Eps 507: Understanding “failure to launch” with Dr. Bianca Busch

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

My guest today is Dr. Bianca Busch, and we’re getting into the “failure to launch” or the stalling we see from some young adults. Dr. Busch shares what drew her to working with college students, and we talk about getting “cut off” from your child’s medical, mental health, and grade information once they turn 18. Dr. Busch shares the benefits of psychiatrists working with adolescents and parents in conjunction.

I ask Dr. Busch what she sees when young adults and their parents feel stuck - anxiety, depression, mismatched expectations - there’s a lot playing in here, and it’s messy. Dr. Busch shares some tools, boundaries, & motivators, and I play with the idea of mismatched timelines. I ask what parents can do when they feel scared and what we can do when we recognize that our behaviors and beliefs are the problem and for signs that our adolescent might need more substantial help & support. We end on a happy note - celebrating our hard work in parenting, even when it doesn’t look exactly how we expected it to turn out.

Takeaways from the show

• Getting cut off from medical & mental health information once your child turns 18
• The acceleration & benefits of when psychiatrists are able to work with adolescents and their parents
• Is “failure to launch” a fair expression? Why are young adults stalled out?
• Mismatched expectations & goals between young adults & parents
• There’s no young adults who don’t want to launch; we have to discover what’s in their way
• When you know your child needs support, but they’re resistant
• The difference between “get your shit together” and a child whose safety is at risk
• Motivational interviewing & coming from a place of compassion
• Digging in and challenging our own beliefs and being open-minded to hearing our adolescents goals, ideas, & plans
• Signs your young adult might need additional outside support
• Give yourself grace! Celebrate the parenting work you have done!

For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.

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