Individualized Vocational and Educational Support and Training (InVEST)

School or work coaching study

InVEST is a school and work coaching program designed to help teens and young adults meet their school and work goals. In InVEST, participants can learn different skills and strategies that may help them identify and meet their goals by developing organization skills and strategies to manage stress and procrastination. 

Receive one-on-one coaching to help meet your school or work goals! 

Sessions begin by assessing the participant’s goals, noting any difficulties with procrastinating, dealing with stress, or organizing their time. Sessions are then based on the specific needs of each person. For younger participants, coaches can communicate and collaborate with the client’s individual therapist, school counselor, and family to build a team to support the participant in achieving these goals. Click here to explore some of the resources our InVEST coaches use in session.

Am I eligible to participate?

  • Participants must be ages 12-22 years old and have experienced recent changes in thinking, mood, or behaviors, such as:

  • Starting to feel like your eyes/ears/mind are playing tricks on you 

  • Feeling confused about what is real and what is not 

  • Feeling suspicious of others 

  • Withdrawal from friends and family 

  • Drop in self-care or personal hygiene 

  • Feeling more anxious, depressed, or out of touch 

  • Becoming overly focused on certain ideas that other people find odd 

  • These new changes are causing problems in school, work, or attention

What’s involved in the study?

  • A comprehensive diagnostic assessment to determine eligibility

  • 4 months of weekly, 1-hour sessions focused on organizational skills, stress-management, and goal initiation with a school and work coach (Participants will be randomly placed into one of two tracks: one track will begin immediately after assessment, while the other track will begin 4 months later. Participants and researchers do not have control over which track is assigned.)

  • You may get paid up to $200 ($40 dollars for the screening assessment, $40 for the baseline assessment, $60 for the 4-month assessment, and $60 for the 8-month follow-up assessment). 

Currently scheduling: 1-2 weeks from today

Meet the InVEST coaches

Julia Pfluger, B.S.

Hello, my name is Julia! My main objective is to foster a positive and motivational environment for my clients to learn a variety of new skills to improve executive functioning and distress tolerance. Through my coaching sessions, I will help clients think through obstacles to find effective solutions and to improve their approach to school and work.

Claire Goods, B.S.

My name is Claire and I’m an InVEST coach. As a coach, I will create a safe and individualized environment to best support each client. As a team, the client and I will work to improve distress tolerance and executive functioning skills in order to positively impact their school and work life.

Joey Rodriguez

My name is Joey. I am a research student and an InVEST coach with experience in supporting young adults in academic contexts. I actively provide support for learning and goal-forming as an advisor, tutor, and teaching assistant at Northeastern University. I strive for creating non-stigmatizing, inclusive learning spaces that encourage thoughtful curiosity for both short-term and long-term goal creation.