Much has been said about our young adults today. They have been called lazy, entitled, having difficulties making the transition from home to real life. Their is also a sense of many of them having an over inflated ego. They may believe that things should be handed to them just like their parents did for them.
Today’s parents are parenting much different from past generations. There are many pros and cons to this approach. In therapy I see a lot of parents unconsciously trying to block the natural experiences of their child because of the bad or anxious experience they went through in a much more “be seen but not heard”, “do as we say and don’t question it, because I said so” childhood. Today we want to hear every last word of what our children are saying. We want them to feel empowered to be able to use their voices. The truth is that the real world won’t care what they have to say.
We see many parents today coddle their child. Out of attempts to not let them feel failure and pain, we step in to “save the day”. But are we really saving the day or are we making it much worse because they leave the family thinking that the world owes them something. That they don’t have to put in the time to climb the ladder of success. It’s always come so easy before.
Therapy for young adults and how to start heading in the right direction. The following are a few areas where we may need to think about correcting our parenting styles:
How can we ensure that our youth gets a fair try out in the real world? To be successful, able to hear the word no and accept it as not being a total failure. If your young adult child is still at home you can start doing things to help prepare them for the real world. Here is a list of some ways:
Is therapy a good idea for you child and/or yourself? Let’s look at what mental health therapy and family counseling has to offer. Much can be learned if you come into therapy. Structural family therapy seeks to strategically assist in shifting the power back to the parent from the young adult. It also allows for the education and aid of implementing new ways to approach the family dynamics. It can help parents go deeper and explore their resistance to being able to hold the space or hold their ground. Working with the young adult is very beneficial as well. Here the young adult can learn strategies to gain the emotional intelligence they may be lacking. It’s important that all members be part of therapy. It’s a great way to get balance and understanding on how to create the environment of stability, responsibility and balance.
Give us a call today at High Expectations Counseling and Coaching. We have a talented staff of licensed mental health counselors waiting to assist you. Call us at 407-967-1327 and get started. It’s never to late.