Launching with Anxiety: Supporting Your Young Adult Through Life’s Next Chapter

Young adulthood is a time of rapid change – new responsibilities, evolving relationships, and major life choices that can amplify anxiety for both parents and their emerging adults.

Many families struggle to navigate the delicate balance between providing needed support and encouraging autonomy.

In this webinar, Serafin Craig, Director of Parent Services, will guide parents through the developmental milestones of late adolescence and young adulthood, offering insight into how anxiety can shape the launch process.

Participants will learn how to maintain a strong parent–child connection while supporting independence, resilience, and problem-solving skills. The session will address frequent challenges such as college or job transitions, delayed launch, emotional dysregulation, and stress related to performance or uncertainty.

Parents will leave with actionable strategies to help their young adult move forward with confidence, without losing the relationship they’ve worked hard to build.

Learning Objectives

Understand the developmental milestones and common anxiety triggers of late adolescence and young adulthood, and how these factors influence the launch into independence.
Learn practical, evidence-informed strategies for balancing support with autonomy, including how to foster resilience, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation in young adults.
Gain tools for maintaining a strong parent–child connection during major transitions—such as college, work, or delayed launch—while helping young adults move forward with confidence.

Serafin Craig, LCSW

Director of Parent Services/Staff Clinician, Anxiety Institute

BA, Colgate University // MAT, Connecticut College // MSW, Rutgers University

Serafin Craig is a licensed clinical social worker and middle and high school teacher with over 20 years of experience treating adolescents and their families who suffer with anxiety and depression. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University with a specialization in promoting child and adolescent well-being. Serafin also earned her Master’s in Teaching from Connecticut College.

She strives to guide adolescents and their families toward success. When adolescents work to determine their values and goals, they often experience distress from fear of failure or may feel overwhelmed by choices. This can add concerns for parents as well. Sera’s experience gives her the necessary competence to guide adolescents and families through this challenging growth period. Sera believes all adolescents and their families can live a fearless, tenacious life.

Sera has training in various evidence-based treatments, including; SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), SPACE-ARFID: Parent-Based Treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, SPACE-FTL: Parent-Based Treatment for Highly Dependent Adult Children, Cognitive Behavioral Training, Motivational Interviewing, and Nurtured Heart Training.

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Hosted By

Questions regarding this workshop?

Birgitta Johnson

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (612) 280-4503

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