The "Just Plain Stuck" Program

Freedom to Launch is a self-paced course designed for parents of young adults who feel “stuck.” Instead of working with your kid directly, the course teaches you how to change the patterns at home. Setting healthy boundaries, communicating effectively, and creating the structure that naturally leads to independence. The tools and concepts you'll learn are the product of 15+ years of Michael's own clinical experience.

Freedom to Launch is for parents of young adults (typically 18–30) who are struggling with issues like lack of motivation, social isolation, gaming or screen overuse, poor follow-through, or dependence at home. If you’ve tried therapy, nagging, or tough love and nothing has stuck, this course gives you a proven playbook that's already worked for hundreds of families.

Yes – if you are willing to change your approach, you’ll see results. We won’t magically turn a gamer into a CEO overnight, but you’ll learn how to set limits on screen time (one small example), require contributions at home, and motivate him or her to take small steps towards independence (like applying to X jobs/week). Many parents see a drive spark in their child within weeks once they implement these changes. And remember, you’re backed by our money-back guarantee – if you're not happy with your progress, you get your money back.

The course is self-paced, so you can move through it on your own schedule, but it’s not something you can rush. Because we care about real, lasting change, the program goes far beyond teaching concepts. You’ll work through a series of interactive lessons, reflections, and skill-based exercises that ensure you can apply what you’re learning at home with confidence.

The course was developed with the help of learning design experts to balance insight with practice, meaning parents don’t just learn what to do, but actually build the competence to do it. Most parents complete the course in about 8 weeks, though some finish in as little as 6, while others take 10 or more depending on their pace and family needs.

That’s common, and we help with it. The course gives both parents a shared framework and communication strategies so you’re consistent at home. No more good cop/bad cop dynamics, just a unified front.

No child buy-in needed, this program is for parents only. You’ll be making behind-the-scenes changes in how you interact, set boundaries, and support (or not support) your child. Often, your kid won’t even realize you’re “doing a program," they’ll just notice mom/dad is acting differently. That said, many parents find that as things improve, they share some lessons with their child (like a budgeting tip or a YouTube clip from the course) to bring them onboard subtly. But it’s not required. This is about empowering you to lead the change.

Pushback is normal at first, but we coach you through it. In one of your program modules, you’ll learn a step-by-step script for introducing new boundaries without it exploding into a fight (yes, it’s possible!). And another module covers exactly how to stay calm and firm even if they test you. The result: your child may resist for a short while, but once they see you’re consistent and loving, they almost always come around. We’ve seen even the most conflict-avoidant parents turn things around using our approach, so have faith, and remember that we and an entire community of other parents are here to support you through the transition.

Every family is unique, and we take that into account. The principles you’ll learn apply whether your child is neurotypical or neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD, etc.). In fact, many of our tools (like structured routines and clear rewards/consequences) work wonders for neurodivergent young adults craving consistency‍. If you’re a single parent, you’ll find support from others in similar shoes in our community, and our strategies are designed for one or two-parent implementation. We even have bonus resources on co-parenting and blended family challenges if that’s a factor. Bottom line: whatever your circumstances, you’ll adapt the core framework to fit, and our private parent community is here to help you do that. (And if an issue lies outside our scope, we’ll be honest and guide you to appropriate resources.)

Traditional therapy might help you vent or understand “why” issues are happening – but our FTL course focuses on “what to do about it now.” It’s very action oriented and practical. We provide concrete homework, scripts, and checklists (which most therapists can’t offer due to their format). Also, Michael’s specialty is this exact transition-to-adulthood phase. Whereas generic parenting programs might focus on toddlers or young teens, our content is laser-focused on the late-teen/young-adult stage. And unlike a one-hour-a-week therapy session, you get daily support via community and our on-demand lessons whenever you need them. Many parents use this program alongside therapy, since therapy can heal past wounds, while our program drives future action. And, of course, our success stories speak for themselves, something even most coaches in this niche can't claim.