Is Your Teenager Struggling? A Teen Life Coach Can Help — In Weeks, Not Years.

If your teenager has become withdrawn, anxious, school-avoidant, or a shadow of who they used to be — and you don't know what to do — you're in the right place.

Annette Du Bois has been coaching teenagers for over 20 years. Not generic life coaching. Specialist confidence and life skills coaching for young people aged 11–19, with results that typically show within the first few sessions — and a waiting time of 10–14 days, not 2 years.

What Brings Parents Here

Parents come to Annette when their teenager is struggling — and when the usual routes haven't worked or aren't available. You might recognise some of these:

• Refusing to go to school, or struggling to get through the day without falling apart
• Withdrawn, moody, or behaving in ways that feel out of character
• Struggling to make or keep friends — or feeling completely isolated socially
• Losing confidence in themselves, their appearance, or their abilities
• Experiencing anxiety that's starting to affect everyday life
• On a CAMHS waiting list — or told they don't meet the threshold for NHS support
• Saying "I'm fine" when everything about them says otherwise

If any of this sounds familiar — you're not overreacting. And you don't have to wait for things to get worse before getting support.

Why Annette Du Bois Is Different

Most life coaches receive generic training. Working effectively with teenagers is a completely different discipline — it requires a deep understanding of adolescent psychology, the ability to connect with young people on their level, and years of real experience identifying what's actually going on beneath the surface behaviour.

Annette Du Bois has spent 20 years doing exactly this. She is a child psychologist and specialist confidence coach, the author of Unshakable Teen Confidence, and one of the most experienced teen life coaches in the UK. She has worked with young people across a vast range of challenges — from school anxiety and social isolation, to self-harm, eating disorders, neurodiversity, and identity struggles.

• Therapy looks backwards. It works to process past experiences and root causes — important for some, but not what most struggling teenagers need.
• Coaching looks forwards. It builds practical skills, creates momentum, and gives teenagers real tools they can use immediately. Results are typically visible within weeks.

"In my many years as a teen life coach, I've learned that young people don't need someone to tell them who to be. They need someone to help them discover who they already are."

— Annette Du Bois

What Coaching With Annette Actually Looks Like

All coaching takes place online — via Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp — so your teenager is in their own room, on their own device, with no travel and no clinical waiting room. Sessions are relaxed and conversational. In 20 years, Annette has never had a teenager who "wouldn't open up."

Parents are welcome to observe the first session. No pressure, no obligation, no invoice until you've both decided it's the right fit.

1. 1 Free parent call — 10–15 minutes with Annette to discuss what's happening.
2. 2 Free Confidence Experience session — a relaxed 15-minute online session where your teenager meets Annette. Parents can join or observe.
3. 3 Personalised coaching package — Annette designs a tailored plan based on your teenager's specific challenges and goals.
4. 4 Coaching begins — typically within 10–14 days of your first contact.

What Teenagers Work on With Annette

• Building real, lasting confidence — a genuine shift in how a young person sees themselves
• Social skills and friendship — making and keeping friends, navigating peer dynamics, handling banter
• School anxiety and avoidance — identifying the real cause and building coping strategies
• Communication skills — expressing themselves, advocating for themselves, connecting with others
• Identity and self-worth — especially during transitions like new schools or exam pressure
• Motivation and purpose — for teenagers who've disengaged from everything they used to care about

A Note for Parents of Teenage Girls

Annette has a particular depth of experience working with teenage girls — body confidence, social anxiety, relationship issues, appearance sensitivity, and social media pressure. She understands the specific dynamics teenage girls face and creates an environment where they feel genuinely safe to be honest.

What Parents Say

"I approached Annette looking for support for my 10 year old daughter who had been struggling with her confidence. 6 weeks later and my daughter has made noticeable progress — she has just signed up for an after school dance class, which is a massive achievement for her! I can't recommend Annette enough."

— Emma, Trustpilot ★★★★★

"We reached out to Annette to help my 13 yr old daughter who was really struggling to make friends and lacked self confidence, which was isolating her from her peers. Annette has been brilliant at building my daughter's self confidence and providing coping mechanisms. It's money well spent!"

— Tessa Anders, Trustpilot ★★★★★

"Our 9 year old son was struggling with anxiety and lack of confidence. Annette taught him simple techniques for managing his emotions. Overall we've noticed a positive change in our son's outlook."

— Andi Watson, Trustpilot ★★★★★

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Frequently Asked Questions