How I work

The rules behind the coaching, written down so you know them before we start. If something here doesn't fit your situation, ask me.

Sessions

The first session belongs to the child: no agenda from parents, and none from me. With children under seven it is entirely play. That one rule is the main reason children come back.

After that we meet every week or two, in person in Prague or Central Bohemia (at your home or in a space I use) or online. There's no minimum number of sessions and no contract to commit to. When I think the work is done, I'll tell you.

Confidentiality, and its limits

Children and teenagers talk when they know it won't be repeated. So parents receive a short update after sessions, covering how it went and the general themes, but not what their child said.

The limit: if I believe a child, or someone else, is at risk of serious harm, I will act to protect them. That can mean telling a parent, a doctor or the child protection authority (OSPOD). Where it is safe to do so, I tell the child first what I'm going to do and why.

I discuss my work in monthly supervision with a psychologist. I do that without names or details that could identify your family, and my supervisor is bound by confidentiality too.

With children under seven, most of the work is with parents, so you'll naturally hear more. With young adults over 18, nothing is shared with parents unless they choose. At the start, I go through these rules with parent and child together, in words that fit the child's age.

Working with separated parents

Where both parents share parental responsibility, I ask that both know about coaching and agree to it before regular sessions start. Children cope better when their support isn't another point of conflict. If the other parent can't or won't be involved, tell me; we can look at what's possible, starting with a consultation for you.

I stay neutral. I don't take sides, carry messages between homes, or write reports or recommendations for custody proceedings. If I do handovers for a family and also coach the child, both parents agree to both, and the two roles stay separate.

What coaching is, and what I refer on

Coaching suits a child who is coping day to day but struggling with a particular situation: a separation, a move, a friendship, a loss of confidence. I'm not a therapist or a psychologist, and I don't diagnose.

These need a clinical professional, and I'll help you find the right one:

• thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• eating disorders
• addiction
• suspected abuse or neglect, or trauma that is disrupting daily life
• assessment and treatment of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders or ADHD

Coaching and clinical care can run side by side. With your permission, I'm glad to coordinate briefly with your child's psychologist or doctor so nobody works at cross purposes.

Texas

Texas is my Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Some children, especially young or shy ones, find it easier to start talking with a dog in the room. He is a certified service dog, so he is trained to stay calm and settled around people. He joins only when it's appropriate and when you ask for him. If anyone in your family is allergic to dogs or uneasy around them, he stays at home.

Notes and personal data

I keep brief notes on themes and progress, not transcripts. They are stored securely, never shared without consent except for the safety reasons above, and handled under GDPR. You can ask what I hold, or ask me to delete it, at any time: lucie@kidscoach.cz. Details are in the privacy policy.

Supervision and insurance

A psychologist supervises my work monthly. It's where I check my judgement, especially on whether a situation still belongs in coaching. I also carry professional liability insurance.

A small practice

I work with a small number of families at a time. That's what makes it possible to reply quickly, move a session at short notice, or find an evening or weekend slot when it matters.