Behavioural health coaching is structured, one-to-one support for young people aged 11 to 25 when everyday life has become harder to manage than it should be. It focuses on the present: building the routines, coping skills and confidence that make daily life work again. It is not therapy, and your child does not need a diagnosis to start.
Synapse coaching is for young people with mild to moderate emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties, and for those who feel overwhelmed, unmotivated or stuck. Usually the struggle is starting to show in daily life, at home, at school, college or university, or at work: stress, withdrawal, lost confidence, avoidance, or friction with family.
We tailor coaching to each stage of life, from the move to secondary school through exams and university to a first job. See who we support.
Coaches use techniques drawn from cognitive behavioural approaches, positive psychology and habit formation. They help young people notice and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, regulate their emotions and build the practical skills to cope with pressure. The focus is on making changes now, not on analysing the past.
Our Coaches are trained by us and selected for relatability. Many are close in age to the young people they support and bring lived experience of their own, which helps young people open up. Meet our Coaches.
Every programme runs within a clinically supervised framework. Coaches are supervised weekly by registered mental health practitioners. A multidisciplinary clinical team reviews coaching plans, deals with any emerging concerns and makes sure a need for specialist care is picked up early. Clinical supervision is led by Professor Sandeep Ranote FRCPsych, Consultant Paediatric Psychiatrist. Meet our clinical team.
| Behavioural health coaching | Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Daily functioning now: routines, coping, follow-through | Diagnosis, treatment and past experiences |
| Suited to | Mild to moderate difficulties affecting daily life | Clinical conditions that need treatment |
| Diagnosis needed | No | Often part of the process |
Coaching can also run alongside therapy, for example by helping a young person keep to routines and goals between therapy sessions. Why therapy isn’t always the first step.
Coaching is not crisis care. If your child is in crisis or in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. See our urgent support page for other services. Coaching is also not suitable where therapy has been required by a court or another authority.
No. The clinical assessment decides whether coaching is the right fit, not a diagnosis.
Yes. Many young people use coaching alongside other services.
Most young people have weekly sessions over two to three months. Why we recommend 10 sessions.
Read what the evidence tells us. For more answers, see our FAQs.
A short, no-pressure call with our care team will tell you whether coaching is right for your child.
Or call 0204 592 1268.
