Overview

This book provides information, guidance, and above all hope for parents struggling to support their young adult children in psychological distress.   The period of emerging adulthood (ages 8 to 29) is a psychologically vulnerable time. Many emerging adults are anxious, depressed, or otherwise distressed and may turn to unhealthy coping strategies, including substance misuse, unhealthy eating, Internet misuse, and risky and impulsive behaviors such as sexual acting out and reckless driving. Where parents previously functioned in the caretaker role for their young children, they must now amp quot pivot amp quot to a new role: coach, wise counsel, or compeer. Parents may also need to pivot back to a caretaking role for a time if their young adults are dealing with more serious mental health issues.   This book provides essential information and practical advice to help parents navigate these difficult challenges and deal with their own distress as they assist their struggling emerging adults. The authors describe various mental health symptoms and disorders common to this age group. They also discuss the difference between normal and more problematic behaviors, and options for professional help and treatment approaches. Not all young adults are willing to receive help, whether from family, friends, or professionals. But regardless of their situation, this book offers tips and strategies for how parents can maintain a loving, empathic relationship with their young adult, even in the most challenging circumstances.   Written by psychologists with extensive experience helping emerging adults and their families, this book provides invaluable guidance for communicating effectively, setting boundaries, managing collateral damage within the family, practicing self-care, mourning losses, and developing and practicing compassion for yourself and your young adult. It reflects the complex emotional dynamics occurring both within and between young adults and their parents, and it provides hope for struggling families.

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9781433843631

Table of Contents

Reviews

The Parent Pivot is an innovative and resourceful guide for parents of young adults in emotional distress. With real-world case examples and storytelling, The Parent Pivot provides parents with useful coping tools, informational resources, and a new relationship model for responding to the emotional distress of their young adult. More than anything, this marvelous book gives desperate parents some concrete measure of hope. - Sherry Cormier, PhD, psychologist, bereavement trauma specialist, consultant, and author of Sweet Sorrow: Finding Enduring Wholeness After Loss and Grief Reading every chapter, or even every page of this book, powerfully equips a parent, or an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or anyone who loves an emerging adult, with expert knowledge and evidence-based practice, enveloped in thoughtfulness and grace. The authors thoroughly understand the depths and intricacies of being a parent and offer a liberating yet intentional way of living for both the emerging adult and the self. - Tes Tuason, PhD, Professor and Program Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville This book serves as an amazing resource for parents whose children are on the cusp of emerging adulthood during these especially challenging times. The authors address concerns of young adults ranging from daily stressors to unhealthy coping behaviors to serious mental health disorders. This book provides help and support in understandable and relatable ways. Most important, this resource equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to care for yourself as you navigate the demands associated with your evolving role. - Cliff McKinney, PhD, Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University This book is an exceptionally valuable resource for parents and caretakers who are trying to help their young adult children cope with emotional distress and more serious mental health disorders. The authors very clearly describe the challenges that can emerge during this critical developmental period and offer practical suggestions for how best to support their children. The authors have many years of experience and their expertise contributes to the credibility of the content of the book. The real-life case studies, the conversational writing style, and the focus of hope in the last chapter should appeal to parents who are struggling to help their children navigate a difficult period in their development. - Ann Vernon, PhD, Professor Emerita, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Author Information

Lynne Carroll, PhD, ABPP, is a retired professor of psychology and former director of the Masters program at the University of North Florida. Throughout her 3 years in academia, Dr. Carroll taught multiple undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and mental health counseling in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Her research has been widely published in professional journals and presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Carroll is the author of a graduate textbook on psychotherapy published in 2 by Pearson. A licensed and board-certified counseling psychologist, her clinical work focused on concerns of young adults in both university and community settings.   Paula J. Gilroy, EdD, is a licensed psychologist retired from 3 years of clinical practice at a university counseling center. She worked with young adults who sought treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, family issues, grief, and loss. As the Assistant Director for Training, Dr. Gilroy provided individual and group supervision for graduate-level students. She offered consultation services to parents concerned about their young adults. Dr. Gilroy co-authored a wide range of scholarly articles and presented her research at national conferences.  She lives in Iowa with her husband and menagerie of three dogs, five cats, and one rabbit.    Mikal Crawford, EdD, is a licensed psychologist in Maine retired from 3 years of clinical work with young adults in a university counseling center in Maryland and as a graduate faculty member in counseling and psychology in both Maryland and Maine. She also worked with parents of young adults in psychological distress while they learned to pivot from the caretaker role as these adult children headed to college. Dr. Crawford has written and co-authored scholarly articles and presented at national and international conferences. She lives in Maine with her husband and makes monthly visits to senior living facilities with her therapy dog, Riley.

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