Annette works with children and teenagers aged 8 to 19 where general advice, school support or previous approaches have not made the difference a family hoped for. The difficulty might be confidence, anxiety, friendships, school, emotions, neurodivergence — or something harder to name. Often it is a combination.
In short: CHAMPS Academy provides specialist online confidence coaching for children and teenagers aged 8 to 19, working with difficulties including anxiety, low confidence, social challenges, school avoidance, exam stress, emotional overwhelm, neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, dyslexia) and communication difficulties at home. All coaching is delivered online via Zoom by Annette Du Bois to families across the UK, USA, UAE, Europe and beyond. A formal diagnosis is not required.
Select the age group that fits your child or teenager. The situations below are drawn from the young people Annette works with most often.
This age group is navigating friendships, settling into school, managing bigger emotions and working out where they fit in. When something is not quite right, parents often notice it before their child can put it into words.
Teenagers are managing more at once: academic expectations, social dynamics, identity, exams and independence. What parents see at home is often very different from what teachers see at school.
The transition into adult life — university, employment, living independently — brings a different kind of pressure. For young people who have always found confidence, organisation or self-belief difficult, this period can be particularly challenging.
These are not clinical categories. They are the kinds of everyday difficulties parents describe when they first contact Annette.
Comparing themselves with others, worrying about getting things wrong, needing reassurance before everyday situations, holding back from things they want to try, giving up quickly, or not believing they are capable — even when the evidence suggests otherwise.
Difficulty making or maintaining friendships, feeling left out, avoiding activities where they do not already know somebody, struggling with conversations, worrying about what others think, or misreading social situations in ways that affect how they get on with peers.
Not wanting to go to school, difficulty starting homework, procrastination, poor organisation, exam overwhelm, and knowing exactly what needs doing but repeatedly struggling to do it. This is often more about confidence and internal pressure than ability.
Worry escalating quickly, replaying situations long after they have happened, becoming overwhelmed and shutting down, freezing before tests or social situations, emotional reactions that feel out of proportion, and difficulty recovering when something goes wrong.
ADHD, autism, dyslexia and related differences that affect organisation, starting tasks, emotional regulation, communication, friendships, flexibility and independence. See the section below for how Annette approaches neurodivergence specifically.
Not opening up at home, becoming defensive when parents try to help, arguments around school, routines, devices or responsibilities, and parents feeling increasingly unsure whether to push, step back or try something different. Often the difficulty is not unwillingness — it is that the young person does not know how to say what is happening.
Two teenagers with ADHD can present completely differently. The same is true for autism, dyslexia and other differences. The label is a starting point, not a prescription.
One young person with ADHD might struggle mainly with starting tasks and time management. Another might find emotional regulation the hardest part. A third might have difficulties with friendships, impulsivity, confidence or independence. Annette works to understand how that particular young person’s brain, experiences, strengths and difficulties are affecting their everyday life — and builds her approach around that.
The same principle applies across autism, dyslexia and related differences. Areas that commonly come up include executive functioning, transitions, processing speed, social understanding, communication, emotional regulation, organisation and independence — but which of these matter most will be different for every young person.
All coaching takes place online, allowing Annette to work personally with children, teenagers and families throughout the UK, USA, UAE, Europe and beyond. No travel is needed — coaching takes place on Zoom at a time that suits the family. Annette has dedicated availability for families in the UAE; visit the UAE page for more information.
CHAMPS Academy coaching is a structured, practical programme focused on confidence, mindset and skills for everyday life. It is not a substitute for medical care or crisis support, and it works best when a young person is in a stable enough place to engage with it actively.
If Annette feels that a young person’s needs fall outside what she provides — or that another form of support should come first — she will tell the parent clearly and, where possible, suggest a more appropriate route. This is part of the reason the application process matters: it allows Annette to form a genuine view before any commitment is made.
If you are unsure whether coaching is right for your child or teenager, the application is the right place to start. Annette reads every application personally and will be honest about whether she believes she can help.
The application allows you to tell Annette what is happening, what you have already tried and what you would most like to change. She reviews every application personally — and will be straightforward with you about whether she believes CHAMPS Academy is the right fit.
Tell Annette what’s happening →