Looking for an online mentor for your teenage son? Blackburn Mentoring matches teens 13 and up with one dedicated mentor who meets him by video every week, anywhere in the United States, or in person in Los Angeles, with text check-ins between sessions and updates for parents. Call (888) 305-5422 or take the short assessment to set up a free intro call.
To find a mentor for a teenage son, decide what you want to change (grades, motivation, confidence or a plan after graduation), then choose a format: a free volunteer or school program, or a paid one-on-one mentor in person or online. Bring your son into the choice early. A mentor he agreed to try will do more than one he was assigned.
Quick facts: a mentor for your son through Blackburn Mentoring
| Ages | 13 and up; for high school students, a parent or guardian is involved |
| Parent role | Joining the free intro call is optional; parents get progress updates, and what is shared depends on the teen’s age and the permissions given |
| Format | One-on-one with the same dedicated mentor, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles |
| Between sessions | Text and phone check-ins on the steps agreed in the session |
| Session times | Early morning, evening and weekend times, scheduled in your time zone |
| Getting started | 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 |
| What it is not | Tutoring in a single subject, or therapy. Mentors work alongside a therapist only with written permission |
| Contact | (888) 305 5422 or the online assessment |
Signs a mentor could help
- He tunes out when you bring up school, but would talk to almost anyone else.
- Grades are slipping and the reason is effort or organization, not ability.
- He has no real plan for after high school and the questions are starting to feel urgent.
- Too many hours go to a screen and too few to anything he is building.
- He seems unsure of himself, or is drifting toward friends who are not good for him.
- You are tired of being the only one holding the line.
Not sure it is the right step yet? Our guide does my teenager need a mentor? walks through it.
Where parents usually look
- People you know: a coach, an older cousin, a family friend. Free and familiar, but often hard to keep consistent.
- School and community programs: worth asking about; availability and matching vary a lot.
- A paid, dedicated mentor: a scheduled weekly relationship with goals and parent updates built in. This is what we offer through mentoring for high school students.
What to look for in a mentor
- Consistency. The same person, at the same time, every week. Teenagers trust what shows up.
- A plan, not just conversation. Goals written down and broken into weekly steps.
- Contact between sessions. A text on Wednesday about the thing he said he would do Tuesday is where change happens.
- A clear role for you. How often you hear from them and what gets shared.
- Honesty about limits. A good mentor will tell you when something needs a tutor, a doctor or a licensed therapist instead.
If you are not sure a mentor is the right kind of help yet, the free mentor fit quiz asks ten questions and suggests whether a mentor, a tutor, a licensed professional or a school counselor fits best first.
Where to find a mentor for a teenage son: options compared
In a national survey, one in three young people said they grew up without a mentor of any kind (MENTOR, The Mentoring Effect, 2014). These are the main ways families close that gap.
| Option | Cost | How often | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relative, coach or family friend | Free | Varies | A son who already trusts that adult | Hard to keep consistent; no written plan or parent updates |
| Volunteer mentoring program | Free | Often a few times a month | A long-term relationship with a caring adult | Eligibility rules and waiting lists are common; less focus on specific goals |
| School mentoring program | Free | Usually weekly during term | Feeling connected at school | Often pauses over breaks; limited contact with parents |
| Paid one-on-one mentor, in person or online | Paid; discussed after an assessment | Weekly or more, with check-ins between | Specific goals: grades, motivation, routines, a plan after high school | Cost; ask who exactly will work with him each week |
| Tutor | Paid | Weekly | Help with one subject | Does not cover habits, planning or motivation |
| Therapist | Paid or insurance | Weekly | Anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns | A licensed clinician; a mentor can work alongside, not instead |
For a side by side look at the roles, see mentor vs therapist vs tutor vs coach and paid mentor vs volunteer program.
Can a teenage son have an online mentor?
Yes. Many teenage boys are more at ease talking on a screen than across a table, and video removes the drive, so sessions fit around practice, a job or a different time zone. A video session follows the same structure as an in-person one: review the week, agree on two or three concrete steps, then check in by text before the next session. Research on video mentoring is newer than research on in-person mentoring; is virtual mentoring effective? covers what is known.
Blackburn Mentoring works with teens 13 and up by video anywhere in the United States and in person in Los Angeles. See online mentoring for teens for how a video mentor works week to week.
How to bring it up with him
Teenage boys often hear “mentor” as “you think something is wrong with me.” Lead with what is in it for him and give him a real say.
- “You do not want to hear this stuff from me, and that is fair. What if it came from someone else?”
- “There is a guy who works with high school students on goals, school and figuring out what is next. Will you do one call with him and tell me what you think?”
- “You pick what you work on. I just want to know it is moving.”
Avoid announcing it in the middle of an argument about grades. Pick a calm moment and keep it short. If talking at all is hard right now, see how to talk to a teen who will not talk.
How you stay involved
With high school students, a parent or guardian is always part of it. In our program that means:
- You can join the free intro call and hear how it would work.
- You and your son agree on the goals together, so everyone is aiming at the same thing.
- You get regular progress updates from the mentor.
- Your son still gets room to talk openly; the mentor shares progress and concerns with you, not every word of every session.
That balance matters. Teens open up when they trust the conversation is theirs, and parents relax when they know what is happening.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Who exactly will work with my son, and will it be the same person each week?
- How are goals set and how is progress tracked?
- How often will I get updates, and in what form?
- What happens if the fit is not right?
- What do you do if you see something that needs a professional?
Where a mentor helps most
A mentor works best on the things parents cannot easily do from inside the family: steady accountability without the emotional history, help building organization and planning skills, and an honest sounding board about the future. Sessions run by video anywhere in the US or in person in Los Angeles, with text and phone contact in between. Older sons may fit mentoring for young men instead.
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.
If you live in Los Angeles County, see a teen mentor in Los Angeles for how in-person and video sessions work.
Related
- Mentoring for high school students
- How to motivate a teenager in school
- Building teen confidence
- For families
- Finding a Mentor for a Teenage Daughter
- Boys Falling Behind in School: What Parents Can Do
- My Son Has No Direction: How Parents Can Help
Common questions
At what age can a teenage son start with a mentor?
Our high school program works with students through their high school years, with a parent or guardian involved throughout. The right time is usually when you notice a pattern, not after a crisis.
What if my son refuses?
Ask for one intro call rather than a commitment. Many teens agree once they meet the person and see it is about their goals, not a punishment.
Is a mentor the same as a tutor?
No. A tutor teaches a subject. A mentor helps with the habits, planning and follow-through around it; see mentor vs tutor.
Can my son have an online mentor instead of meeting in person?
Yes. Blackburn Mentoring works with teens 13 and up by video anywhere in the United States, with text check-ins between sessions. Families in Los Angeles can also meet in person.
How much does a mentor for a teenage son cost?
Volunteer and school programs are free. Paid mentoring depends on how often sessions happen and how much contact there is between them. At Blackburn Mentoring, cost is discussed on the free intro call after the assessment; see how much does a mentor cost.
How quickly can a mentor start working with my son?
Start with the short online assessment. A member of our team reviews it and sets up a free intro call, and new clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days.
Get started
Ready to talk about a mentor for your son? 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.
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Booking for a son or daughter? You can book the call yourself. Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.