward.
The process
- Short assessment. You tell us a little about yourself and what you want to work on. It takes about five minutes.
- Free intro call. A member of our team reviews it personally and sets up a short call to talk through your goals and answer your questions.
- Matching. We pair you with a mentor whose experience and personality fit your goals.
- A personal plan. You and your mentor set short-term and long-term benchmarks across work, school, money, health and relationships.
- Regular sessions. You meet with your mentor weekly or several times a week, in person or by video, with text and phone contact in between. Sessions run 60 minutes.
- Progress tracking. Your mentor tracks progress against your benchmarks and adjusts the plan as things change.
What a typical week can look like
No two weeks are the same, because no two people are. In a given week, a mentor might help a client:
- Update a resume and practice for an interview
- Set up a simple budget or open a bank account
- Plan workouts and a weekly schedule
- Research school programs or financial aid
- Prepare for a hard conversation with a family member
- Get to appointments and commitments on time
Working as part of a team
When a client has other supports in their life, such as a therapist, counselor, school or family, mentors work alongside them. With the client’s permission, mentors stay in contact so everyone is moving in the same direction.
The goal
Self-discipline, a sense of purpose and a foundation, inside and out, that makes progress last. Blackburn Mentoring will help you become who you want to be, and if you don’t know yet, we will find out together.
What happens after you take the assessment
The five-minute assessment is reviewed personally by our team, not scored by software. From there:
- The team reaches out to set up a free intro call, where rates and plans are reviewed.
- For a middle or high school student, a parent or guardian can join that call and help agree the goals.
- You are matched with one dedicated mentor. See how matching works.
- Your first session turns goals into a written plan. See your first mentoring session.
Choosing a plan and session length
Sessions are 60 minutes. Shorter sessions suit quick weekly reviews and check-ins; longer ones suit planning, practice interviews or working through a harder problem. How often to meet depends on the goal; our guide how often to meet with a mentor explains the trade-offs.
Many clients start with more contact while habits are new, then step down as things hold.
What progress looks like over the first months
Every plan is different, but in general terms the early months tend to look like this:
- First month: goals written down, a standing session time and the first small wins.
- Months two and three: routines that hold most weeks, honest reviews of the weeks that did not, and a plan that has been adjusted at least once.
- After that: bigger goals, more independence and, for many clients, less frequent contact.
Contact between sessions is a big part of this. Read about between-session support and our approach.
How families fit into the process
Parents of middle and high school students are always involved: a parent or guardian can join the intro call, help agree the goals and receive regular progress updates. For college students and adults, families receive updates only with the client’s permission. See progress updates for parents and for families.
When a parent is worried about something specific, the intro call is the place to say so. It shapes the goals and the kind of mentor the team looks for. If you are still deciding whether your teen needs this at all, read does my teenager need a mentor.
Questions about the process
How long does mentoring last?
It depends on the person and their goals. Some clients work with a mentor for a few months during a transition, and others continue longer as they build their careers and independence.
Can I change mentors?
Yes. The relationship matters. If the fit is not right, tell us and we will work with you to find a better match.
Are sessions in person?
Both. Clients in Los Angeles can meet in person, and virtual mentoring by video is available for clients anywhere or whose schedules make in-person meetings hard.
Who gets progress updates?
Only the people you agree to. With your permission, mentors can share updates with family or with other professionals supporting you.
How soon can mentoring start after the intro call?
Once you decide to go ahead, the team matches you with a mentor and schedules the first session. Timing depends on availability, which is discussed on the intro call.
What should I bring to the first session?
A rough idea of what you want to change and your calendar. The mentor helps turn that into specific goals and weekly steps.
Do I have to know my goals before starting?
No. Working out what you want is often the first piece of work with a mentor.
Is mentoring the same as therapy?
No. Mentors focus on practical goals and do not diagnose or treat. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety or substance use, a licensed professional is the right step, and a mentor can work alongside them with your permission. In a crisis, call or text 988.
How do I know if mentoring is working?
You should see steps getting done most weeks and goals moving. Your mentor tracks a few simple benchmarks, and you review them together.
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.
What happens on the free intro call?
The intro call is free and about 20 minutes. You talk through goals, what has gotten in the way, scheduling and whether mentoring is the right fit. If it is, the client is matched with a mentor within 2 business days. A referring professional can join the call if the client wants.
Does mentoring happen by video or in person?
Both. Sessions are by video anywhere in the United States, or in person in Los Angeles. Clients outside Los Angeles work with their mentor entirely by video.
Related
- One-on-one mentoring
- Virtual mentoring
- Mentoring FAQ
- How Matching With a Mentor Works
- Mentoring Support Between Sessions: Text and Phone
- How much does a mentor cost?
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.
Last updated .
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.