Navigating the "Failure to Launch" Phenomenon w/ Dr. Mark McConville

In this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Dr. Mark McConville, a clinical psychologist and expert in adolescent and family psychology. Dr. McConville shares insights from his decades of experience working with adolescents and families, including his groundbreaking work on Failure to Launch, which explores the growing trend of young adults struggling to transition into full independence. Together, they dive into the root causes of this issue, touching on everything from societal changes and economic factors to the roles of parents in shaping the development of emerging adults. Dr. McConville also discusses the impact of parenting styles such as "helicopter" and "snowplow" parenting, and offers a deep dive into Gestalt therapy—explaining its key principles and how it can be used to better understand identity development in adolescents.Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about the challenges of growing up in today's world, the evolving role of parents, and how we can all take steps to better support the next generation’s growth into adulthood.

 

About Dr. Mark McConville: Dr. Mark McConville is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Beachwood, Ohio, specializing in adult, adolescent, emerging adult, and family psychology. He is a senior faculty member at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and has lectured and taught widely on the subjects of child development, parenting, and counseling methodology. His book “Adolescence: Psychotherapy and the Emergent Self” was awarded the 1995 Nevis Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Gestalt Therapy Theory. He is the author of the Counseling Feedback Report, an innovative and widely used adolescent assessment tool, and is co-editor of the 2001 book, “The Heart of Development: Gestalt Approaches to Childhood and Adolescence,” volumes one and two. His 2020 book “Failure to Launch”  investigates the root causes of why modern kids are struggling to transition from childhood to adulthood. In addition to his private clinical practice, Doctor McConville is a consulting psychologist to Hathaway Brown School and University School, both in the Cleveland area.