Here’s the lie: you are the one responsible for all the progress a child makes in therapy.
That single hour a week you spend working your magic should be enough, right?

Except it’s not.
Because the other 167 hours? That’s where the real change happens—or doesn’t.

**The Harsh Maths of Change**

Parents don’t always realise this, but when they expect results from weekly sessions without supporting the work at home, they unintentionally undermine the process.

It’s your job—and your right—to clearly frame what your sessions are not.
You’re not a magician. You’re not a lone warrior. You’re a professional coach working within a coaching franchise that believes real change requires partnership.

Here’s how I break it down for them:

> “You have 167 hours a week when you are with your child. I only have one. That means you are the main coach. I’m just here to guide the process.”

🎯 Put that in a welcome email. Say it in the first session. Repeat it like a mantra. 🎯

Let them know that their role isn’t just supportive—it’s crucial. Schools also need looped in (with permission), especially if you’re building behavioural habits or communication strategies that benefit from daily repetition.

Let parents know from Day One what is expected of them. If they’re not prepared to show up for their part of the work, you need to know that now—not five weeks in when they’re complaining about slow progress.

*“You have 167 chances a week to reinforce what I do. I only have one. Let’s not waste it.”*

Encourage your young clients to become the narrators of their journey. After each session, give a brief verbal debrief in front of the parent. Ask the child to add their perspective on the way home. Then back it up with a written summary and clearly defined action steps for both parent and child.

If you do this consistently, you’ll build a triangle of communication that strengthens everything you deliver. If you don’t, that triangle collapses—and you’re the one holding the blame.

**Getting Parents to Take the Work Seriously**

You wouldn’t build a house without securing the foundation. Similarly, you can’t deliver meaningful NLP interventions without ensuring parents are on solid ground with you.

Don’t hesitate to suggest they attend their own one-to-one sessions. Not only does this reinforce their understanding of the work, but it helps address their patterns that may be disrupting the child’s progress. Many parents are unaware of how their language, tone, or habits are fuelling the very issues they want you to fix.

And let’s be clear—it’s not just about helping the child anymore. This is about transforming the family dynamic at its core.

Within our coaching franchise, we’ve found that parent involvement often speeds up results significantly. Why? Because when a parent becomes a practitioner in their own home, they become the child’s most accessible, consistent coach.

*Reframing Resistance: From Undermining to Understanding*

It’s tough to confront a parent who is unintentionally disrupting progress. But it’s essential.

Your goal is not just to fix the child’s symptoms—it’s to create a lasting change. And that means naming the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Remind them that you’re not here to “take over” parenting—you’re here to help them reclaim it in a more effective way.

A coaching franchise is about more than business—it’s a movement of empowered practitioners reshaping lives. Start with the parents, and the kids will follow.

by Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai)

Becoming a Licensee