Therapy for Parents

Parenting demands everything from us. It’s the job from which there is no vacation.

As teens differentiate from their families to find out who they are, separate from those who who raised them, it can be painful to let go.

As older children return from college for a visit or perhaps to live, what’s the best way to negotiate this new adult relationship? You may not recognize the young woman or man standing before you. What is an effective way to forge a new connection without falling into old patterns?

Parenting young adults is more about modeling the behavior you hope to see rather than setting boundaries like when they were younger – inspiring rather than disciplining.

• How can you support your adult child’s maturation and independence?
• How can you encourage their financial responsibility whether your family is one of privilege, or if your family struggles to meet the cost of living in Marin?
• How can you navigate/address/respect/ignore their decisions if you do not approve of their choices?

Perhaps work and parenting have drained your energy and your relationship with your spouse is suffering. Children can be the fuse that ignites the powder keg of marital conflict.

How can you coordinate your efforts to act as an effective team in this crucial chapter of parenting? In which ways do you defend against your partner in order to protect yourself from the discomfort of parenting a teenager?

Help is available.

Let’s work together to discern when to draw boundaries as a parent and how to tolerate the uncomfortable feelings of letting go of your maturing child.

Issues therapy can address: