15 Key Questions to Ask When Hiring a Parent Coach
Not all parent coaches are the same. Not all training for coaches are the same. Not all parent coaches work with parents of emerging adults. Finding a parent coach that works for you will require some interviewing. Selecting the right parent coach requires ensuring their philosophy, methodology, and background align with your family's specific needs. Treating the introductory call like an interview will help you determine if they are a good fit.
Below you will find a list of suggested questions to consider when speaking with and ultimately hiring a parent coach:
“What is your specific background, training, or certification in young adult development and launch issues?"
How much of your practice is dedicated specifically to parents of emerging adults (ages 18–29) versus general parenting?"
"What is your core philosophy on balancing support versus enforcing boundaries with a stuck young adult?"
“How would you describe your approach to working with parents?”
“How would you describe your role differing from an individual or family therapist?”
“How does your approach differ if you are working with an intact family vs. divorced family trying to co-parent?”
"How do you approach situations involving neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism), mental health challenges, or substance use?"
“What does a typical coaching package look like in terms of session frequency, length, and duration?"
“What does your schedule look like in terms of availability (factoring in timezone)?”
"Do you offer between-session support (such as text or email check-ins) for real-time crisis management or boundary enforcement?"
“Do you work exclusively with parents, or do you also conduct joint sessions or 1-on-1 sessions with the young adult?"
"How do you handle a situation where the young adult flatly refuses to participate or engage with the process?"
“How do we define andmeasure successin our work together?"
"What is your protocol if we implement your strategies for a few months and see no progress?"
“Can you provide parent references that we can speak with?”
Every family has different needs or values around what is most important. Review this list and create your own list of questions to ask during the interview. Every coach is so different. I find that parents who hire a parent coach to work with individually, allow space for their young adult to work directly with a therapeutic consultant to help the young adult find resources. It’s kind of the perfect package.
If you aren’t sure where to even begin in looking for parent coaches, contact Joanna.
