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Mallory Woods
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Why Mallory Woods Youth Coaching is Something New |
A Blended Approach to Practical and Emotional Support
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As a teenager, I needed more than just a counselor. I needed someone to support me with practical things like navigating the foster care system, advocating for myself at the doctor’s office, and making a resume. I also needed someone to talk to, who could help me untangle what I was feeling and find tools to help myself. Somedays I needed someone to rant to, to help me with homework, to play games with, and just to be there.
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I believe that supports for youth need to be multifaceted, and completely tailored to what the youth is needing, whatever that may be.
Some days my job entails listening and providing emotional support, you know, the typical stuff. On other days, it’s entails seeing who can eat more Warheads and playing Minecraft while we talk. I have yet to find a name for this kind of flexible support, so I call it “wrap-around support for youth.” So, what do I do? Formally, I am a trauma and violence informed youth coach but I am also extremely proud to have been called a lot of other nice things by the youth I work with. Here are a few of my favorites: |
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Mallory Woods Youth Coaching at a Glance: |
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Why I Work With Youth (aka, the obligatory sad, origin story)
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At sixteen, I was a high school drop-out sleeping in my old babysitter’s boyfriend’s minivan. I was in Government care (or about to be), and living with PTSD, Depression, and psychosis. What was worse was how utterly alone I felt. I needed someone to care.
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In my search for support, I found a lot of the last thing I wanted, do-gooder adult handing out reheated inspirational casserole. I didn't need a “you can do it!” sticker, I needed someone who understood the very real problems I was facing and was willing to climb down into that dark place with me and say, “Wow. This sucks butt. Let’s see what we can do to help”. |
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So, I grew up, did a whole ton of healing, growing and training, and became a professional “care-er”, or as close to one as I could become (I also have actual credentials). I have worked to create the support service I needed as a teenager, a new approach to supporting youth that combines practical support with emotional support.
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