Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Are you one of the countless people who grew up with emotionally immature parents? If you suffer from this troubling parent/child dynamic, you may still recall painful moments from your childhood when your emotional needs were not met, when your feelings were dismissed, or when you took on adult levels of maturity in an effort to “compensate” for your parents’ behavior. And while you likely cultivated strengths such as self-reliance and independence along the way— strengths that have served you well as an adult—having to be the emotionally mature person in your relationship with your parent is confusing and even damaging.If you are ready to gain the insight you need to move on from feelings of loneliness and abandonment and find healthy ways to meet your own emotional needs, this book will help light the way. You’ll discover the four main types of emotionally immature parents:·Emotional parents, who may vacillate between over-involvement and abandonment, leading to frightening instability and unpredictability·Driven parents, who are often compulsively busy and can’t stop trying to perfect everything, including other people·Passive parents, who may have a laissez-faire mindset and avoid dealing with anything upsetting·Rejecting parents, who may withdraw from any relationship with their child, showing either detachment or anger as primary responsesAll emotionally immature parents have one defining characteristic in common, even if they differ in style—none of them puts their child’s needs first. This book will show you that you are not to blame for your parent’s behavior. It also offers real skills for handling difficult family situations and moving on from the emotional wounds of your childhood. If you are ready to gain a greater understanding of both your parents and yourself, this book provides a much-needed guide.

"Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents is written with the wisdom and heart of a seasoned therapist and the mind of a scholar who's spent decades poring over psychological research and theory. In this book, Lindsay C. Gibson seamlessly blends this impressive body of knowledge with the real-life experiences of her clients to create a user-friendly and highly readable book. ... This book is not about blame but rather about understanding oneself on a deep level and learning to heal." --Esther Lerman Freeman, PsyD, clinical associate professor at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, "Based on years of reading, research, and working with patients, psychologist Lindsay C. Gibson has written an outstanding book about the multiple ways that emotionally immature parents impact the lives of their adult children. I highly recommend Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents for all readers who want to understand the parent/child dynamic. This is an uplifting book that provides hope and superb coping strategies for those who find it difficult or impossible to bond with parents who lack empathy and sensitivity. ... Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents is full of wisdom that will enable you to relate to your family members and friends in the healthiest way possible--no matter what age you are--and possibly even to recognize what's behind some of the dysfunctional exchanges depicted in the news and in popular culture." --Robin Cutler, PhD, historian and author of A Soul on Trial, "Children cannot choose their parents. Unfortunately, many individuals grow up suffering the life-shaping adversities of having emotionally immature, neglectful parents. With wisdom and compassion, Lindsay C. Gibson enables readers to recognize and better understand these toxic relationships and to create novel, healthy paths of healing. This book provides a powerful opportunity for self-help and is a wonderful resource for therapists to recommend to clients in need." --Thomas F. Cash, PhD, Professor Emeritus of psychology at Old Dominion University, and author of The Body Image Workbook, "Lindsay C. Gibson, a very experienced psychotherapist, wrote Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents to provide guidance to adults for self-help in resolving anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties that result from having emotionally immature parents. It is a thorough and detailed description of immature parents, children's experience of their parenting, and methods to resolve the resulting problems. There are many useful examples from Gibson's psychotherapy clients. The book includes helpful exercises for self-understanding. A person can use the book to develop emotional maturity and deeper relationships." --Neill Watson, PhD, research professor and Professor Emeritus of psychology at the College of William and Mary, and clinical psychologist who does research on anxiety, depression, and psychotherapy, "Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, gives practical insight into a prevalent problem...The book is impeccably clear...This utter lack of confusion makes the book quite soothing, despite the heavy subject. The soothing effect is amplified by Gibson's caring, knowledgeable voice--it's easy to believe her when she says, 'I wish the very best for you.' This book can be a source of healing for adult children of these kinds of parents--particularly for young adults. But it's also insightful for bosses, therapists, friends, and anyone else who works with, cares for, and supports the people described in this book. Gibson's professional background allows her to anticipate people's emotions and reticence--and urge them gently forward." --Foreword Magazine

Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist who carries out individual psychotherapy with adults in her private practice. She is the author of Who You Were Meant To Be: A Guide to Finding or Recovering Your Life’s Purpose and writes a monthly column on well-being for Tidewater Women magazine. In the past, she has served as an assistant adjunct professor of psychology for the College of William and Mary, as well as for Old Dominion University.