From an expert in adolescent psychology comes a groundbreaking, timely, and necessary guide for parents of the 2.2 million young adults in America who are struggling to find their way in the world. In Dr. Mark McConville's decades of experience as a family clinical psychologist, perhaps no problem has been more fraught than that of young adults who fail to successfully transition from adolescence into adulthood. These kids--technically adults--just can't get it together: they can't hold a job, they struggle to develop meaningful relationships, and they often end up back in their parents' spare bedroom or on the couch. In fact, studies show that 1 in 4 Americans aged 25-34 neither work nor attend school, and it's a problem that spans all socioeconomic and geographic boundaries. McConville investigates the root causes of this problem: Why are kids "failing to launch" in ever-increasing numbers? And what can parents do to help them get on their feet (and out the door) to start their own lives? The key, McConville has found, is that there are 3 key skills that are necessary to make the transition from childhood to adulthood: finding a sense of direction and purpose (What do I want to do?), developing administrative responsibility (How will I go about doing it?), and cultivating interdependence (How can I work with others to help me succeed?). He offers an accessible, practical guide for the whole family, to help parents instill those skills in their young adults--and get their kids off the couch and into the real world, ready to start their lives. Reviews: "It can feel as shameful as it is painful when other people’s kids are winning Nobel Prizes—or at least getting jobs, homes and partners—while yours is still unlaunced. But this condition is extremely common. Dr McConville removes the stigma while assuring you that, as lonely and frustrated as you feel, you are not alone. A path forward awards, inside these pages.”—Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and founder of Free-Range Kids About the Author: Mark McConville, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in adult, adolescent, emerging adult, and family psychology. A senior faculty member at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, he has lectured, published, and taught widely on the subjects of child development, parenting, and counseling methodology. |
