Youth Coaching Expert Insights

Young people are navigating a complex landscape that challenges their well-being in unprecedented ways. Recent insights from the JED Foundation (2026) highlight three converging crises impacting adolescents: artificial intelligence systems built for engagement rather than care, rapidly shrinking public support networks, and eroding pathways to meaningful human connection. As an educator, social worker, or youth advocate, you likely see these challenges manifesting in your schools and communities every day. How

Adolescence is a profound period of biological and emotional change. Teenagers consistently navigate complex social dynamics, identity formation, and existential challenges. As technology advances, we see artificial intelligence stepping into administrative and even supportive roles within educational and therapeutic spaces. When we ask what separates human support from AI support, we are really asking a much deeper question: What does it mean for a young person to feel truly understood?

Evaluating coaching competency is some of the most important work in our profession. It determines who earns their credentials and whether coaches are genuinely equipped to serve the clients who count on them. When you are dedicated to fostering youth resilience and empowering adolescents, you want to know that your skills meet the highest standards. Historically, navigating the credentialing process has been complex. Rubrics often require significant interpretation, and waiting

There’s a moment many new coaches describe, somewhere between completing their training and stepping fully into their practice, where something feels unsettled. You know the skills. You’ve done the coursework. But something about fully owning the identity of “coach” hasn’t quite clicked yet. If that resonates with you, here’s something worth knowing: that unsettled feeling isn’t a warning sign. It’s actually evidence that your professional identity is forming exactly as