Is your adult child home from college, not looking for a job, or rarely leaving the house? Many parents feel caught in the same cycle — wanting to help, but also feeling frustrated, worried, and unsure what to do next.
This situation is often called “failure to launch.” It’s more common than you think, and there are proven ways forward.
“Failure to launch” describes young adults who struggle to step into independence. They may:
It’s not laziness — it’s often tied to deeper struggles.
Many young adults facing “failure to launch” are coping with:
When these challenges combine with family stress, it can feel nearly impossible for them to move forward without help.
Parents often adjust routines to reduce conflict or shield their child from distress. Common accommodations include:
These accommodations come from love, but they can unintentionally keep avoidance in place and make it harder for young adults to launch.
I specialize in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), a research-based treatment developed at the Yale Child Study Center. Unlike traditional therapy that focuses only on the young adult, SPACE empowers parents to make meaningful change.
With SPACE, parents learn how to:
Even if your young adult isn’t willing to attend therapy, parents can create change that shifts the entire family dynamic.
As a Certified SPACE-trained therapist, I bring specialized training in this proven approach. Families I work with often feel relief knowing:
If your adult child is living at home, not working or going to school, and struggling with anxiety, depression, or ADHD, there is hope. Together, we’ll help you reduce unhelpful accommodations, strengthen support, and create a path toward independence.
Schedule a consultation today and start breaking the cycle of “failure to launch.”
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