Fifteen-years ago Dr. Kaplan began her clinical work with young adults who had “failed to launch” successfully into independent life. In working with these individuals, she noticed despite the best and most current evidence-based treatment available, progress was taking a significant amount of time and effort. These individuals struggled to gain traction in financial, housing, employment, health, and social independence.
According to the Pew Research Center (2021), 52% of young adults (ages 18-24) are living with their childhood caretakers, a number which is now higher than during the Great Depression. Around 16% cannot gain any employment (Part-time or otherwise). This number has been steadily increasing over the years (e.g., in 2016 was approximately 45%). While the numbers increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not over and above what the trends had projected. The pandemic merely highlighted young adults failing to leave the home and gain independence as an issue of increasing alarm and concern.
The problem of “failure to launch” is well-covered by both mainstream media as well as the mental health community with Scientific American, Georgetown University, and Psychology Today.
The Life Prep Program is Based on Actual Patient Feedback
During our many weekly staff meetings, the clinicians at our practice would repeatedly say “failure to launch” issues could have been prevented if at a younger age (13-21) these individuals could have developed a psychological, skills-based tool kit that would help to lessen the concerns later on or even prevent them entirely. Dr. Kaplan listened and incorporated her clinical experience, and those on her staff, to develop the “Life-Prep Program.” She combined the opinions and needs of individuals experiencing “failure to launch” and their parental support systems in this prevention and foundations program.
How the Life Prep Program Works
The Life-Prep program is an 8-week, interactive, course that covers the following topics in depth.
Week 1: Learning our own strengths, weaknesses, and limitations
Week 2: Learning adult responsibilities
Week 3: Distress Tolerance
Week 4: Managing your social connections and expectations
Week 5: Problem solving and opportunities for “successful failures”
Week 6: Decision-making and organizational skills
Week 7: Using “skills” rather than “passion” to determine life satisfaction
Week 8: Goal setting: Making specific but flexible plans
Click here to purchase! Just click here: https://lifeprep.teachable.com/p/life-prep-foundations-program1
For the Cost of 1 session, you receive 8 sessions worth of skills!
We hope you enjoy and value the class like we do!
Dr. K
"My Kid's Mental Health"- A blog by a clinical psychologist 