Heartful

Humans

Hi, I'm Annabel!

I’m a youth mentor and I’m on a big mission to help young people to know, like and love who they are.

I was a sensitive kid with lots of feelings and emotions that I never knew what to do with. So I just buried them all - not ideal.

Thankfully, I've learnt so many things over the years and now that I know what to do with all the feelings and emotions, I'm sharing it with young people so that they can grow up knowing, liking and loving who they are.

Adolescence is a really tough time for us humans!

Starting from the tween years (sometimes earlier!), young people get to go through the stages of navigating who they are physically, mentally and emotionally. All at the same time - fun!

Thoughts, feelings, emotions and bodies are constantly changing all while they're trying to find their people, figure out what they like, learn how to communicate and understand what their body is actually doing. It's a wild ride!

Parents and caregivers are navigating all of this too as they watch them change from a child into a young adult.

And because society is full of so many pressures, expectations and stresses these days, parenting a young person an extra tough gig! So many parents feel disconnected from their kids, alone, like they or their kids are abnormal or something is wrong, they're frustrated, worried and exhausted. It's alot!

Main concerns from parents and care givers include:

  • Losing connection

  • Kids don't open up about what is going on for them

  • Getting caught up in the wrong crowd

  • Making good decisions

  • Is their physical, emotional and mental health ok

  • Are they happy and experiencing joy

  • What their body image is like

  • Negative impacts of social media and media in general

  • Peer pressure

  • Friendships issues

Our Young People

While young people learn about who they are and the adult they are becoming, it's super common for them to experience:

  • A lack of confidence

  • A lack of self-esteem

  • Disconnection with parents

  • Anxiety and worry

  • Stress

  • Overwhelm

  • Withdrawing from school/family/social occasions

  • Difficulty communicating

  • Feeling like something is wrong with them

  • Like they don’t fit in

  • That they don’t want to burden/worry anyone with what is going of for them

  • Peer pressure

Having someone trustworthy they can talk to is paramount to their overall well being and mental health.

It takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a village to support a parent so support during this time for both parties is critical. Enter a youth mentor. A youth mentor can:

  • Support

  • Guide

  • Be a sounding board

  • Champion/be their cheerleader

  • Be a role model

  • Listen/be a confidant

  • Provide feedback

  • Provide resources and recommendations

A mentor doesn't replace or compete with the role of a parent, teacher, counsellor, psychologist or coach but rather, they complement them.

Mentoring has been linked to a bunch of amazing benefits

that include:

  • Improved relationships with parents

  • Better communication

  • More trust between the young person and their parents

  • A deeper connection with others

  • Better sense of self

  • Improved self confidence

“To be beautiful means to be yourself . You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself . ”

-Thich Naht Hahn

1:1 Mentoring

Individual mentoring provides a safe, confidential space for your young person to chat, share and express themselves in a non-judgmental environment.

Workshops

I run a variety of workshops for young people aged 9-19 on topics including self-esteem, strengths, friendships, emotions, body image and more. I can tailor a workshop to suit your needs. Get in touch below to chat.