Parent training for dependent, yet abled, young adults

Abstract

The term Failure to launch (FTL) has been used to describe abled adults who do not work, do not attend school, and live with— and at the expense of—their parents. FTL can be beneficially addressed through parent training, a treatment method that is rarely used with adults (i.e., individuals past the age of majority). The authors first review the goals of parent training programs offered to parents of adults. The review demonstrates that these goals dovetail with key aspects of FTL. The authors then describe a new parent training approach for parents of individuals with FTL, based on SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). They highlight five key components of SPACE-FTL: Psychoeducation, Reducing Parental Accommodation, Increasing Parental Support, De-Escalation, and Engaging Supporters. The authors conclude by discussing SPACE-FTL in relation and comparison to other parent training programs and their components.