Your young adult graduated college (or didn't). They're living on their own (or back at home). And they're... struggling. Not with intelligence or potential, but with the basic skills of adult life.
They can write a research paper but can't manage a budget. They can analyze literature but can't navigate conflict with a roommate. They have a degree but no idea how to find a job they actually want.
This is where life coaching comes in.
What is Life Coaching?
Life coaching is forward-focused, action-oriented support that helps young adults:
- Clarify goals and values
- Develop practical life skills
- Build confidence and self-efficacy
- Navigate transitions and challenges
- Create accountability and momentum
Unlike therapy (which addresses past wounds and emotional healing), coaching focuses on present challenges and future goals.
The Skills College Didn't Teach
1. Financial Management
- Creating and sticking to a budget
- Understanding credit, loans, and debt
- Making financial decisions aligned with goals
- Negotiating salary and benefits
2. Career Navigation
- Identifying interests and strengths
- Job searching and networking
- Resume and interview skills
- Navigating workplace dynamics
- Knowing when to stay vs. move on
3. Relationship Skills
- Setting and maintaining boundaries
- Communicating needs and concerns
- Navigating conflict constructively
- Building and maintaining friendships
- Romantic relationship skills
4. Daily Living Skills
- Cooking, cleaning, and household management
- Time management and routine-building
- Healthcare navigation (finding doctors, making appointments)
- Basic car and home maintenance
5. Emotional Regulation
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Coping with disappointment and failure
- Building resilience
- Asking for help when needed
6. Decision-Making
- Weighing options and consequences
- Trusting their own judgment
- Making decisions aligned with values
- Learning from mistakes
Who Benefits from Life Coaching?
Life coaching is particularly valuable for young adults who:
- Feel lost or directionless after college
- Struggle with executive function or ADHD
- Are transitioning to independence
- Have anxiety or depression that interferes with daily functioning
- Are recovering from substance use or mental health issues
- Lack confidence or self-efficacy
- Have been over-supported by parents and need to build independence
What Life Coaching Looks Like
Initial Assessment
Understanding current challenges, strengths, and goals across life domains:
- Career and education
- Relationships and social life
- Health and wellness
- Finances and living situation
- Personal growth and fulfillment
Goal Setting
Creating specific, achievable goals with clear action steps. Not vague wishes ("be more successful") but concrete targets ("apply to 5 jobs per week").
Skill Building
Teaching and practicing specific skills through:
- Direct instruction
- Role-playing and practice
- Real-world application with support
- Reflection and adjustment
Accountability
Regular check-ins to:
- Review progress on goals
- Troubleshoot obstacles
- Celebrate wins
- Adjust plans as needed
Gradual Independence
The goal is always to work yourself out of a job. As skills develop, coaching frequency decreases.
Life Coaching vs. Therapy vs. Mentoring
Therapy addresses emotional wounds, mental health diagnoses, and past trauma. It's insight-oriented and focuses on healing.
Coaching addresses present challenges and future goals. It's action-oriented and focuses on skill-building.
Mentoring provides guidance based on the mentor's experience in a specific field. It's advice-oriented and focuses on career or life path.
Many young adults benefit from a combination of all three.
Common Coaching Goals
- Finding and landing a job
- Transitioning to independent living
- Building a social life in a new city
- Managing finances and paying off debt
- Developing healthy routines and habits
- Navigating workplace challenges
- Building confidence and self-esteem
- Figuring out "what's next" after college
How Off The Couch Approaches Life Coaching
Our life coaching services are tailored to each young adult's needs:
- Weekly coaching sessions (virtual or in-person in LA)
- Skill-building workshops (budgeting, job searching, etc.)
- Real-world support (accompanying to interviews, apartment hunting, etc.)
- Accountability check-ins between sessions
- Family coaching to support healthy independence
We integrate adventure experiences when appropriate to build confidence and create momentum.
The Investment
Life coaching is an investment in your young adult's future. The alternative—years of struggle, failed jobs, broken leases, and ongoing dependence on parents—is far more costly.
Most young adults work with a coach for 3-12 months, depending on their starting point and goals.
Is your young adult struggling to launch into independent adulthood? Let's talk about how life coaching can help. Schedule a free consultation today.
