Become a Youth Mental Health Coach
More than ever before, parents and caregivers are turning to the church for help and guidance with their child and adolescent’s mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely been ill-equipped to help — until now. This first-of-its-kind training provides coaches with the tools, resources, and guidance to help parents and caregivers navigate their youth’s mental health difficulties. For a limited time, you can claim a full-tuition scholarship and only pay a one-time tech fee of fifty-four dollars.
Youth Mental Health Coach
Youth Mental Health Coaching 101 | 201 | 301
42 IBCC CE Credits • IBCC Certification
total cost is $54.00 with scholarship & fees
Our Mission
Enroll 500 Churches to train 10,000 coaches immediately.
500
Churches
10,000
Students
SEE WHAT’S INCLUDED
Course 1 - Foundations of Youth Mental Health Coaching
YMHC 101: Foundations of Youth Mental Health Coaching |
Presenter |
| Unit 1: Youth Mental Health Coaching Skills | |
| YMHC 101: Grace for Children and Adolescents: Caring for Today’s Generation of Youth | Matt Stanford, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 102: Youth Mental Health Coaching Skills and Strategies | Kathy Koch, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 103: What Today’s Youth Believe: Anchoring and Applying Truth | Jay Strack, D.Min. |
| YMHC 104: Connecting with Today’s Generations: Stepping into Their World | Zach Clinton, M.A. |
| YMHC 105: Hurt 2.0 – Youth in Crisis: Issues and Challenges | Chap Clark, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 106: Mental Health Challenges for Today’s Children: Common Signs and Issues | Matt Stanford, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 107: Mental Health Challenges for Today’s Youth: Common Signs and Issues | Matt Stanford, Ph.D. |
| Unit 2: Faith and Spirituality | |
| YMHC 108: Hardwired for God: Faith, Discipleship and Spiritual Growth for Today’s Generations | Megan Clunan, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 109: Kids, Faith and Mental Wellness: Connecting the Blessing, Faith and Action | Ted Cunningham, M.A.C.E. |
| Unit 3: Crisis Intervention and Ethical Considertations | |
| YMHC 110: Ethics and Legal Issues in Youth Mental Health Coaching | Mercy Connors, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 111: Triage Care and Coaching: Safety, Boundaries and Protocols | Mercy Connors, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 112: Hope-Focused Suicide Intervention, Prevention and Connecting Kids to Care | Jennifer Ellers, M.A. |
| YMHC 113: Nonsuicidal Self-injury: Awareness, Intervention and Prevention | Shannae Anderson, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 114: Understanding and Implementing Action Plans and Strategies | Jennifer Ellers, M.A. |
Course 2 - Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Disorders
YMHC 201: Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Disorders |
Presenter |
| Unit 1: Mental and Behavioral Health Issues and Challenges | |
| YMHC 201: Childhood Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences | Shannae Anderson, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 202: Managing Stress and Anxiety in Children and Teens | Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 203: Moody: Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders | Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 204: Battling Loneliness and Bullying | Mark Mayfield, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 205: Buzzed: Winning the Alcohol and Substance Abuse War | John Eklund, M.S.W. |
| YMHC 206: A New Normal: Helping Kids and Teens through Grief and Loss | Jennifer Ellers, M.A. |
| YMHC 207: Anger, Defiance, Rebellion and Violence: When Kids Go Awry | Gary Sibcy, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 208: Pornography, Sex, Sexting and Sexuality | Jim Cress, M.A. |
| Unit 2: Mental and Behavioral Health Disorders | |
| YMHC 209: Walking a Thin Line: Health, Diets and Eating Disorders | Amy Feigel, M.A. |
| YMHC 210: Guidance and Support for Children with Developmental Disabilities | Stephanie Holmes, M.A. |
| YMHC 211: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Behavior Patterns, Issues and Intervention | John Kuhnley, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 212: Everything is Changing: Brain Health, Hormones and the Neurobiology of Youth and Development | Gary Sibcy, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 213: The Use of Psychiatric Medication in the Mental Health Treatment in Children and Adolescents | John Kuhnley, Ph.D. |
Course 3 - Critical Issues in Youth Mental Health Coaching
YMHC 301: Critical Issues in Youth Mental Health Coaching |
Presenter |
| Unit 1: Skill Development | |
| YMHC 301: Love and Limits: Parenting, Boundaries and Structure | Mercy Connors, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 302: Emotion Coaching and Regulation for Children and Adolescents | Gary Sibcy, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 303: Connecting with Kids through the World of Play | Daniel Sweeney, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 304: Decisions and Consequences: Making Wise Choices When It Count | Karl Benzio, M.D. |
| YMHC 305: Conflict Management and Resolution | Karl Benzio, M.D. |
| YMHC 306: Cultural Identity | Mark Crear, Ph.D. |
| Unit 2: Current Issues | |
| YMHC 307: Performance, Pressure and Identity: Managing Sports, Academics and Life | Zach Clinton, M.A. |
| YMHC 308: The Wired Generation: Technology, The Brain, Social Media and Behavior | Mark Mayfield, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 309: Helping Parents Teach Their Youth Healthy Sexuality | Jim Burns, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 310: Gender Identity and Ideologies: Helping Parents and Families When Youth Come Out as LGBTQ | Kathy Koch, Ph.D. |
| Unit 3: Family Health and Development | |
| YMHC 311: Family Systems: Understanding Generational Patterns | John Eklund, M.S.W. |
| YMHC 312: Childhood and Adolescent Development: An Attachment Perspective | Anita Kuhnley, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 313: Prodigal Children: Helping Parents Stand Strong and Trust God in the Midst of Heartache and Brokenness | Mark Mayfield, Ph.D. |
| YMHC 314: Divorce and Living in Blended Families | Jay and Tammy Daughtry |
| YMHC 315: Family Strong: Helping Families Survive and Thrive in the Storms of Life | Shannae Anderson, Ph.D., and Mercy Connors, Ph.D. |
Full Tuition Scholarships Available
$2400 to cover your course enrollment
- 42-Hour, Biblically-based, Clinically-excellent Training Program
- Featuring some of the world’s leading youth mental health and ministry experts
- On-Demand video lectures
- Available 24/7/365
- Study anywhere, anytime, at your own pace, on any of your favorite devices!
Over
2000
already enrolled!
Claim Your full tuition Scholarship now!
Free Tuition for the first 500 charter churches enrolled. our mission is to train 10,000 coaches immediately
Getting started is easy
1 - Claim your scholarship for Free Access to the program
2 - Complete the program Certification
3 - Start helping others to change the world
“Without question, this training will be one of the most, if not the most, significant projects we have ever done in the history of the AACC. We need an army of helpers in the local church to help save the next generation—those whom God has given natural gifts and talents to offer help, hope, and guidance to parents and caregivers!”
What is a Youth Mental Health Coach?
Youth mental health coaching is a form of strengths-based support for parents and caregivers who are concerned about their child or adolescent’s mental well-being. Coaches provide parents and caregivers with resources to help their youth develop a healthy balance in life, give guidance in decision-making, offer support in navigating mental health difficulties, and assist in establishing a recovery plan. Coaches help parents and caregivers find ways to help youth obtain and maintain stability, manage difficult symptoms, rebuild relationships, and find a purpose for living. Coaches also help find resources for professional care and treatment, family support, and education.
What is the role of a Youth Mental Health Coach?
Youth mental health coaches are not licensed mental health care providers. Youth mental health coaches do not work directly with children or adolescents, diagnose, or offer professional care or treatment for mental health difficulties and disorders. Coaches support parents by providing them with psychoeducation and resources to help youth make positive changes that complement professional mental healthcare to manage symptoms, build support for recovery, and work on life goals such as relationships and education. Youth mental health coaching is action-oriented, aimed at providing parents and caregivers with the tools necessary to help with youth’s present life and reach goals for the future.
Youth mental health coaches use a partnership model wherein the client is considered to be the expert on his or her life, the one who decides what is worth doing, while the coach provides expertise in supporting successful change. Youth mental health coaching focuses on achieving any goals important to the client, not just recovery-related goals. Youth mental health coaching emphasizes honoring values and making principle-based decisions, creating a clear action plan, and using current strengths to reach future goals. The coach provides accountability to help the client stay on track.
YMHC Leadership Staff and Faculty
Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D., is CEO of The Hope and Healing Center & Institute (HHCI) in Houston, Texas, and adjunct professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine and the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston. His research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured by the New York Times, USA Today, Fox, MSNBC, Yahoo, and U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Stanford is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. As director of HHCI, he writes, conducts training seminars, and serves individuals living with mental illness and their families. He is the author of two books, Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness and The Biology of Sin: Grace, Hope and Healing for Those Who Feel Trapped.
Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
Academic Dean and Program Director
Tim Clinton, Ed.D, LPC, LMFT
President AACC
Tim Clinton, Ed.D, LPC, LMFT, is the President of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the largest and most diverse Christian counseling association in the world. Dr. Clinton also serves as the Executive Director of the James Dobson Family Institute and recurring co-host of “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk”, heard on nearly 1,300 radio outlets daily. Licensed as a Professional Counselor and as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Clinton is recognized as a world leader in mental health and relationship issues and spends much of his time working with Christian leaders and professional athletes. He has authored or edited nearly 30 books, including The Struggle is Real: How to Care for Mental and Relational Health Needs in the Church.
Course Trainers
Kathy Koch, Ph.D.
Founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc
Jay Strack, Ph.D.
Founder of Student Leadership University
Mark Crear, Ph.D.
Director of the AACC Multicultural Division
Megan Clunan, Ph.D.
Professor at Moody Bible Institute
John Eklund, M.S.W.
Founder of Life Recovery Alive
Zach Clinton, M.A.
Vice President of the AACC
JENNIFER CISNEY ELLERS, MA
Senior Director of Advancement, Special Projects and Church Engagement at the AACC
Chap Clark, Ph.D.
Youth, Family, and Culture Expert