About Cath
Hi! I’m Cath Kelly and I’m an ICF certified TEEN COACH, EDUCATOR and PARENT. I’m passionate about working with young people – including those with ADHD – to help them achieve academic success and thrive in life.
Educator
Before becoming a certified teen coach, I worked very happily for over 20 years as an educator teaching students aged 3-16.
I’ve been lucky to have a super-interesting career: teaching in England and abroad, from mega-city to small island, inner city school to forest school nursery, religious to community schools, in mainstream education and SEND alternative provision, as class teacher, tutor and school leader.
Most of all I’ve loved working with so many unique and wonderful children and young people from a variety of different countries and cultures. My driving goal has always been to help all my students become curious, motivated, collaborative and independent learners that work hard, believe in themselves and achieve their best!
Each day I bring this wealth of experience as an educator to my work as a teen coach.
My TEACHING Experience in Numbers
20+
Years Teaching Experience
I’ve taught students in England, the Caribbean and China, following the English National Curriculum (KS1-4), the Early Years Foundation Stage, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme.
30+
Student nationalities
I have worked with children and young people from over 30 different countries, who speak over 25 different home languages. I celebrate diversity and seek to build an inclusive community through my work.
12
Years School Leadership Experience
I have been a middle and senior school leader, leading pedagogy alongside pastoral responsibilities. I gained the professional Headship qualification (NPQH) from the National College of School Leadership.
Teen Coach
I am a passionate ICF-certified teen life coach serving young people from the tween years through to young adulthood. I have a speciality in ADHD executive function (EF) coaching, which builds on my experience working with neurodiverse learners in the classroom and my personal journey parenting two teens with ADHD (more about them below!)
When I returned to the UK after teaching abroad, I was shocked at the state of the education system. I immediately noticed the increased class sizes, spiralling mental health needs post-pandemic, and ever-reducing resources. I struggled with having to compromise my beliefs and values, and felt frustrated seeing so many young people with unmet social, emotional, mental health and academic needs.
Coaching has long been part of my skill-set as an educational leader and in the IB classroom. So I decided to use those skills gained as an educator and become a certified teen coach. This enabled me to reach those students who needed more support. My passion for my work suddenly returned!
I am an ICF Associate Certified Coach, having trained at the Youth Coaching Institute as a Youth Resilience Coach. Since then, I have been coaching young people “in-house” in a local secondary school, and in my own private coaching practice. I subsequently completed my Executive Function Coach Certification through the EFCA to enable me to better support ND students with their EF challenges. I am soon to complete further studies with Mentor Coach to enable me to become a fully certified ADHD coach.
Parent
As already mentioned above, I am the proud mum of two wonderful teen sons, one currently in high school and the other at university, one with ADHD and the other with ADD.
My coaching journey has definitely been influenced by my own children’s struggles. On their journey to diagnosis, I researched ADHD in depth, alongside other commonly co-occurring diagnoses such as SPD, ASD and anxiety. My understanding of the varied challenges these conditions bring to young people in their academic and homes lives, helps me recognise how to best help the students that I coach, and their families.
Since adopting a coaching relationship with my sons, I have seen steady, positive shifts in their mindset. Growth in their executive function has improved their study and homework habits, bringing a greater enjoyment of school… as well as a happier home life for us all! Don’t get me wrong – it’s not that every day in our house is perfect! But I have seen how these these changes really do support our kids growth towards academic and personal success. My elder son is one such example. After years of being labelled by teachers as “lazy”, “too chatty”, “unfocused” and “disorganised”, he is now at his first-choice university after exceeding his predicted A level grades!
Questions about how I can help your teen?
Things I do – just for me!
Growing up by the Lake District National Park has given me a life-long love of nature and the outdoors. At the weekend, I enjoy simple things like a family dog walk along the beach or photographing the natural beauty of the South Downs, perhaps followed by a cup of coffee or glass of wine with a friend.
Aside from enjoying the outdoors, I love to relax by listening to music or a podcast, getting stuck into a puzzle, playing the piano or practising yoga.
I also have a passion for travelling and exploring new places. When I can’t get to a particular place in person, you will find me sitting on my sofa absorbed in a book, film or tv show, immersing myself in that country or culture from afar.
Feel I may be a good fit to help your child?
Experience and Credentials
My Coaching Philosophy
PERSONALISED
During my career as a certified teen coach and educator, I have worked with many children and young people. Every young person is unique and has their own “special sauce”… and I mean this in a positive way that should be celebrated! Accordingly, I help the young people I work with embrace and nurture their unique self: their values, strengths and passions, as well as their needs, desires and dreams. This self-knowledge is key to building a happy and successful life – and I know! For years, I was unsure of the real me, and instead followed my teachers’ goals and my parents’ dreams. It took me until my late 20s to learn these things for myself and find my calling to work with young people. Since then I’ve loved my career and have never looked back!
STUDENT-LED
Dedicating my time to meet with students 1:1 is key for me. Our conversations focus on where they are at, with sights set on where they want to be. Therefore your teen should never feel “this is a waste of time”, because the sessions are led by their needs and goals! My role is to support them to understand their barriers and to work through solutions to achieve success. I want my students to be fully engaged and in the “driving seat” of their coaching journey. This is crucial to honour their adolescent stage of development and to build key independent life skills.
POSITIVE & STRENGTH-BASED
Oftentimes, in the midst of the challenges our young people face, we can loose sight of their strengths, when in truth we need to celebrate them and help our teens leverage them for success. Having two sons with AD(H)D, I know how hard it can be to stay positive in the face of so many negative messages. Celebrating your teen’s “little wins” is my job as their coach, and provides important fuel for their motivation and positive self-image. This approach is valuable for all our teens, especially those with ADHD (or other learning or mental health needs) who are so often misunderstood.
QUALIFICATIONS
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS
- Associate Certified Coach – International Coaching Federation
- Certified Executive Function Coach – EF Coaching Academy
- Certified Youth Resilience Coach – Youth Coaching Institute
- Certified Youth Well-being Coach – Youth Coaching Institute
EDUCATION
- BA Hons Combined Arts (Geography & Law) – Newcastle University
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – Northumbria University
- Post-Graduate Teaching Certificate/QTS – Edge Hill Teaching College
- National Professional Qualification of Headship (NPQH) – National College of School Leadership
- Post-Graduate Masters Module: Mental Health – Working with Children & Young People – The Open University PG School
CONTINUING EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COACHING
- Positive Psychology & Advanced ADHD Coaching: College Students, Teens, Children and Parents – Mentor Coach
- Positive Psychology & Advanced ADHD Coaching: Adults – Mentor Coach
- Positive Psychology & ADHD Coaching – Mentor Coach
- Academic Resilience Coaching – Youth Coaching Institute
- The Art of Coaching Teams – Elena Aguilar
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS, SEMH & SEND
- Mental Health First Aid – The Place 2 Be (ongoing)
- ADHD – various short courses & lectures – ADDitude, PTS Coaching
- Self-Regulation & Sensory Integration – Live & Love It Occupational Therapy
- How to Teach Children & Teens Executive Function – Dr. R Brandstetter
- Trust Based Relational Intervention & Trauma-Informed Classrooms -Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Texas Christian University
- Safeguarding and Child Protection – various PD courses
- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Trauma – various courses
- The Zones of Regulation & The Zones Adolescent Adaptation
- Selective Mutism & Anxiety – Kent Community Health NHS Trust
EDUCATION
- Making Learning Visible – Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Student Wellbeing & Inclusive Education Series – Teach Better
- Thinking Collaborative Cognitive Coaching Seminars for Educators
- Inquiry Learning – The International Baccalaureate (Level 3)
- Making the IB PYP Happen – The International Baccalaureate (Level 1)