We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Holly McClain. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Holly below.
Holly , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?
Having spent 2 decades working with teens and young adults, I’ve managed to witness this beautiful evolution within teenagers of their deep curiosity and question about themselves and the world around them.
One beautiful example of this new wave of finding unconventional ways to cope, a young middle school student struggling with identity and big feels in a post-pandemic world, shared one of her favorite coping strategies during these trying times…
Upon being called into my counseling office to see me about how she’d been faring since our last check-in, I asked her: “How are you coping..in what ways have you been able to support yourself in the last week?” Her face lit up as she dug into her pockets and emptied them out on my desk. From her hands rolled a collection of 6 beautiful crystals and stones.
Regardless of age, experience or state of being, our teens have a deep internal wisdom. Leaning to tune in to that and knowing one’s self is just as valuable as all the other learning that happens in schools.
Holly , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My work began 21 years ago working with middle school and high school students as a teacher. Spending my first few years in education teaching at risk youth in the Bay Area inspired me to return to the university to earn my Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Career Development. Counseling within the school system requires wearing many hats – college advisor, career development counselor, testing coordinator, crisis counselor, the list continues. One puzzle piece I was yearning to add to my work with adolescence lied within the realm of developing ones self identity, navigating Big feelings/emotions and finding ones way in the world. I decided to study further and add a life coaching certification to my credentials. And this is where it all came together for the teens and young adults I work with.
I currently have a private Life Coaching practice for teens and young adults. I work with those struggling with identifying their sense of self, deciding what’s next when it comes to career and education, navigating the stresses, pressures and overwhelm of academics & performance as well as ADHD and anxiety. I tap into my unique hybrid blend of counseling and life coaching when working with my clients. The families I work with notice a decrease in their teen’s stress level, a stronger sense of self and confidence within and an overall sense of peace among family members.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Trust the Journey
A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that we have complete or lots of control over our life path and the journey that ensues. Having spent many years studying in the education system, the “journey ‘ to success or completion was a very linear one. This looks like a direct map of courses to be taken, grades to be earned to achieve completion and certification, hence the job/work follows. If you follow the path and utilize the map you will get to your desired destination. Working within the eduction system and making progress and movement within that system was also quite linear. Once I dove into entrepreneurship, I realized the path was not so linear but more experimental and filled with trial and error…whether it be in building the practice or developing a coaching process or offering for clients and families. Along this new frustrating entrepreneurial journey I had to adapt to its curvy/twisted/winding nature and lean into trust; trusting my belief in the pursuit, my intuition along the way and faith in the direction I chose.
Launching my practice has taught me to ‘trust the journey’.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely! If I had to go back and choose again, I would choose to do the work I currently do. I call the work I do my ‘heart work’.
Being able to share, support and inspire others for a living is a true gift. I feel honored to be able to accompany my clients and their families on this leg of their journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hollymcclaincoaching.com
- Instagram: @hollymcclaincoaching
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollymcclaincoaching
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcclain/