What is Parental Transition Coaching?



A Guide for People Professionals

What is Parental Transition Coaching?

Parental Transition Coaching is a programme that supports individuals and managers in the work place during the transition into parenthood. The coaching programme supports the individual as they leave work to have a child, then return back to work, and learn to divide their time between their professional career and parenthood. The programme also coaches managers to provide support for members of their team during this time so that they can retain talent within the organisation.

Our coaching approach is all about empowering individuals to maintain their career momentum while embracing the joys and challenges of parenthood.

Why is Parental Transition Coaching Important?

More and more organisations are recognising how essential it is to support employees as they transition into parenthood. A decade ago, ‘maternity coaching’ primarily aimed to help mothers return to work and reduce the risk of legal issues. Today, parental transition coaching plays a vital role in retaining top talent and supporting Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives.

Parental Transition Coaching also supports all parents — fathers, non-birthing parents, and adoptive parents — helping them find the right balance between work and family life. It’s also about educating managers so they can better support their teams during these life-changing moments.

Creating a family-friendly workplace goes beyond having competitive parental leave policies. Supporting your employees’ emotional and physical wellbeing fosters loyalty and increases retention. With PTC, we help HR and People Leaders track key D&I metrics like confidence in career progression and how supported employees feel, giving valuable insights into the success of your initiatives.

What Does Parental Transition Coaching Involve?

Every parent’s journey is unique, but through coaching, we focus on the common themes that often arise during this transition, ensuring a smooth, confident return to work. At P&P, we specialise in supporting employees throughout their expectancy, leave, and reintegration phases.

Parental Transition Coaching During Expectancy:

During the expectancy phase, PTC covers:

  • How to manage personal changes.
  • Navigating self-expectations.
  • Reflecting on the shift from professional to parent
  • Addressing emotional and practical needs, building confidence in communicating them.
  • Preparing for leave, including handover processes and managing performance expectations.
  • Strengthening personal support networks for the time away.

Parental Transition Coaching During Leave:

While on leave, PTC supports both the parent and the workplace by focusing on:

  • Reflecting on emotions around returning to work and addressing any concerns.
  • Identifying new skills gained during leave and how to apply them in the workplace.
  • Preparing for practicalities, like flexible working and the logistics of being a working parent.
  • Planning for a healthy work-family balance upon reintegration.

Parental Transition Coaching During the Return to Work:

During the return to work, PTC helps with:

  • Managing expectations and priorities.
  • Balancing the demands of home and work life with a fresh perspective.
  • Setting clear objectives and action plans.
  • Preparing for productive communication with managers and stakeholders.
  • Boosting career management skills, such as networking and enhancing visibility.

Equipping managers to support the parental transition

A crucial part of PTC is ensuring that managers are equipped to support their team members during parental transitions. We recommend at least two coaching sessions with managers, where they can reflect on how to create a more family-friendly team culture and become more understanding and supportive leaders.

Additionally, we offer a Parental Transition Coaching Qualification for those looking to bring these coaching skills in-house.

The impact of having a supportive, objective coach during this time can’t be overstated. Here’s what some of our clients have said:

Client Testimonials:


“I had coaching with P&P during both of my pregnancies, and I don’t know how I would have managed without it. The coaches were passionate about helping me navigate the changes, and their experience was invaluable. They supported me through promotion discussions and even personal challenges.”

“This was one of the most valuable experiences of my career. The coaching helped me navigate the present and prepare for the future. I’d highly recommend it to anyone going through this transition.”

“My coach helped me regain my confidence during my return to work. I always felt understood and left each session with a clear focus and action plan.”

Interested in Learning More?

If you have any questions or want to learn more about how Parental Transition Coaching can benefit your business, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to help.


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