What if I told you that bullying and gaslighting don’t just leave emotional wounds - they actually damage the brain? My guest today, Dr. Jennifer Fraser, is an educator, researcher, and author who has written 2 books about how these emotionally abusive experiences can rewire a child’s brain in ways that last into adulthood.

In The Bullied Brain (available now) and The Gaslit Brain (being released in November 2025), Jen explains how these forms of harm don’t just hurt feelings, they can actually alter the brain. However, because our brains are "neuroplastic" these wounds can be healed. This episode will tell you how.

Join me as Jen opens up about how bullying and gaslighting impacted both her son and herself, and what she did to move past it.

For parents wondering why their grown child still struggles with confidence, motivation, or trust, this conversation might answer your deepest concerns.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply curious about the power of the human brain to recover, you’ll find this conversation inspiring and full of hope.

This is one episode you won’t want to miss and you might want to share.

If you would like to watch this interview, it's available on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/fw57su28Zvs

Contact Info for Dr. Jen Fraser:

Email info@bulliedbrain.com

Website https://www.bulliedbrain.com/

Preorder The Gaslit Brain https://www.amazon.com/Gaslit-Brain-Gaslighting-Institutional-Complicity/dp/1493090925

Psychology Today series https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-bullied-brain

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

I asked parents of struggling adult children to tell me what they think is really going on and they delivered. In this episode, I reveal the most common worries, frustrations and obstacles that parents are seeing in their adult kids, and what they believe is truly holding them back.

If what these parents are saying resonates with you, feel free to leave a comment. If you're ready for guidance, please reach out. If you're hoping for solutions, you're in the right place.

After you listen to the episode, if you're interested in the resource that I talk about, here's the link. You can read all about The LAUNCH Guide:

https://parentingfx.com/products/the-launch-guide

The Launch Guide is a 15 page, job search accountability booklet that offers tools and suggestions to help young adults manage the challenges of job hunting by keeping them focused, productive, and moving forward. There's even a job search tracking spreadsheet that is editable and printable, which you can participate in.

What makes it unique is its ability to build momentum, confidence, and responsibility, while they search for a job.

There isn't anything more damaging to a person's self confidence than sitting around feeling incompetent, unemployable, and lonely.

Don't let them hide away in their rooms, wasting their lives, when there is so much they can do with their time.

Please send this episode to a parent who needs to hear it, and mention The LAUNCH Guide link to them as well. Young adults should not be left alone in their rooms. Nothing positive will come from that.

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

If your home stresses you out, your life feels out of control, your adult children are miserable - hiding inside their messy bedrooms - and you’re not sure how much longer you can survive the chaos, this heartfelt conversation will inspire you.

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with a courageous mom who made the greatest change in her life, and in doing so, helped her daughter turn her's around.

This is a true story of one mother’s journey to bravely follow her heart, because she knew that if she didn’t, neither she nor her daughter might ever find happiness.

When you see your adult children are not thriving and you know that it's because of what is going on in your home or how you're being treated, you find the strength to take the boldest steps. It is what every parent should do when they are suffocating and their children are too.

How can your adult children respect you when the people around you don’t?

How can they feel empowered to grow when you’re living so small?

If you want your adult children to thrive, the path forward doesn’t start with them - it starts with you.

👉 If you’re a parent with a story to share, I’d love to hear from you because your experience could be exactly what another parent needs to hear.

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

So, your adult child lives at home but does nothing all day. Seriously, nothing. They have no job, no interests, no plans, no life. You're tired of asking them, tired of nagging, losing patience and deep down, you wonder; will I ever get to retire?

You're past the point where it's just a phase. All you hear are excuses. While some might be valid, you can't help but wonder - how can they be okay living their life like this? Well, I've got news for you. And it's not good.

There is a whole community of young adults who are perfectly content with this lifestyle. They don't tell YOU that. But amongst themselves, they think it's okay. They even have a name for themselves, and it's NEET. And no, I did not mispell that. But it is sort of ironic.

In this short episode, I reveal to you what NEET means, and what you can do about it. Because if you know that your adult child has no interest in ever working, or planning their future, and they're just hoping you'll let them live out their years in their bedroom, where the #$%&! does that leave you?

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

If your adult child feels lost, unmotivated, and unsure about their future, you might love this episode - especially if your young adult is struggling to find out what they want to do and which career would "light them up".

I’m speaking with Kristin Clark, a Career Exploration Coach who uses the CliftonStrengths assessment (which I mentioned in Episode #25), along with her own unique formula, to help young adults better understand where their interests can take them.

We talk about why so many young adults lack the confidence when it comes to choosing a career path, how you can support this exploration process and what Kristen can do to help your adult child believe there is something out there that truly suits who they are and what they love.

If your young adult feels stuck and hopeless because they think there is no career for them, this conversation is just what you need to help them discover their strengths and move forward with confidence.

Here's the link to Mama Bear Legal where you can get the power of attorney documents that Kristen mentioned during the episode:

https://share.mamabearlegalforms.com/5cvgs

Kristen has helped so many young adults. If you want to contact her, everything you is below (included a free download). Please let her know that you listened to her on LAUNCH!

Website: https://www.KristinClark.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristinClarkCoaching

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristinclark.careercoach

Free Download: Career Conversations Workbook Bundle (a $28 value)

The workbooks include conversation starters, activities, books/podcast recommendations, and much more

https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PkHIycLGqQOelf6IEbFGH82Zbe9sINn

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

You’ve heard it said, “You’re only as happy as your saddest child,” and perhaps this is your mantra. But what if that belief is holding you back from being the parent that your adult child needs? Can you lead them through their struggles and help them overcome their fears when you feel as bad as they do?

Today, we’re talking about emotional enmeshment; what it is, how to recognize it, and how to start untangling yourself from your adult child’s emotions, while loving and guiding them every step of the way.

From this episode:

A few gentle reminders to ease you through this process of separating your emotions from your adult child's:

My child doesn’t need me to feel what they’re feeling. They need me to lead them through it.

My child doesn’t want me to be weak.
They want me to show them emotional strength.

My child won’t learn or grow or change
If I just let them stay stuck and lost.

My child needs a parent who can lead with confidence.

And that’s me.

__________________

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

Walking on eggshells, afraid to set boundaries, worried about pushing your young adult too hard and constantly second-guessing yourself is EXHAUSTING. There’s got to be a better way.

It might sound cliché, but there are so many parents who are in the same boat as you, trying to do the right thing for their young adult, but nothing is working. Maybe it’s not what you’re doing, but how you’re doing it. You’ve lost your power. Your self confidence as a parent is non-existent. You live in constant fear of upsetting them and you know what? They can tell.

In this episode, I’m joined by my new friend and parenting coach Kim Muench. Back in Episode 19, she shared her personal story about her son’s struggle with alcohol addiction. If you haven’t listened yet, I encourage you to. You’ll find it incredibly inspiring.

This time, Kim and I are talking about a different topic, one that touches every parent with an adult child who is struggling. When our children aren’t happy, we aren’t either. We want to help, but we don’t know how. The answers however, are not as elusive as you think.

The problem is you’ve lost your confidence. In it’s place is fear, worry, and this gut-wrenching sense of helplessness. But today’s conversation might change all that.

So go for a walk, or find a quiet space and join Kim and I as we share our stories, reflect on how we were parented, and offer the insight and tools that can help you start parenting with confidence.

The full interview is available on YouTube. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/ZIjhVEYjLcY

If this episode resonated with your, we'd love to know! Remember to share this with someone who might need to hear it. And, hit the Follow button so you never miss an episode.

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx

"I hate you! You're the worst Mom in the world!"

Did you ever say that to your parent when you were a kid? Or maybe you were on the receiving end; watching your 5-year-old, arms crossed, storming off in protest because you wouldn’t let them bring their stuffed animal to school. They’ll get over it, you thought. And they did.

Fast forward 20 years, no more plush toys, no more explosive dramatics. Just silence. You have no idea what’s going on inside their head. They're quiet now. Almost all the time. Except when they want something. You can’t help but wonder if they even like you. That look on their face when you ask them to do something, you'd think it was physically grueling work. Put your towels in the hamper – that’s all.

Do you ever wonder what your adult child thinks of you? What do they say about you behind your back? Are you still “the worst parent in the world” - but for different reasons? You can spend the next 5 years or 50 years, never knowing, or maybe you’ll find out when they tell you their therapists thinks you've traumatized their childhood. Maybe they've traumatized your parenthood, you think. Not out loud of course.

Here’s the truth, so brace yourself. You will never truly have a meaningful and authentic relationship with your adult child if you don’t know how they really feel about you, as their parent.

If you're ready… this episode is for you.

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is open. “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/pages/the-parenting-course

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the free Failure to Launch Checklist here: https://parentingfx.com/pages/ftl-checklist

Click here to receive Shari's Free LAUNCH Advice Newsletter

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Email me to schedule a call.

Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Search for: @sharijonaslifefx