Our youth mentoring program specializes in helping families who have tried traditional therapy, counseling, or other interventions without lasting success. We work with kids and teens facing the toughest behavioral and emotional challenges—the ones that leave other professionals uncertain about the path forward.
If you've tried everything else and need a different approach that actually works, you're in the right place.
We come to your home, school, or a nearby community location to engage with your child. Our approach involves getting them outside, active, playing, and learning as we collaboratively examine challenging scenarios. Together, we develop actionable steps to address problems, achieve goals, and help them unlock their full potential.
We organize small group mentoring sessions within your local community to assist children in learning how to navigate life effectively while having fun. These sessions encourage play and movement, providing real-life opportunities for kids to practice their skills with peers, regardless of whether they are already acquainted.
"After trying therapies, wilderness programs, and consulting with top professionals without lasting progress, we finally found what worked. James and his team gave our family the breakthrough we desperately needed."
Our mentors excel at helping kids overcome obstacles that have persisted despite other interventions. We transform challenges into opportunities for growth:
"After years of trying different approaches with limited success, working with James created the breakthrough we needed. Our son transformed his thinking and behavior, and our whole family is grateful for the positive changes we've experienced."
Hello, I am James Giantis, MSW, the founder and CEO of Mentors & More, and Families In Training, and author of The Mentoring Manual. When traditional approaches haven't worked, kids often need a different type of process to become better versions of themselves. We have developed a proven, innovative philosophy and system to guide kids in mastering the 5 key skills of leadership:
"My mentor started as a sports coach but became like having a wise older brother who I can trust completely. He's helped me understand myself and how to navigate relationships in ways no one else could."
With the perfect balance of support and structure, we guide children and adolescents to master essential life skills. Our approach helps them analyze situations, solve problems effectively, and achieve their goals while realizing their full potential.
Whether your child needs to improve fitness, develop sports skills, understand themselves better, overcome fears, navigate obstacles, or build social skills—our experienced mentors provide exactly what today's young people need to thrive.
We work seamlessly with other professionals (therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) or as a comprehensive standalone service.
"James has transformed our family in ways we never imagined possible. His impact has been profound and lasting. We wholeheartedly recommend his services to any family seeking real, meaningful change."
Every behavioral challenge has underlying factors. Our mentors are experts at identifying these root causes and developing targeted solutions that create lasting change:
"Watching our children thrive with the right support has been incredible. Valerie has been instrumental in helping them develop the emotional skills they need to navigate life's challenges with confidence."
We help children and teens move from emotional struggle to emotional mastery. Our mentors guide them in developing healthy emotional patterns and fulfilling relationships:
"The transformation in our home has been remarkable. Our son went from constant arguing to cooperative engagement. The mentors gave us a roadmap that actually works."
If you've tried traditional therapies, treatment programs, or medications without the results you hoped for, you're not alone. Many families find themselves in this exact situation.
That's precisely where our mentoring program excels.
We offer a fundamentally different approach—one that focuses on real-world skill development through active engagement, not just talk therapy. Our mentors become trusted guides who kids actually want to learn from.
Why does mentoring work when other approaches haven't?
"De Andre makes everything fun! We go hiking, fishing, to the park, and jump on my trampoline together. He's teaching me how to manage my emotions better and helping me succeed in school. I actually look forward to our time together!"
Our mentors have the education, training, and real-world experience to help kids achieve meaningful, lasting transformation. Here are the outcomes families consistently see when working with us:
It's a partnership between a well-trained Mentors & More team member and a youth with behavioral challenges. Through a dynamic process of role modeling, teaching and coaching, the mentor provides opportunities for the youth to learn, practice and master the necessary skills to function better on his or her own as well as within relationships.
The founder James meets with the youth, parents and family to assess problem areas and determine goals. He then decides which of our mentors is the best match for your child, typically based on common interests, the youth's specific needs and/or the mentor's particular attributes and abilities.
The youth and the mentor develop a deepening connection through regularly scheduled meetings that include shared activities, discussions, direct teaching and coaching. While this mainly occurs through a natural process of relating to one another, it likely will also involve the use of training worksheets specifically tailored to each youth's needs. A significant aspect of this process includes having the youth participate in events or activities that have been challenging in the past. The mentor educates and trains the youth before the event, coaches them during the event and provides feedback and further training after the event. A key component of our system is an efficient, pared-down problem-solving template that allows our seasoned leaders to quickly identify the factors influencing the causes of a problem so they can develop beneficial, sustainable solutions.
Our professional, career mentors effectively manage and respond within any scenario without being reactionary. They are prepared, willing and capable of being present in every moment. Empathic, humble, caring yet strong and assertive, they know how to relate to your child no matter what they do or don't do, say or don't say. They are masters at teaching kids to develop the specific skills they need to gain confidence, feel safe, valued, and significant. They find creative ways to inspire and motivate kids who typically resist and are unwilling to get up and move, to try new things, or to overcome their fears and obstacles.
Our mentoring process works because kids quickly learn they can mess up, be genuine, and express themselves without the fear of rejection or being punished. They know they have someone who cares about them enough to challenge them to be their best. Who won't let them get away with justifying, making excuses, blaming others, or complaining. That's how they learn to better navigate through life, regardless of the obstacles or circumstances.
Ultimately, they're to assist youth in developing the necessary confidence and competence to better manage their behavioral patterns and relationship dynamics. Understanding and overcoming both internal and external barriers will greatly improve a youth's ability to accomplish his or her goals. To do so, we believe the youth must learn and consistently practice the 5 SKILLS OF SELF-LEADERSHIP presented in this program.
"After years of struggling to find solutions, working with James created the breakthrough our family desperately needed. He gave us all the tools to communicate better, think more effectively, and create lasting positive change. We're forever grateful for his expertise and dedication."
"My son was completely consumed by screens before working with De Andre. Somehow he got him outside, active, trying new things, and making real friends. His life is now so much richer and more balanced—he still enjoys games, but they're no longer the center of his world."
"The stress from parenting my daughter was overwhelming every part of my life. James gave us the tools, knowledge, and strategies to navigate difficult situations confidently. Our family has transformed, and we finally have the skills to handle whatever comes our way."
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Rates range from $125 to $275 per hour, depending on the mentor and location. Discounted packages are available.
For inquiries, please reach out at info@mentorsandmore.com.
To learn more about our philosophy, system and approach, peruse the sections above.
