LAUNCH: Parenting Tips for Raising Adult Children & Building Better Relationships

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How many times have you tried to make changes with your adult child but could never follow through? Something would happen and you'd back down. You had the best intentions, your mind was made up, but you couldn't deal with their reaction, and you buckled. 

After speaking with many parents, there are 3 concerns that come up repeatedly and in this episode, I talk about about what they are and what needs to happen before you begin setting new boundaries, expressing your expectations, changing the financial arrangements, and so on.

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What if some of what we’ve been taught about mental health, trauma and therapy is actually making our adult children more fragile and keeping them stuck?

Today I’m joined by Dr. Richard Blake, a British psychologist PhD, researcher, author and breathwork expert whose work challenges some of the assumptions we’ve come to accept about mental health and trauma.

We talk about therapy culture and the stories we tell ourselves about our mental health, and whether we may have taken the wrong approach to understanding psycho...

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This episode may be uncomfortable for some parents to hear.

If your adult child is in their 20s or 30s and still living at home, not working, not studying, not contributing, or showing little direction for their future, you may have asked yourself:

“What can I do if they don’t want to change?”

If you’re parenting an adult child who is struggling with independence, motivation, responsibility, confidence, or launching into adulthood, you may also be dealing with enabling, rescuing, tolerating, making excuses, being disrespected, of living i...

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For parents of adult children who are struggling to launch, support can quietly turn into enabling and enabling becomes disabling.

If you have an adult child living at home, not working, not in school, or not moving toward independence, you've probably told yourself you're being supportive. Paying bills. Managing setbacks. Handling stressful situations for them. Sending job postings. Giving them space. Avoiding uncomfortable conversations. Letting them do whatever they want - even when it's unhealthy: like endless hours of YouTube, gaming all night, sleeping all day, eating poorly, never...

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A surprisingly large percentage of parents have asked themselves this question: should my adult child pay rent? Or at least contribute, if they’re working? What if they're not? Am I being fair or   too harsh? Will it teach them, prepare them or upset them and hurt our relationship? What’s the right amount? What are others doing?

This episode will make you think about your Adult child living at home. Why won’t they work? And if they are, why can’t they pay a share? 

This is one of the...

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In this episode of LAUNCH, I'm joined by the expert in adolescent psychology, Dr. Mark McConville, a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience working with adults, adolescents, and families. 

Mark is the author of groundbreaking book; Failure to Launch: Why Your Twentysomething Hasn't Grown Up...and What to Do About It. It is the number one guide for parents with young adults who are struggling to move forward.

I'm so grateful to have Mark on LAUNCH. He packs this episode with so many important topics, a...

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Did you every wish you knew what your adult child was thinking? They're struggling to launch into adulthood but they never want to talk about anything. Maybe you've tried, but it never amounts to anything. Except a door shutting and the silent treatment. You're not a mind reader or a therapist. You're just their parent, who feels like a stranger. How long can you handle this?

A little while back I began talking to young adults, after having conversations with parents. And it was really helpful. I discovered truths that Moms...

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For any parent of a young adult struggling with social anxiety, you know the debilitating effects are keeping your adult child isolated, cut off from relationships, missing career opportunities, and lacking the self-confidence to build a life of their own.  I know you worry constantly and wonder if they will have be free of it. 

Who can you talk to? Better still, who can they talk to? 

In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with Matthew Bowen who shares the steps he took to brake free from his sev...

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Ever wonder why one of your adult children is struggling to LAUNCH while your other child (or children) seem to be doing  fine?

You parented them the same, right? Wrong.

The truth is, you couldn't have. 

Because your children didn't come to you the same. They're genetically different which means they experience the world differently, respond to challenges differently, and needed different things from you as they grew. 

Realizing this can completely change the way you understand your adult child

Some are biologically mor...

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What if helping your young adult move forward didn’t require more rules, more demands or difficult conversations? What if it was actually simpler than that? 

In this episode, I’m joined by Geoff Owen, founder of Biologically Aligned Parenting and author of The Parenting Assumption. Geoff challenges one of the biggest assumptions we make as parents: that it’s our job to manage and control our children’s behaviour.

His perspective is both refreshing and surprisingly simple. He believes that when we stop trying to control our young adults, w...

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Failure to Launch is one of the most widely used terms to describe young adults who are not progressing toward independence, but what does it really mean, who does it apply to and where did the term come from?

In this episode, I talk deconstruct Failure to Launch, as I take you through the history of it, from early research in Europe during the 1980s to Japan’s phenomenon of hikikomori and the rise of the term in popular culture. 

You’ll learn why Failure to Launch is not a per...

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My guest today is Dr. Isabela Granic, a professor, psychologist, and developmental researcher with 25 years of experience studying what young people need to thrive. She’s also a parent of two young adult children and the founder and CEO of Liminal Learning, an innovative program designed to help young adults develop the social skills, confidence, responsibility, and a sense of purpose they need to navigate adulthood.

Even though we're talking about the program at the start, Dr. Granic offers incredible suggestions for parents to reconnect with their adult children and help th...

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Every once in a while, I release an episode that needs no introduction. 

And this is one of them. 

It's the number one issue that every parent with a struggling adult child living at home has no idea how to handle. 

They honestly believe that there are absolutely no consequences that would stick. 

That level of disrespect is so telling. They aren't bad kids. Nor are they lazy. There's a bigger problem and I talk about it in this episode.

But more than that...

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If you've been doing everything for your adult child and their lifestyle hasn't changed, in fact nothing about their life has really improved, it's time you stop supporting them. 

No, you don't have to kick them out. Unless of course circumstances have become so unbearable at home, and they seem completely uninterested in being responsible and respectful, which means you're setting a move-out date.  

If that's the case, don't feel bad. Many parents are at that point. 

But if you're not there yet and you still feel hop...

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This is a much needed episode and I'm excited to share it with you along with my guest Andie Toderovitz, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who specializes in relationship issues, attachment styles, and emotional well-being. Andie helps individuals of all ages develop greater self-awareness and build deeper, more meaningful connections. 

Although most parents with struggling young adults tend to focus on fixing their adult child - the unemployment, the lack of motivation, the disconnection from life, there's a deeper truth that often explains why they have stalled. 

It's the parent an...

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When an adult child is struggling, most parents focus on the most obvious problem: no motivation, lack of employment, low self confidence, complete dependence, zero responsibilities, poor communication… 

But what if you’re looking too narrowly?

In this episode, I introduce a different perspective for parenting your young adult, one that looks beyond a single issue and considers the whole person. 

Discover why emotional well-being, mental health, relationships, life skills, self-confidence, purpose, and family dynamics are all connected, and how seeing your adult child through a different lens c...

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This episode could be a recurring one because it is the MOST important topic in raising children, and that say a lot. 

As powerful as it is, a majority of parents struggle with it because they were raised by a generation who didn’t understand how to apply these principles.  

But once you do, and you can, the floodgates will open. Your relationship with your adult children will change. They’ll feel heard, understood and safe to open up to you. 

It’s a short episode today. But I thi...

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In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Dr. Brie Turns-Coe, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Arizona Christian University, and Director of their Masters of MFT program. With a career spent helping hundreds of parents break generational patterns and repair their relationships with their children, Dr. Brie brings both clinical expertise and genuine compassion to one of the most important conversations a parent can have.

What Dr. Brie sees time and again in her practice might surprise you: parents who are unknowingly making...

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Today's episode comes to you with a virtual hug. 

My advice today is coming from my heart. Even though I have so much to offer you, because of my education, research, consulting, interviewing, writing and creating, these next 11 minutes come from a place that one can only call pure inspiration. 

Warning: This is entirely my opinion. 

Take it for whatever it's worth. Share it with a friend. Or don't. Maybe send me an email if you feel it struck a chord. I assure you that I can han...

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Welcome to LAUNCH! 

Today, my esteemed guest is Dr. Jerry Weichman, a clinical psychologist, adolescent specialist, and parenting expert who has spent the last 27 years helping  more than 6,500 families navigate some of the toughest challenges young people face today, from anxiety, depression, low self esteem, gaming addiction and more.  He's the founder of the Weichman Clinic, and the creator of the podcast Raising Families with Dr. Jerry.

In today's conversation, Dr. Jerry shares his bag of mental health tools with us. We cover so many topics: how to stop ove...

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These are "Show Notes" and all the links that I talk about in this episode are below.

The 7 Deadliest Sins of Parenting an Adult Child are the most common behaviors that loving parents fall into, often without even realizing it. But if you're still doing them, it's quietly costing your adult child their independence, motivation, and confidence, which is making it harder for them to launch into the life they're capable of living.

But you are far from alone. So many parents of adult children struggle with knowing where...

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Today's episode is a little different than what you're used to. 

It's for those of you who have been hurt by a parent, and carry the quiet, painful ache of knowing that an apology is probably never coming and how you can move forward, without repeating the toxic cycle with your own children.

My guest Paula Yost calls this the Apology Ache. That deep, lingering hurt from a parent who has wounded you, and you have to accept that they are never going to acknowledge it. In fact often t...

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If your adult child is living at home and refuses to take on any responsibilities, acting more like a hotel guest than a member of the household and you feel like you've tried everything, this episode is for you.

After writing and creating an 18-page Living Together Guide and Agreement for parents of young adults who weren't participating or contributing to basic household responsibilities or anything in their life, I quickly discovered that most parents struggled to enforce it. The approach required finesse. The groundwork had to be laid first. The...

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For any parent whose ever wondered whether their adult child has a video gaming addiction, and if so how they can help, this episode is for you. 

What may have started off as just a harmless activity turns into an all-consuming, socially withdrawn activity, where showering and eating are secondary to gaming and day/night reversal have become a way of life. Their bedrooms are their fortress, and their parents are not welcome. 

In this candid episode, 30-year-old Jake Uskoski shares his deeply personal experience with his addiction, his re...

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Today’s episode is one of the most important conversations I’ve had on this podcast because it's touches every single parent, whether your adult child is struggling or not.  We all have to come to face to face with this hard truth.

That's why this is called the dirtiest word in parenting. There's a few contenders which my lovely guest and I discuss, but this one, this one is big. 

My guest today is Catherine Hickem, and before I tell you anything else about her credentials, she is the re...

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Many parents of adult children feel powerless and think they've tried everything.

Yet somehow, nothing has worked. The years have gone by and their adult child is still in the same place; at home, unmotivated, lacking confidence, and living without purpose, while everyone around them seems to be moving forward.

In today’s short episode, I want to share something more personal with you. I’m going to explain why I am dedicating my time to guiding parents of young adults who are struggling and what I have created to h...

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This is my second guest who is not a parent, but a young adult, who (once again) shares their wisdom and insight into why young adults and teens struggle to connect with their parents, what they need most and offers effective approaches to turn that around. 

Sonia Suthar founder of Cloud9Go.com works with high-school students and parents teaching the real-world skills that schools rarely teach: public speaking, execution, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

In this surprising episode, Sonia shares her strategies for improving  communication through collaboration, and the im...

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If your adult child is stuck, unmotivated, anxious, avoiding responsibility, and still heavily dependent on you, this episode asks a question most parents are afraid to consider:

Can overprotective parenting impact a young adult’s ability to launch confidently into adulthood?

In this conversation, we unpack what helicopter parenting is and if there's any correlation between that style of parenting and a young adults inability to move forward. Or is there more to it?

This episode is not about blame.
 It’s about awareness.
 And it’s a...

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Today I’m joined by Laura Hope Whitaker, CEO of Extra Special People, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families. Laura is a speaker, advocate, and the author of her brand new book, The Joy Exchange, Finding Life's Greatest Lessons in Those You Least Expect. This book is so beautifully written and filled with stories that will touch your heart.  Truly a must-read. Not just for you, but for your adult child too.

Laura is known for her...

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 In 2015, I picked up a book, read the back cover and instantly it resonated with me. As a mom raising kids of my own, I knew how easy it was to slide into the role of the overprotective mama bear, wanting to shield my babies from any discomfort. But I also knew that doing that would come at a cost. Wanting to raise resilient, confident, independent adults who could function in the world on their own was always my intention but it wasn't going to be easy. I had to be strong. And i...

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If your adult child is uninterested in trying anything, won't apply for jobs, avoids challenges, and is perfectly content having you  do everything for them, this episode explains why and what you can do to help. And is it ever easy!

Discover the one psychological factor that determines whether young adults move forward or stay stuck, plus the specific things parents need to STOP doing and START doing to help their adults build confidence.

It’s short but impactful! 

Thank you for listening. 

Please remember to hi...

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Today I’m joined by Susan Raphael, an addiction and mental health clinician in private practice for over 20 years. Susan works closely with individuals, parents, and families navigating substance abuse, mental health challenges, and recovery. 

In this conversation, Susan shares her own personal story of addiction and recovery, bringing a powerful and honest perspective to the work she does with families every day. 

This episode is for any parent living with an adult child who is struggling with addiction and mental health issues, and feeling afraid, overwhelmed, and unsure how...

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Parenting an adult child who is struggling is an emotional rollercoaster. 

In your wildest dreams you never thought raising a young adult would be this challenging. In your mind, you thought it would be so different. Yet here you are. And it's not just your adult child you want to help,  but your relationship, how you communicate, how you connect and how work together to grow.  

With over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology including a PhD in Clinical Psychology, my guest today is Dr. Anna Levy-Warren. Ann...

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In this episode of LAUNCH, I sit down with Neal Solomon, Registered Social Worker, for one of the most honest conversations that parents of young adults need to hear.

We talk openly about the real pain points parents are living in, the hard truths and why so many families feel stuck despite good intentions. We dig into what is actually going on with today’s youth, where responsibility and boundaries fit into the picture, and how fear, guilt, and over-accommodation quietly keep everyone stuck.

Most importantly, this conversation provides cl...

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When adult children struggle to handle stress, responsibility, or uncertainty, parents want to know how to help them. But what if the most powerful influence isn’t what parents say or do for their adult children, but how they manage themselves?

In this episode of LAUNCH, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Lund, licensed clinical psychologist, resilience expert, TEDx speaker and best-selling author, for a conversation that shifts the focus where it belongs. We talk how adult children learn resilience by watching how their parents handle pressure, uncertainty, and discomfort, importance of b...

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Do you want to know why you can't set boundaries without coming across as controlling, bossy or even disappointed? It's because with every attempt, it sounds like you're trying to tell them what to do, which drives them nuts, so you've given up. The problem is that most parents confuse boundaries with rules or  threats and that's exactly why they don't work. But I have the solution. 

If you've tried setting boundaries with your adult children only to be ignored, dismissed, or met with pushback, this episode is exactly what you've be...

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If your adult child says, "I'm an adult, you can't tell me what to do" while living rent-free under your roof, doing absolutely nothing with their life, and expecting you to take care of everything – this episode might be exactly what you need.

This deeply flawed and delusional statement gets thrown in the faces of kind-hearted parents who feel powerless to respond without triggering days of silent treatments.

Let’s be honest. Adulthood is not something you declare because you're over 18. It's something you demonstrate through responsibility, contribution, self-management alon...

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Have you've ever wondered if your relationship with your parents shaped how you show up as a parent today? If so, you'll find this episode very interesting. 

I sat down with Marc Cameron, author of Understanding Your Attachment Style: The Path to Overcoming Unhelpful Patterns and Building Healthy Secure Relationships to explore how parents attachment patterns shape their relationships with their children. 

Attachment theory explains how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect, communicate, and respond emotionally throughout life. 

In this episode, Marc shares with us tha...

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If your adult child is easily overwhelmed, has poor communication skills, struggles with most adulting responsibilities, is unwilling to leave their room and go out into the world, emotional intelligence may be the missing piece. 

In this episode, we break down what emotional intelligence is, how to recognize the signs in your adult, and what you can do to manage it, for yourself and for them.

You will learn why their reactions often feel disproportionate or personal, and what the research shows you can do to help your adult c...

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If your adult child is struggling to make friends, feels socially anxious, avoids real-life interactions, or seems unsure how to build meaningful connections, this episode will give you clarity and direction. 

Many parents assume social skills are something young adults simply pick up, but the truth is that these skills must be understood, taught, and practiced in real life. Social skills are so important. They shape confidence, emotional wellbeing, communication, relationships, and ultimately contribute to a young adult’s ability to live independently.

In this conversation, I speak with Mar...