A warm and welcoming family based in Manhattan is seeking an experienced, compassionate, and engaging Behavioural Support Specialist/Mentor to provide individualised support to their two sons, aged 9 and 13.

The primary focus of the role will be supporting their younger son, who is a bright, energetic, and active child with a particular passion for baseball. He is doing well at school but can experience difficulties managing frustration, regulating his emotions, and navigating certain family and social interactions. The family is looking for someone who can help him develop positive coping strategies, build confidence, and strengthen his relationships, particularly with his older brother.

This is a unique opportunity for a professional with a background in behavioural support,  psychology, special education, therapeutic mentoring, or a related field to make a meaningful difference within a private family setting. 

The family is not necessarily seeking a traditional therapist or a highly structured clinical intervention programme. Instead, they would love to find someone who can establish a genuine, trusting relationship with their son and incorporate behavioural support naturally into everyday activities and interactions.

The successful candidate will be someone who can connect with children on their level, whether that means playing baseball, accompanying them to activities, or simply spending time together. They should be skilled at recognising opportunities to model positive behaviour, encourage emotional regulation, and support the development of healthy communication and interpersonal skills.

While the primary focus will be the younger child, there will also be opportunities to support his older brother, particularly in navigating sibling dynamics and fostering a more positive relationship between the boys.

The family is seeking a long-term professional who can become a trusted and consistent presence in their children's lives. The ideal candidate will combine strong professional knowledge with warmth, patience, confidence, and a genuine enthusiasm for working with children. They should be personable, engaging, and skilled at building meaningful relationships while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

Behavioural and Emotional Support

• Establish a positive, trusting, and supportive relationship with the children, particularly the younger son.
• Provide individualised, developmentally appropriate support to help the younger child recognise, understand, and manage his emotions.
• Support the development of practical coping strategies for managing frustration, anxiety, disappointment, and other challenging emotions.
• Encourage positive communication, respectful interactions, and appropriate ways of expressing needs and feelings.
• Help the younger child develop greater confidence, self-esteem, emotional resilience, and independence.
• Recognise potential triggers and early signs of dysregulation, responding calmly and proactively to help prevent escalation.
• Use positive, evidence-informed behavioural strategies, including modelling, positive reinforcement, collaborative problem-solving, and teaching appropriate alternative behaviours.
• Support the development of consistent routines, expectations, and appropriate boundaries in a supportive, non-punitive manner.
• Encourage opportunities for reflection, problem-solving, and the development of age-appropriate social and emotional skills.

Mentorship and Daily Activities

• Provide engaging, relationship-based mentorship within the family home and during everyday activities.
• Accompany the children to recreational activities, sporting events, and outings as appropriate.
• Take an active interest in the children's hobbies, particularly baseball, and use shared interests to build rapport and encourage positive engagement.
• Create opportunities for learning and personal development through natural interactions rather than relying exclusively on structured sessions.
• Provide positive role modelling, supporting the development of confidence, independence, emotional awareness, and healthy interpersonal relationships.
• Offer a consistent, approachable, and encouraging presence, ensuring the children feel supported rather than judged or singled out for their difficulties.
• Help maintain a balance between behavioural support, recreational activities, and the children's existing commitments.

Sibling Relationships and Family Support

• Encourage positive interactions and a healthier relationship between the two brothers.
• Support the development of empathy, mutual respect, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Help the children establish and respect appropriate personal boundaries.
• Provide age-appropriate guidance to the older sibling where helpful, ensuring both children feel heard, supported, and valued.
• Model constructive ways of managing disagreements and resolving conflicts.
• Work collaboratively with the parents to encourage consistency in behavioural expectations and approaches.
• Provide regular, constructive feedback to the family regarding progress, challenges, and helpful strategies.
• Where appropriate and with parental consent, collaborate with existing therapists, educators, or other professionals supporting the family.
• Recognise when concerns require input from a qualified clinician and work within the boundaries of the candidate's own professional training and experience.

• Previous professional experience supporting school-aged children with behavioural, emotional, developmental, or learning-related challenges.
• Background in psychology, behavioural intervention, special education, therapeutic mentoring, social work, youth development, or a closely related field.
• Strong understanding of child development, emotional regulation, positive behavioural support, and relationship-based approaches.
• Experience supporting children with anxiety, frustration tolerance difficulties, emotional dysregulation, or challenging behaviour.
• Confidence in applying proactive, evidence-informed strategies in natural environments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish trusting relationships with children who may initially be hesitant to engage with unfamiliar adults.
• Experience supporting positive sibling relationships and family dynamics would be advantageous.
• Formal qualifications in Applied Behaviour Analysis, psychology, counselling, education, or a related discipline are highly desirable, although relevant practical experience will also be considered.
• Experience working in private households or providing individualised one-to-one support is advantageous but not essential.

• Warm, patient, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent, with a calm and confident approach.
• Energetic, personable, and genuinely enthusiastic about engaging with children through sports, activities, and shared interests.
• Able to balance a friendly, approachable mentoring style with clear and consistent professional boundaries.
• Confident responding to frustration, verbal outbursts, and behavioural escalation using safe, non-punitive approaches.
• Non-judgemental, discreet, and respectful of family privacy.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with parents and other professionals.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes in the children's extracurricular schedules and family commitments.
• Comfortable supporting both children while recognising their individual needs and personalities.
• Legally authorised to work in the United States.
• Excellent, verifiable professional references.
• Willingness to undergo appropriate background checks.
• A valid driver's licence would be advantageous but is not essential.

The family is offering a competitive hourly rate of $60+/hour, dependent on qualifications and experience.

Approximately 16 hours per week are anticipated initially, with the potential for additional hours. Guaranteed hours, paid time off, holidays, and other benefits will be discussed and agreed upon based on the final schedule and employment arrangement.