Healing from Emotionally Immature Parenting: Understanding the Wounds & Finding the Way Forward

Many adults quietly carry emotional wounds from childhood that are difficult to name. You may feel anxious in relationships, struggle to set boundaries, or feel like your needs are “too much.” You might constantly seek validation or approval but feel unsatisfied even when you get it. These patterns can often be traced back to early relationships with emotionally immature parents.

Emotionally immature parents (EIPs) are often unable to provide the emotional safety and support children need to thrive. They may not have been abusive or neglectful in obvious ways, but they often lacked the capacity to handle their own emotions—let alone support yours. As a result, children of EIPs often learn to suppress their needs, emotions, or even their identities in order to survive the emotional landscape of their home.

Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson’s book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, has become a trusted resource for many of my clients. In it, she outlines the different types of emotionally immature parents—such as the emotional, driven, passive, and rejecting parent—and helps readers begin to understand the long-term effects of these dynamics.

What I appreciate about this book is how clearly it explains the invisible patterns that so many adults feel trapped in. It helps you:

• Identify the emotional neglect or confusion from your childhood

• Understand why you may feel stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, anxiety, or emotional shutdown

• Recognize the difference between your “adapted self” and your authentic self

• Learn how to stop over-functioning in relationships that don’t meet your emotional needs

• Build healthier boundaries, communicate your needs, and reclaim your sense of self

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I feel so responsible for other people’s feelings?” or “Why do I still feel like a child around my parents?”—this book might offer the clarity and compassion you’ve been searching for.

In therapy, we often use this book as a framework for healing early attachment wounds, building emotional literacy, and developing more secure and satisfying relationships. You don’t have to keep repeating old patterns or hiding parts of yourself to feel safe or loved.

If this resonates with you, I’d be honored to support you as you explore this work in a deeper, more personal way. Healing is not about blaming—it’s about understanding, growing, and moving forward with greater self-awareness and emotional freedom.

Recommended Reading:

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD