Coaching Young People
New Understandings, New Methods for Today
We designed this class to be a powerful pragmatic response to the acute meta-crisis young people (15-25 year olds) are in the middle of today.
Early Bird – Save $300 – ends September 17
Schedule:
Session 1: October 23-24
Session 2: December 4-5
Session 3: January 15-16
All session days are 9am-6pm PT
View all the program logistics
New Understandings, New Methods
The Meta-Crisis Facing Our Youth
Young people today face unprecedented challenges in our chaotic, uncertain, media-drenched world. Traditional approaches to youth development are no longer sufficient.
The reality:Â There simply aren’t enough psychologists and counselors to support our young people. This course prepares you to skillfully bridge that gap.
This program offers a powerful pragmatic response, bringing together decades of mentoring experience with cutting-edge findings from brain research, cognitive science, experimental philosophy, sociology, and psychology.
“We designed this class to be a powerful pragmatic response to the acute meta-crisis young people are in the middle of today.”
Transform Your Impact
Revolutionary Understanding
Learn to expand our understanding of young people and meet them with unbounded openness, empathy, and emotional attunement.
Deeper Connection
Discover and strengthen the bonds that heal and support development, moving beyond transactional to transformational relationships.
Skillful Response
Develop nuanced discernment about what’s most important to attend to now, with powerful methods for facilitating young people’s growth.
Sustainable Practice
Build your capacity for this vital work while maintaining your own well-being and sense of hope.
Professional Development Investment
Your Path to Maximum Impact
Young people are facing unprecedented challenges, and traditional approaches simply aren’t enough. This program brings together our 40 years of training professionals with decades of hands-on experience supporting youth, as well as findings from brain research, cognitive science, experimental philosophy, sociology and psychology.
Super Early Bird ($2,700) – Available until August 19. Save $600 and secure your spot in this intimate cohort of practitioners.
Early Bird ($3,000) – Available through September 17. Save $300 while still accessing the full transformational experience.
Regular Tuition ($3,300) – Our standard investment level, available until the program begins October 23.
What’s Included in Your Investment:
- Three intensive two-day sessions (48+ hours of live training)
- Three 90-minute integration calls with expert feedback
- Comprehensive curriculum materials and resources
- Access to a dedicated community of practitioners
- Continuing education credits
- Lifetime access to session recordings
What it looks like
Your Learning Journey
Purpose
You uncover, embody and start being more skillful in understanding young clients in fresh, dynamic, powerful ways.
Outcomes
• You become aware of how you automatically understand young people so you can set it aside and instead meet them with unbounded openness.
• You become tremendously more empathetic and emotionally attuned to all types of young people.
• You have greater skill in assembling your impressions into a full robust understanding of young people
Core frameworks, distinctions, models:
- Model of experience and expression
- Framework of fundamental explanatory model
- Conditions for development (distinct from behavior modification)
Each intensive includes:
- Presencing practices for the practitioner to explore with young people
- Over seven elements explored in each intensive through an engaging, and embodied exercises
- Opportunity to work with each other in small groups to explore and apply the elements in practical ways
- Community discussions with question and response time
- Light assignments in between the scheduled sessions
Purpose
You enter a new world of connection, belonging, communication with young people by revealing and strengthening the bonds you already have with them
Outcomes
• You more sensitively appreciate the bonds that heal and adhere your life.
• You learn numerous ways to strengthen these bonds.
• You actively embrace a life of welcoming and treasuring your bonds with self, others and life.
Core frameworks, distinctions, models:
- Bonding as continuous movement of heart which animates care, openness and action
- Kinds of bonds that afford commitment, regulation and attunement
- Bonding as a healing element for our young clients and the world
Each intensive includes:
- Presencing practices for the practitioner to explore with young people
- Over seven elements explored in each intensive through an engaging, and embodied exercises
- Opportunity to work with each other in small groups to explore and apply the elements in practical ways
- Community discussions with question and response time
- Light assignments in between the scheduled sessions
Purpose
You experience greater grounding and clarity in responding to the developmental needs of the young people you work with
Outcomes
• You are more skillful in knowing/sensing what’s most important to attend to now in support of young people.
• You have more competence in a wide range of powerful methods in facilitating young people.
• You have a more nuanced view of the developmental arc in the life of young people.
Core frameworks, distinctions, models:
- Supporting skill acquisition in young people
- Responding to skill distortions and breakdowns
- Integrating awareness, motivation, and support as a caring adult
Each intensive includes:
- Presencing practices for the practitioner to explore with young people
- Over seven elements explored in each intensive through an engaging, and embodied exercises
- Opportunity to work with each other in small groups to explore and apply the elements in practical ways
- Community discussions with question and response time
- Light assignments in between the scheduled sessions
Three 90-minute integration calls between sessions to deepen your learning and receive feedback on your application of the material.
All calls: 4:30-6:00pm PT
“Participating in the Coaching Young People series deepened my understanding of youth development in a way that few trainings ever have. “
Mark, Director of Curriculum and Training
Coaching Young People Participant
“The training has been truly transformational—not only in my work as a facilitator for youth mentoring groups, but also in my life as a husband, friend, uncle, and co-worker. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, I leave each session with young people feeling encouraged and empowered. I’m deeply grateful for this experience—it’s changed how I relate to others and how I show up in the world.”
Erich
Coaching Young People Participant
“It was a truly transformative experience. I gained valuable skills to better support the development and growth of the young people I serve. As a coach and advocate for youth, I feel more confident and grounded in my approach. “
Alejandra, Director of Programs
Coaching Young People Participant
“Through this training, I experienced a powerful shift in my own parenting. It also reshaped how I approach my professional work with youth. If you or your organization is considering this training, I wholeheartedly encourage you to say yes. It’s not just professional development—it’s personal transformation.”
Briana, Director of Special Initiatives
Coaching Young People Participant
Your Guides
Meet James & Christy
James Flaherty is the founder of New Ventures West, co-founder of Integral Leadership LLC, and the author of Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others, which is widely recognized as a seminal text in the field of coach education. James developed the methodology known as Integral Coaching® by integrating recent discoveries in linguistics, developmental psychology, twentieth-century philosophy, and biology. He designed New Ventures West’s programs, trains its faculty, and has led coaching and leadership courses involving thousands of people around the world.
In addition to being a voracious reader, he practices yoga and qigong. He is a Zen student, studying with Norman Fischer of Everyday Zen. He enjoys travel and loves to spend time with his adult daughter and her friends.
Christy McClendon is an integral coach, facilitator, and teacher devoted to personal development and self-discovery. Guided by central beliefs of authenticity, love, integrity, and possibility, she believes each individual holds untapped potential that can be awakened through reflection, observation, and intentional practice. Her empathy, and calming presence empowers others to discover their unique strengths.
For three decades, Christy designed, facilitated and led national recognized programs serving over a thousand young people and the adults who care for them. She shares her experience as a professor of graduate social work students. A student and practitioner with the Enneagram, Christy is an experienced essence circle facilitator with Russ Hudson programs. In addition to being a student of Fourth Way, Zen Buddhism, and Diamond Approach, Christy is a certified yoga and meditation teacher.
Her rare ability to bring clarity and compassion to any situation, and her deep commitment to helping others succeed makes her a powerful partner on any
personal or professional journey.
Christy enjoys hiking, cooking, writing, and reading, and spending time with her husband, her niece and nephew, and her cats, Poppy and Gracie.
Who this is for
Therapists & School Counselors
Looking to expand their repertoire of methods
Teachers
Seeking to understand youth in more holistic ways
Coaches
Wanting to work specifically with youth
Parents
Desiring more connection and better relationships
What you’ll gain
Learn the fundamental competencies youth need to thrive and how to teach them
New distinctions and models for understanding youth developmentÂ
Application and practice of these new models
Feedback throughout the course
Experience fresh methods for connecting and establishing relationship
Ready to Transform Your Impact with Young People?
The youth mental health crisis can’t wait for traditional solutions. Young people need adults who can truly see them, understand their inner world, and skillfully support their development in these unprecedented times.
You have the opportunity to be that person.
Join a dedicated community of practitioners who are already transforming lives through these revolutionary approaches. Super Early Bird pricing ends August 19, now is the time to secure your place in this life-changing program.
Early Bird – Save $300 – ends September 17
Questions? Schedule a 15-minute call to learn more
Program begins October 23, 2024 • Full refund available until September 15
The course takes place over Zoom.
Each two-day intensive is 9am-6pm PT with plenty of breaks.
The intensives are:
October 23-24, 2025
December 4-5, 2025
January 15-16, 2025
Additionally there are three 90-minute integration calls. These are November 6, December 18, & February 5
The calls are 4:30pm-6:00pm PT
Super Early Bird Tuition through August 19: $2,700
Early Bird through September 17: $3,000
Regular: $3,300
Payment plans are available.
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