🎓 Cynthia Coufal's Background

31 years in education: Special education teacher for 6 years and school counselor for 25 years.

Transitioned to teen coaching to work directly with teens and college students facing anxiety.

🏫 College Ready Program Overview

Founded by Shellee Howard after her son received seven full-ride offers from prestigious schools, including Harvard.

Focuses on helping families navigate the college admissions process, with an emphasis on financial planning and academic preparation.

🤔 Difference Between Coaching and Therapy

Coaching helps teens identify future goals and creates a plan to overcome current challenges.

Therapy tends to focus on past issues and underlying problems; coaching is about moving forward.

😟 Identifying Anxiety in Teens

Everyone experiences anxiety, especially during life transitions (e.g., starting college).

Indicators of significant anxiety include avoidance of activities and disruptions in daily functioning.

📚 Addressing Test Anxiety

Normalizing anxiety is essential; preparing through practice tests and visualization can help reduce fear.

Techniques such as grounding and deep breathing are effective in managing anxiety during tests.

📱 Impact of Technology on Youth Anxiety

Rise of smartphones has correlated with increased anxiety in teens; boundaries around technology are crucial.

Encourages parents to model positive behavior regarding technology use.

🌟 Unique Aspects of Cynthia's Coaching Program

Utilizes the UMAP assessment to identify teens' strengths, values, and interests.

Focus on aligning personal values with life goals to manage anxiety effectively.

🏆 Future Planning and College Preparation

Strong emphasis on core values and developing a passion project to direct focus away from anxiety.

Early planning is recommended, starting in middle school, to prepare for high school and college readiness.

💰 Financial Navigation for College

Discusses financial planning and the importance of understanding FAFSA requirements.

Shares that strategic financial negotiation can lead to significant scholarships and debt-free college options.

🙌 Encouragement for Parents

Trust in their child’s ability to navigate challenges; most kids eventually find their path.

Emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community around students.

📞 Connecting with Teens

Offers a free initial consultation to help establish rapport with teens resistant to seeking help.

Stresses the importance of having a neutral voice for teens to discuss their concerns outside of parental influence.

Connect with Cythnia:

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Connect with Shellee Howard:

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LinkedIn

Email: shellee@collegereadyplan.com