Video mentoring works across time zones as long as the session time is chosen around the client’s day, not the mentor’s. Blackburn mentors are based in Los Angeles and offer early morning, evening and weekend sessions, so an East Coast teen can meet before school or after dinner, and a Central time college student can meet between classes.
Why does the time zone matter so much?
A mentoring relationship runs on rhythm. The same day and time each week becomes an anchor: something a teen plans homework around and a young adult protects from the rest of the week. When the slot is awkward, it is the first thing to get skipped.
Time zones make that choice a little trickier. A 4 pm meeting in Los Angeles is 7 pm in New York. That can be perfect for a high school junior who has finished practice and dinner, and terrible for a ninth grader who is fading by then. So the question is never “what time is the mentor free?” It is “when is this person at their best?”
What do Pacific hours look like across the country?
Here is a simple conversion for common slots. Mentors set their own availability, so treat this as a guide to what is realistic rather than a fixed schedule.
- 6 am Pacific is 7 am Mountain, 8 am Central and 9 am Eastern. Useful for East Coast young adults before work, or for a weekend check-in.
- 7 am Pacific is 10 am Eastern. Good for college students with late morning classes.
- 1 pm Pacific is 4 pm Eastern and 3 pm Central. This lines up with the end of the school day in many places.
- 3 pm Pacific is 6 pm Eastern and 5 pm Central. A common after-practice slot.
- 5 pm Pacific is 8 pm Eastern and 7 pm Central. Works for working young adults, but late for younger teens.
- Saturday or Sunday mornings Pacific fall at midday on the East Coast, which many families find the calmest time of the week.
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time in most of the state, and Hawaii does not observe it at all, so their offset from Los Angeles changes in spring and fall. Alaska runs one hour behind Pacific time. If you are in one of those places, confirm the slot again in March and November.
How do you pick the right slot?
Start with energy, not convenience. Ask when the person usually does their best thinking and when they tend to crash. A teen who is wiped out after school may do better with a weekend session, while a young adult who works days may want an early morning call before the commute.
Then look at what the week already holds. Sports seasons, part-time jobs, labs and shifts all move around. Pick a slot that survives most weeks, not one that only works in an ideal week.
Sleep matters too, especially for teens. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that teens’ sleep patterns shift later, so very early mornings are hard for many of them (NIMH, The Teen Brain). An early session can still work for a teen who is naturally up early, but we rarely suggest it as the default.
Does a time difference change how mentoring works?
Not much, once the slot is set. Sessions happen by video, follow the same structure wherever the client lives, and come with follow-up between meetings. The mentor tracks the client’s local calendar, including school breaks, exam weeks and holidays that may differ from California’s.
Outside California, sessions are by video only. We are upfront about that. In-person sessions are available in Los Angeles, and some local families mix the two.
What about busy families with more than one schedule?
When a parent wants to be part of the process, we schedule around the young person first and the parent second. Parent check-ins can happen at a different time from the session itself. How much a parent hears depends on the client’s age and the permissions they give.
Common questions
Can I meet with a mentor before work on the East Coast?
Often, yes. Mentors offer early morning sessions, and a 6 or 7 am Pacific time slot lands at 9 or 10 am Eastern. Ask about it during the intro call.
What if we move or travel during mentoring?
Sessions follow you. Tell your mentor the new time zone and the standing slot can be shifted so it still fits your day.
Are weekend sessions available?
Yes. Mentors offer weekend times, and many families outside the Pacific time zone find a weekend morning in Los Angeles lands at a relaxed midday hour for them.
Can I meet my mentor in person if I live out of state?
No. Out-of-state mentoring is by video only. In-person sessions are offered in Los Angeles.
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Get started
If you live outside California and want to see which session times would work for your family, call (888) 305-5422 or take the short assessment. After you finish it, a member of our team reaches out to set up a free 20 minute intro call at a time that suits your time zone.
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Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.