Meet Christine Simon

My name is Christine Simon and I am a retired public school teacher. I have worked with students for over 25 years. Teaching and mentoring have always been a passion of mine. Throughout my life I have been a teacher, basketball and running club coach, tutor, daycare co-owner, Sunday school teacher, and a mentor to disadvantaged youth. What I enjoyed most in all of those opportunities was being able to build trusting relationships with kids. I'm passionate about working with children/teens who may be struggling with motivation, academics, stress, trauma, interpersonal issues, or anxiety. I am blessed to continue my love of mentoring through Honest Growth LLC.

As mental health issues continue to soar in our country, there is a huge need for support for our kids. I personally understand the need for youth mentoring as I am a mom of two young adults who lost their dad when they were in their teens. A youth mentor can provide a different type of support than I am able to as their mom. My role as mom is a completely different role than that of a youth mentor. In addition a youth mentor is not meant to replace therapy or counseling but to work in conjunction with it. Youth mentoring is a support service that is intended to help youth grow and reach their full potential as they navigate through the trials of life.

As a youth mentor, my goal is to create a safe space for my clients to see their situations and selves clearly, and then to assist them in making the changes they want to see in their lives. Sessions will be free of judgment and full of empathy and patient understanding. Once a solid rapport is established, it becomes  natural to apply and weave together various techniques to suit each clients’ unique needs. I use a person-centered approach, which means creating an individualized plan to meet each client's goals.  

In my spare time I enjoy golf, paddle boarding, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy watching my kids play sports, traveling to see my family, and hanging out with my daughter's therapy cat, Oliver. I have an new addition to my family and his name is Winston.  He is a Great Bernese puppy.

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Messiah College. Several years later I completed a Master of Education degree from Marygrove College. I have spent 25+ years teaching and working with youth. My teaching experiences have been in Shepherd of the Lakes, Pinckney, Fowlerville, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Lancaster City School Districts.