Mentoring is practical, one-on-one support from someone who has your back. Blackburn Mentoring pairs each client with a dedicated mentor who meets with them in person or by video, stays in touch between sessions and helps them make real progress on the goals that matter to them.
Blackburn Mentoring at a glance
| Who it is for | Teens 13 and up (with parents involved), college students, young adults and adults; nobody 12 or younger |
| Format | One-on-one with the same dedicated mentor, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles |
| Sessions | 60 minute sessions, with text and phone check-ins between them; early morning, evening and weekend times |
| Focus areas | School and study habits, career and education, money and life skills, health and fitness, relationships and family, and accountability |
| 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 |
| Cost | Not published; discussed on the free intro call after the assessment |
| What it is not | Therapy or clinical care. Mentors talk with a client’s therapist only after written permission |
| Contact | (888) 305 5422 or the online assessment |
What a mentor is
A mentor is a guide, an accountability partner and a practical problem solver. Mentors focus on action: the concrete steps that build a stable, satisfying life, such as finding the right work, going back to school, getting organized with money, getting healthy and strengthening relationships.
Mentors are not therapists. When a client already has a therapist, counselor, doctor or other professionals in their life, mentors work alongside them so everyone is pulling in the same direction.
What mentoring covers
- Career and Education: Resumes, job searches, interviews, going back to school and building a career.
- Money and Life Skills: Budgets, banking, bills, credit and the everyday tasks of running a life.
- Health and Fitness: Exercise, nutrition, sleep and a daily routine that supports your goals.
- Relationships and Family: Communication, trust, boundaries and healthier relationships.
- Accountability and Recovery: Accountability, motivation and structure, including support for people in recovery.
How it works
Clients meet with their mentor weekly or several times a week, in person or by video, with text and phone contact in between. Together, mentor and client set short and long-term goals, track progress against them and adjust the plan as life changes. See how mentoring works for the full process, or virtual mentoring if you would rather meet by video.
Why it works
Most people know what they want to change. What gets in the way is structure, follow-through and having someone to think things through with. A mentor brings all three: a plan broken into weekly steps, a standing time to show up for, and a trusted person who notices when things start to drift.
We believe lasting change comes from discipline through action. Small, consistent steps, taken with someone in your corner, add up.
Who mentoring is for, and who it is not for
Blackburn works with high school students, college students, students in their first year of college or a gap year, young adults, professionals and families.
It is not the right fit if you need tutoring, admissions help or treatment for a mental health condition. A licensed professional is the right step for depression, anxiety or substance use, and a mentor can work alongside that care with your permission. In a crisis, call or text 988.
A useful rule of thumb: mentoring helps most when the person can name something they want to change and is willing to show up at a set time each week to work on it. They do not need a perfect plan; building one is the mentor’s job.
Paid one-on-one mentoring compared with other options
- Volunteer programs are a great resource, but contact is usually less frequent. See volunteer vs paid mentor.
- Group mentoring gives community but less personal attention. See group vs one-on-one mentoring.
- Tutoring builds subject knowledge; a mentor builds habits and follow-through. See mentor vs tutor.
- Doing it alone costs nothing and works for some people, especially with a written plan. It tends to break down at the same point each time: the week life gets busy.
What the first couple of months usually look like
Early on, the work is about clarity: two or three goals, written down, with a weekly step for each. By the second month the aim is a routine kept most weeks and a clearer sense of what to tackle next. Our guide on the benefits of mentoring explains why steady contact matters more than any single session.
Setbacks are normal. A missed week or a goal that turns out to be the wrong one is reviewed openly, and the plan changes. For a parent, the signs that mentoring is working are usually small at first: assignments handed in, a routine that holds, a calmer conversation about the future.
Key questions to ask any mentor
- How often will we meet, and how do we stay in touch between sessions?
- How will we know whether it is working?
- Who receives progress updates, and who decides?
- What happens if we are not a good fit?
Clear answers to those questions tell you more than any sales pitch. More in how to find a mentor and is mentoring worth it.
Questions about mentoring
What does a mentor do?
A mentor helps you build practical skills and structure in work, school, money, health and relationships, and keeps you accountable to your goals through regular sessions and contact in between.
Who is mentoring for?
Anyone who wants structure, direction and someone in their corner, including young adults building independence, people changing careers or going back to school, people working through a big life transition and people in recovery.
How often do clients meet with their mentor?
Most clients meet weekly or several times a week, in person or by video, with text and phone contact in between. Sessions run 60 minutes and the schedule is built around each person.
Do you offer mentoring in Los Angeles?
Yes. Blackburn Mentoring works with clients in person across Los Angeles, including Venice, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Culver City and the rest of the Westside, and by video anywhere.
How is a mentor different from a coach?
The two overlap. A Blackburn mentor works across every area of life and stays in contact between sessions. See what is coaching and what is a life mentor.
How long do people usually work with a mentor?
It depends on the goals. Some work through one transition over a few months; others continue longer.
Can a parent sign up a young adult for mentoring?
A parent can start the conversation, but an adult client has to want it. For high school students, a parent or guardian is always involved and is welcome to join the intro call.
How much does mentoring cost?
Rates are reviewed on the free intro call. For the general picture, see how much a coach costs.
Related
- Who we help
- Mentor vs coach vs therapist
- Mentoring for families
- Mentoring FAQ
- The Benefits of Mentoring for Teens, College Students and Young Adults
- What Is Coaching? A Plain-English Guide
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.