Mentoring is for people who are ready to take action and want someone in their corner while they do. Clients come to us at many different points in life, but most share one thing: they know where they want to go and want help getting there.
Clients often come to us when they are
- Young adults building independence, structure and direction
- Changing careers, looking for work or going back to school
- Working through a big transition, such as a move, a breakup, a job loss or a return home
- Professionals who want accountability for personal or career goals
- Rebuilding relationships with family and wanting help with communication
- In recovery and wanting hands-on support building a life (mentoring in recovery)
Families and professionals
Many referrals come from people who care about the client. Families often want a steady, trusted person in a loved one’s life. Professionals, such as therapists, counselors and schools, refer clients who need practical support to turn insight into daily action.
Where we work
Blackburn Mentoring serves clients in person across Los Angeles, including Venice, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Culver City and the rest of the Westside, and by video for clients anywhere.
Students and families
Many of the families we work with have a high school or college student who is capable but struggling with structure, motivation or the jump to independence. A mentor builds weekly routines with the student, checks in between sessions and keeps parents informed, so home can be a place for support instead of reminders.
- Mentoring for high school students
- Mentoring for college students
- The first year of college
- Gap years
Young adults
For young adults between school and a settled adult life, mentoring brings direction and momentum: jobs, school, money, routines and living independently, built one step at a time. See mentoring for young adults and help for young adults who feel stuck.
Professionals and people in transition
Professionals use mentoring for accountability, big decisions and transitions such as a career change or a move. See accountability coaching.
Anywhere in the US
Mentoring happens by video, scheduled in your time zone, so we work with clients across the country, from New York and Boston to the Bay Area and Dallas. In Los Angeles, clients can also meet in person.
More people we work with
Beyond students, families, young adults and professionals, several groups come to us with needs of their own. Each has a page that explains the work in more detail.
Adults with ADHD
Adults with ADHD often know exactly what they need to do; the hard part is the week. A mentor helps turn intentions into a short weekly plan and checks in between sessions so it survives. No diagnosis is needed, and mentoring is not treatment. See mentoring for adults with ADHD.
Autistic young adults
Some autistic young adults do best with one consistent person and sessions that follow the same structure each week. Mentors work on goals the young adult chooses, such as work, school, routines and living independently, with families involved as agreed. See mentoring for autistic young adults.
Parents of adult children
Many parents reach out because an adult son or daughter is stuck, living at home or drifting, and parental advice has stopped landing. A mentor works directly with the adult child on goals they set, and shares updates with parents with permission. See a mentor for your adult child.
Athletes after sports
When college or pro sports end, so do the schedule, the coaches and often the sense of direction. Mentors help athletes rebuild structure, set new goals and plan a career. See mentoring for athletes after sports.
Early career professionals
The first years of work bring a new schedule, new money and new expectations. A mentor outside the company helps with routine, sleep, money, relationships and following through on personal goals. See early career mentoring.
Graduate and pre-med students
Long projects and demanding paths need weekly structure. Mentors help graduate students turn theses and dissertations into weekly goals, and help pre-med students balance coursework, clinical hours and sleep. Mentors complement faculty and pre-health advisors; they are not admissions advisors. See mentoring for graduate students and mentoring for pre-med students.
Military families
Moves, deployments and school changes are hard on teens and young adults. Because sessions are by video, a military-connected student can keep the same mentor through every move. See mentoring for military families.
Next generation families
In affluent families, teens and young adults can lack the push that necessity provides. Mentors help them build work ethic, hold a first real job, keep routines and make sound decisions, while parents stay informed. See next generation mentoring.
When mentoring is not the right fit
Mentoring works best for someone who is willing to meet and try the weekly steps, even if they are unsure at first. It is not a replacement for therapy, medical care, tutoring or admissions counseling. If someone is dealing with depression, anxiety, substance use or thoughts of self-harm, a licensed professional is the right step, and a mentor can work alongside them. In a crisis, call or text 988. Our guide on mentor vs coach vs therapist explains the differences, and does my teenager need a mentor? helps parents decide.
How to tell whether mentoring fits you or your family
- Take the mentor fit quiz for a quick sense of whether mentoring matches what you need.
- Read how mentoring works to see what sessions, check-ins and updates look like.
- Complete the five-minute assessment. Our team reviews it personally and sets up a free intro call, then matches you with a mentor.
More questions
Do you only work with students?
No. We work with high school and college students, young adults, professionals and families, along with the groups listed above.
Do I need a diagnosis to work with a mentor?
No. Mentors work on goals and weekly steps, not diagnoses. If a diagnosis or treatment is needed, a licensed professional is the right person, and a mentor can coordinate with them with permission.
Can a parent sign up on behalf of an adult child?
A parent can start the process and join early conversations, but the adult child takes part in the intro call and sets their own goals. See how to suggest a mentor to your adult child.
Do you work with clients outside Los Angeles?
Yes. Mentoring happens by video anywhere in the United States, scheduled in your local time zone. See mentoring by state.
Can someone in recovery work with a mentor?
Yes. Support for people in recovery is one of our specialties, and mentors work alongside treatment, therapy and recovery programs rather than replacing them.
Related
- How mentoring works
- One-on-one mentoring
- Mentoring FAQ
- Mentoring for LGBTQ Young Adults
- Mentoring After Incarceration
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.
Last updated .
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.