Dr. Stoltzfus’ mission is to provide information, education, guidance, and resources to parents of young adults struggling to launch their young adults into self-sufficient and responsible adulthood while maintaining a caring bond with them. More today than ever, parents of young adults are trying to determine the best approach to aiding their young adults in their challenges of identity, independence, and intimacy without contributing to their dependency or alienation.

Over fifty percent of 18-29-year-olds live with one or both parents; some of these kids are stuck and not moving toward independence. Another group of young people has left home, but 1 out of 4 have cut off communication with their parents for, on average, four months; some will never reconnect. Both of these situations represent failures to launch. When there is a failure to launch, parents and young adults suffer.

How can parents navigate the letting go process of the teenage years in order to prepare the teen for greater independence and responsible adulthood? Moving from control and direction to influence, coaching, collaborating, and consulting. Moving closer not to control but to support the key developmental tasks of adolescence- identity, independence, and intimacy. The importance of demonstrating backbone with love or “tough love.”