What makes mentoring relationships work for teenagers?
Evidence | February 21st, 2020
International research tells us the relational processes necessary for successful mentoring relationships with teens include -
Authenticity
Being real with each other and not hiding feelings
Empathy
The adults express a genuine awareness and the challenges the young person faces
Collaboration
Working together to achieve a goal
Companionship
They take pleasure in being with each other and can’t imagine not having the other person in their life (in some capacity).
Our own experience supports this and we have observed these processes develop between the 6-12 month mark in the mentoring relationship.
"Kate has felt that they have had the best times when they just hang out. Emma is really starting to open up and talk to Kate about how things are going and being vulnerable. She is really looking forward to the next six months, but also feels that she will be in Emma’s life forever now in some way or another." Mentoring Coordinator
Spencer, R. (2006). Understanding the mentoring process between adolescents and adults. Youth & Society, 37(3), 287-315.