Macaroni Kid Livingston recognizes the needs of parents and youth in our area. The well-being of our kids and the understanding of mental health is so important in bringing balance to families. With this in mind we are partnering with Christine Simon from Honest Growth LLC to bring you parenting advice, guidance and some tips and tricks to get you through.
Watch for Chris's parenting articles here on Macaroni Kid LIVINGSTON as well as in our upcoming newsletters.
My name is Christine Simon and I am a retired public school teacher. I have worked with students for over 30 years. Teaching and mentoring have always been a passion of mine. Throughout my life I have been a teacher, basketball and running club coach, tutor, daycare co-owner, Sunday school teacher, and a mentor to disadvantaged youth. What I enjoyed most in all of those opportunities was being able to build trusting relationships with kids. I'm passionate about working with children/teens who may be struggling with motivation, academics, stress, trauma, interpersonal issues, or anxiety. I am blessed to continue my love of youth mentoring through Honest Growth LLC.
As mental health issues continue to soar in our country, there is a huge need for support for our kids which is where my work at Honest Growth comes in. I personally understand the need for youth mentoring as I am a mom of two young adults who lost their dad when they were in their teens. A youth mentor can provide a different type of support than I am able to as their mom, because my role as mom is a completely different role than that of a youth mentor. In addition a youth mentor is not meant to replace therapy or counseling but to work in conjunction with your already-established counselor (or help you find someone who best meets your child's unique needs). Youth mentoring is a support service that is intended to help youth grow and reach their full potential as they navigate through the trials of life at such a critical and impressionable time.
As a youth mentor, my goal is to create both a safe space for my clients to see their situations and selves clearly and to assist them in making the changes they want to see in their lives. Sessions will be free of judgment and full of empathy and patient understanding. Once we establish a solid rapport, it is natural to apply and weave together various techniques to suit each client's unique needs. I use a person-centered approach, which means creating an individualized plan to mean that person's goals.
I look forward to providing parents of Livingston County and beyond with the support and guidance needed to foster happy and healthy relationships in their families.
Christine Simon
Honest Growth, LLC
WEBSITE: Home - Honest Growth (honestgrowth22.com)
FACEBOOK: Honest Growth, LLC
