The 9 year study - what intervention actually does for a child

Many parents will feel unsure about investing in support programmes, sometimes because of the financial concerns when buying an invisible product, others because they are not sure if they are doing the right thing for their child.

It is important that parents are given an accurate evidence base for making the right decision for their child.

Below is a case study looking at the long term impacts of investing in support. This study was completed with my own client, now 25 years old, over a 9 year period.

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This subject received coaching in 2010 after her parents became concerned about her, and invested in a programme to address behaviours linked to self-esteem and confidence.

The female client, at the time aged 16, was due to leave school and start 6th form, but was in a period of struggle and felt unable to move forward. 

During analysis the following main difficulties were identified:

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact when speaking
• Suffering from debilitating shyness 
• Experiencing fear about future capabilities
• Terrified of speaking in front of groups 

The subject also told me she didn’t feel able to chose her preferred study options as she knew that presentations were part of the syllabus.

In this case the parents chose to invest in a higher level package, which included face to face sessions, tasks and over 8 weeks of support.

At the end of the programme in 2010 the subject fed back that:

• She had felt supported throughout the programme 
• That she felt much more comfortable and confident
• She now had a much clearer vision of her path

The subjects parents fed back that:

• They had seen a positive change in their daughter throughout the programme
• They felt supported and trusted the process 
• They were very pleased they had made the investment 

I contacted the subject in January or 2019 to find out how her programme had impacted her almost 10 years later, and she kindly sent me the following feedback for my research.

“Since having my life coaching I have had the confidence to apply to university and live away from home in a city I had never been to before and without knowing anyone there. 

When I was younger I would struggle to know how to talk to people and what to say before, but life coaching helped me to overcome this and I made some good friends which greatly improved my time at university. 

Previously I would be scared to speak to anyone I didn't know, even ordering a drink or asking someone in a shop if they had something in a different size; I would much rather go without than have to speak to someone. But now I do it without even thinking about it and often do it on behalf of my friends if they're worried about doing it themselves. 

I never had the confidence to go anywhere by myself either, even into the city where I'd been many times and knew well. However recently I booked myself onto a 3 week trip around Europe, having not met any of the other people on the trip before, and I got on an aeroplane by myself for the first time whereas before there would be absolutely no way that I would do that. I met some fantastic people and I had the best time of my life and can't wait to book my next trip! 

I've changed so much over the years, going from someone who would point blank refuse to order her own food and prefer to go without, to someone who wants to go everywhere and do everything, doesn't worry anymore about asking people for things, and will happily have conversations with people without it being difficult.

I'm so much happier and am enjoying life much more for this change.”

As the subjects coach I have had the great pleasure of watching her transformation, not only in her programme but over the 9 years that followed. Initially seeing the odd picture with friends, or activity she’d been doing, to watching her amazing journey through university and her wide travels.

I have always known the long term impacts if this work last a lifetime, and it has been an honour to continue watching this subject grow over the years.