Yes, families and young adults in Phoenix and Scottsdale can work with a Blackburn mentor by video. Our team is in Los Angeles, and clients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Chandler, Gilbert and across the Valley meet one dedicated mentor online every week, with text and phone check-ins between sessions. Sessions are scheduled in Arizona time, which is close to ours for most of the year.
The Arizona time zone, explained simply
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time. That makes scheduling with a Los Angeles team unusually easy:
- From March to early November, Phoenix and Los Angeles are on the same clock.
- From early November to March, Phoenix is one hour ahead of Los Angeles.
- Either way, after-school and evening sessions line up comfortably for both sides.
We book every session in your local time, so the seasonal shift is our problem to track, not yours.
A school year shaped by the heat
Many Arizona school districts start the year in late July or early August, earlier than most of the country, and summer heat keeps a lot of life indoors from June through September. For students, that means the year can start before they feel ready, and the long, hot summer can turn into weeks of screens and late nights.
We often start with Valley students in early summer, so that by the first week of school there is a plan, a routine and someone checking in. Our guide to a teen summer plan covers how to use those months well.
Who we work with in the Valley
High school students and their parents
Students in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and the East Valley attend competitive public high schools, charter schools and independent schools. Parents reach out when a student is capable but unmotivated, overloaded or drifting. The parent joins the intro call, helps agree the goals and receives regular progress updates.
College students
The Valley has a very large college student population, including many students who moved from other states. Mentors help with time management, routines, homesickness and decisions about majors and internships. Parents out of state can stay informed with the student’s permission.
Young adults and professionals
Phoenix has grown fast, and many young adults move here for work and a lower cost of living than the coasts. Common goals include money and budgeting, a first apartment, a health and fitness routine that survives the summer, and a clear career direction.
Snowbird season and family schedules
Winter is the Valley’s busy season, when visitors and part-time residents arrive and the weather is at its best. For many families, that is also when travel, sports and outdoor plans fill the calendar. Online sessions continue wherever the student is, so a family trip does not mean a lost week.
What a typical week looks like
A student or young adult meets their mentor by video for 30 or 60 minutes, weekly or several times a week. Together they review last week, set the next steps and plan for whatever is coming: a test, a deadline, a job interview, a hard conversation. Between sessions, the mentor checks in by text or phone so the plan stays alive.
Where a mentor fits
Mentors are not tutors, therapists or admissions counselors. They are consistent, practical guides who help people follow through. Parents of teenagers usually begin with mentoring for high school students; students already on campus with mentoring for college students. Everything about the online format is on our online mentoring page.
Related
- Online mentoring in San Diego
- Online mentoring in Denver and Boulder
- Young adult mentoring
- Mentoring for families
- Online Mentoring in Las Vegas and Henderson
Common questions
Is Phoenix in the same time zone as your team?
For most of the year, yes. Arizona does not change clocks, so it matches Los Angeles from March to early November and is one hour ahead the rest of the year.
Can you meet in person in Scottsdale?
No. In-person sessions are only available in Los Angeles. Phoenix and Scottsdale clients work with their mentor by video.
When is a good time to start with a high school student?
Any time works, but many Arizona families start in early summer so a routine is in place before the school year begins in late July or early August.
Get started
Want to talk about mentoring for someone in the Valley? 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.