Our Young Adult Transitions program is designed for individuals ages 17 to 29.

How a Young Adult Life Coach Can Help Your Son or Daughter Move Forward

Jack Hinman, PSY.D

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Jack Hinman (He/Him) is the Founder and Executive Director of Engage Transitions. He has been providing mental health and administrative services to individuals and families in a variety of treatment settings including hospitals, wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment centers and community mental health for over 20 years.

Jack is a licensed clinical psychologist who is a passionate and committed clinician and administrator in helping young adults cross that bridge into healthy and engaging independence.

This blend of clinical and administrative experience has provided Jack a comprehensive perspective of the therapeutic journey. He believes through the power of connection we thrive. Jack’s clinical foundations are driven in attachment theory and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Jack has also served on the board of directors for the National Association of Therapeutic Programs and has a local private practice working primarily with young students from the local community. Jack loves living in the outdoor rich area of Cedar City with his wife of 23 years and their two teenage children. Jack is an avid mountain biker and a coach for his son’s high school mountain bike team.

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Life coaches experienced in working with young adults ages 18-25, know full well that this is a time marked by uncertainty, rapid change, and a search for purpose. And to a young adult, such a coach can be an important ally, providing guidance, structure, and empowerment to help them develop their potential.

What Is a Young Adult Life Coach?

A life coach typically works with a young adult on a weekly basis. Life coaches provide support to young adults, helping them achieve personal goals, work through challenges, and maintain motivation. With this guidance, young adults can develop life skills that empower them to thrive in the “real world”. 

Key Benefits of Life Coaching for Young Adults

In a word, life coaches play a key role supporting a young adult’s personal growth and long-term success, preparing them to thrive amid adversity and change. 

Building Self-Worth and Self-Confidence 

From a place of safety established in personalized coaching sessions, a young adult may develop a deeper understanding of their strengths, values, and talents. This fosters greater self-worth, self-compassion, and the confidence to pursue meaningful goals.

Strengthening Emotional Resilience

A life coach can play a central role in helping young adults develop greater emotional resilience for handling the following: 

ChallengeOutcome
Managing stressDeveloping perseverance
Adapting to changeEnhanced problem-solving
Overcoming setbacksCreating a positive outlook
Lacking self-confidenceImproved self-esteem

Strengthening Relationships & Communication

Young adults can learn, with the support of a life coach, to express themselves more effectively, navigate complex social situations with greater skill and comfort, and learn more about creating and maintaining healthy relationships—skills essential for personal and professional success.

Improved Decision-Making and Critical Thinking

Life coaches equip young adults with tools to develop their brains’ executive function capabilities—to evaluate options, weigh consequences, and make informed choices— essential skills for navigating education, careers, and relationships.

Goal Setting and Achievement

Coaches guide young adults in clarifying their aspirations, breaking them into actionable steps, and maintaining motivation. This structured approach turns wishes into achievable goals, and builds a sense of direction and accomplishment.

Accountability and Independence

Rather than offering generic advice, life coaches empower young adults to find their own solutions. This develops independence, agency, and a sense of ownership over their lives.

Managing Transitions

Whether entering the workforce, transitioning to college, or forming adult relationships, coaches provide support and clarity during key life changes, helping young adults move forward with intention and confidence.

How to Choose the Right Young Adult Life Coach

Choosing the right young adult life coach involves:

  • Credentials & Experience: Verify certifications and expertise in youth development.
  • Coaching Style: Ensure their approach aligns with the young adult’s goals (e.g., career, confidence, relationships).
  • Compatibility: Look for trust, relatability, and good communication.
  • Reviews & Results: Check testimonials or success stories.
  • Affordability: Find a coach within your budget while valuing quality.

Young Adult Life Coaching vs. Therapy: Understanding the Difference

Unlike traditional therapy, which often focuses on healing past wounds, life coaching is action-oriented and future-focused. It centers on setting goals, building skills, and creating a roadmap for personal growth and fulfillment. Coaches act as partners in the growth journey. They offer a non-judgmental space for self-discovery and practical problem-solving.

How Engage Young Adult Transitions Empowers Young Adults

Life coaching is a cornerstone of our philosophy and program. Our trained life coaches understand the challenges of young adults. While meeting our young adults where they are at, they guide and facilitate change to help them move forward with their future. 

Our coaching framework is based on several research-based theories including ecological systems theory, attachment theory, positive psychology, developmental theory, motivational interviewing, and more.

Grounded in attachment theory, at Engage we firmly believe that connection is the intervention and the outcome. Our young adult life coaches take this to heart and are more than guides—they are catalysts for transformation. 

Our life coaches foster a combination of risk-taking and support, developing resilience, confidence, and clarity in our young adults. Furthermore, our coaches help young people navigate the complexities of adulthood and lay the foundation for lifelong success and well-being.

Young adults report feeling empowered, hopeful, and better equipped to handle real-world challenges after working with our coaches. Our coaches themselves experience fulfillment and increased effectiveness, highlighting the reciprocal nature of the coaching relationship.

Take the Next Step with a Young Adult Life Coach

Engage Young Adult Transitions is a transitional living program and therapeutic community that assists young adults on their path to independence. Using attachment theory, we provide a foundation for forming connections, getting involved with the community, managing mental health, and building life skills for long-term success. 

Engage offers structured autonomy—high support without creating dependence. Our therapists and life coaches are here to honor the young adults’ need to gain independence and freely move to a more secure sense of self and their relationships.

Located just steps from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, we offer access to services seven days a week, including academic support, vocational training and career guidance, life skill coaching, mental health therapies, and recreational activities. 

Our community offers high levels of therapeutic support that honors autonomy and independence while guiding young adults to a life of freedom, emotional wellness, and success. 

Get involved with the Engage Transitions community today!

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