Relationships shape almost everything else in life, and they rarely improve on their own. Blackburn mentors help clients communicate better, build or rebuild trust over time and surround themselves with people who support where they are headed.
How mentors help
- Preparing for hard conversations with family members before they happen
- Following through on commitments, which is how trust is built
- Setting healthy boundaries with family, friends and partners
- Recognizing relationships that hold you back
- Building new friendships and a support network
- Handling conflict without shutting down or blowing up
Family dynamics
Families carry their own history, hopes and habits. Mentors can help clients understand those dynamics and respond with patience. With the client’s permission, mentors can also keep families updated, which takes pressure off everyone. Families who want support of their own can learn more on our For Families page.
Families with students and young adults
A lot of family tension around teenagers and young adults comes down to the same few things: school, responsibilities, money and independence. When a mentor takes on the coaching and check-ins, parents can step back from being the reminder, and conversations at home often get easier. See for families and motivating a teenager.
Online, anywhere in the US
Mentoring for relationships and family happens by video for clients across the United States, scheduled in your local time, with text and phone check-ins between sessions. Clients in Los Angeles can also meet in person. See online mentoring nationwide.
Who relationships and family mentoring is for
- Young adults living at home who want more independence and fewer arguments about it. See a living at home agreement.
- Parents of teens and adult children who want someone outside the family to work with their son or daughter. See a mentor for your adult child.
- Students and young adults who feel isolated after a move, a graduation or a first year away. See dealing with loneliness.
- Not the right fit for couples or family therapy, or for situations involving abuse or safety concerns. A licensed therapist is the right step there, and a mentor can work alongside one. In a crisis, call or text 988.
What a typical week looks like
Relationship skills are built in real conversations, so the work stays practical:
- Prepare: in session, pick one conversation or commitment for the week, such as asking a parent for more independence, setting a boundary or reaching out to a new friend, and plan what to say.
- Do it: the client has the conversation or keeps the commitment, and texts the mentor afterward.
- Review: next session, talk through what went well, what did not and what to try next.
How parents are involved
For high school students, a parent or guardian is always involved: they can join the intro call, agree on goals and receive regular progress updates. For young adults, updates happen with their permission. Either way, the mentor is a separate person from the family, which is often the point: a young person may hear the same advice differently from someone outside the house. Families often pair mentoring with a few house rules agreed together; see family meetings with young adults, setting boundaries with parents and enabling vs helping an adult child.
Mentor, therapist or family program?
A therapist works on the emotional and clinical side of family life. A residential or wilderness program removes a young person from home. A mentor works in daily life: follow-through, communication and independence, week by week, while the family keeps living together. Compare in mentor vs coach vs therapist and mentoring vs transitional living.
Key questions to ask any mentor or coach
- How will you keep what my son or daughter tells you private, and what will you share with us?
- How do you handle it when a parent and a young adult want different goals?
- When would you recommend a therapist instead of, or alongside, mentoring?
More questions
Can a mentor help a young adult make friends?
Yes. Mentors help with small, concrete steps, such as joining a group, following up with a coworker or making plans, and check in on them. See making friends after college.
What if my adult child refuses help?
That is common. Our guide on when an adult child refuses help covers how to raise mentoring without making it a punishment, and the young adult has a real say in the goals.
Do mentors take sides in family conflict?
No. The mentor works for the client’s goals and helps them communicate and follow through. With permission, parents get updates, but the mentor is not a referee.
Can mentoring help with roommate or workplace relationships?
Yes. Mentors help clients prepare for hard conversations with roommates, coworkers or a manager. See a roommate agreement and dealing with a difficult boss.
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.
Related
Relationship questions
Can a mentor help me reconnect with my family?
Yes. Mentors help clients prepare for conversations, follow through on commitments and rebuild trust over time, at a pace that works for everyone.
Is relationship mentoring the same as family therapy?
No. Mentors focus on practical communication and follow-through. For deeper family work, they can help connect clients and families with a licensed therapist.
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.