Seminar for “Groaning” Grads and Worried Parents

As more and more people in their 20’s find they are “stuck” living at home for lack of a job, family relationships are stressed as never before.

Allison Spitzer, M.A., Communications and Life Skills Coach, is offering a series of seminars to help individuals and families better cope when their adult children
have limited options.

“Has the economy forced your adult child to return to the nest, depressed and anxious?” asks Spitzer. “This transitional situation can test the limits of even the sturdiest families.”

Based on increased demand to focus on this issue, Spitzer now is offering a weekly support group and individualized coaching to help parents adjust, plan, and lower family angst during this challenging time. For those “twenty-somethings,” she also offers individual coaching sessions related to life skills and family communications.

“The phenomenon of adult children returning and staying home has become common because the job market has shrunk and the cost of moving out is exorbitant,” she said. “My focus is on creating immediate agreements, not
long-term therapy. I help parents develop practical solutions that take into account their own needs as well as their child’s while reassessing, reassigning and redefining roles and responsibilities. Private sessions can help young
adults who are determined to reshape their circumstances and guides parents who question what their own boundaries or expectations should be.”

“This generation ‘texts’ rather than talks, gets instant information online, expects the speed of a ‘drive thru’ or an online purchase with all aspects of life. With that baseline, the need and skills to develop the perseverance, patience, and perception needed to re-invent oneself can seem like a miserable, insurmountable surprise,” she said.

Group sessions for parents will explore what should be “off limits,” and what constitutes reasonable expectations about household contributions and interaction.

“We cover family dynamics though the lens of communications. At what point does parental support undermine the real goals -- adulthood and independence?” she said.

The group seminar sessions are Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m., $11 per session with pre-registration required. Individual sessions in Trumbull are by appointment
with fees upon request. Locations and additional details are available by calling 203-261-7615 or at Allison@periwinklehealth.com.

Spitzer began healing work with children and adults in 1975 and welcomes people of all ages, sizes and capacities.  She trained in expressive therapies and interpersonal communications at Northwestern
University.  She is a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association.