Drs Trisha Kivisalu & Randy Paterson, Changeways Clinic, Vancouver

Workshop at Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention, St Johns NL

11:30 am - 12:55 pm, Room: Bannerman 1, St John’s Convention Centre

Clinicians increasingly see young adults struggling to achieve self-direction and independence - a population often referred to by the terms "failure to launch," "hikikomori," or "NEET" (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). The challenges these clients face, if left unaddressed, can have significant impacts on their own mental health, their families, and society as a whole. Psychotherapy can be an effective intervention to support these individuals in building the skills and habits essential for healthy adult functioning, but it requires engagement with the clinician and a commitment to the process. Difficulties establishing a productive work alliance, tolerating the challenges of change, and sustaining motivation over time can all prove to be significant barriers - as can continued attendance at therapy sessions. This presentation outlines some of the challenges in therapy working with clients struggling to achieve independence and offers five tips to enhance the alliance and improve retention. These include de-triangulation from the demands and expectations of parents, focusing on proximal rather than distant therapeutic goals, working well within the client's zone of tolerable discomfort, emphasizing and normalizing uncomfortable emotions during change, and conducting intersession follow-up. Clinical examples and vignettes of each are provided.