What is Failure to Launch?

“Failure to Launch” is a term that is often used to describe a situation where an individual, typically a young adult, faces challenges in transitioning from adolescence to independent adulthood. This may involve difficulties in taking on responsibilities, establishing a career, or achieving financial independence. While not a formal diagnosis, it’s a colloquial term that points to a range of issues related to personal and professional development that we see with various individuals who come to Foundation House.

Several factors can contribute to a failure to launch, and treatment approaches at Foundation House vary based on their unique underlying issues. Some potential contributing factors are mental health issues, substance use issues, lack of motivation, educational challenges, family dynamics, executive functioning deficits, social skills and peer relationships, and economic factors.

Our Approach

The Foundation House approach to treating Failure to Launch:

Executive Functioning Skills Training

Executive Functioning Skills Training refers to a set of interventions aimed at developing and improving executive functions. These skills are integrated into all aspects of therapeutic work and activities at Foundation House and are modeled to individuals to demonstrate that effective executive functioning skills lead to healthy, effective lives.

Budgeting and Money Management

Budgeting and money management can play a crucial role in addressing situations related to failing to launch. Incorporating financial literacy and practical money management skills into the Foundation House treatment approach helps individuals learn lifelong tools, gain a sense of control over their financial situation, and reduce related stressors. Individuals are provided with a spending account where they learn to budget their money appropriately. Additionally, Life Skills group teaches foundational knowledge about budgeting, opening a bank account, how credit cards work, and financial planning for the future.

Daily Structure

Foundation House provides a structured daily routine as an effective treatment approach for individuals experiencing a failure to launch situation. Having a daily structured routine promotes accountability, builds time management skills, enhances organization and planning, develops consistent habits, encourages skill development, provides a sense of purpose, reduces anxiety and uncertainty, supports mental health, encourages social engagement, and facilitates goal achievement. Individuals begin treatment at Foundation House with an implemented robust schedule, which gradually decreases with time and effort so the individual can learn to build their own schedule to transition into independent living.

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