Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Guided Journal: Your Space to Heal, Reflect, and Reconnect with Your True Self

by Lindsay C. Gibson

From the author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents comes the guided journal, with self-reflective writing practices to help you heal from the past, set intentions for healthier relationships, and reconnect with your true self.

If you grew up with an emotionally immature, unavailable, or selfish parent, you may recall your childhood as a time when your emotional needs were not met or dismissed—and you may have lingering feelings of anger, loneliness, betrayal, and abandonment as a result. As an adult, you have likely fought hard to establish your own sense of self, and heal the invisible wounds caused by your parent. Now, let this compassionate journal guide you even further on your journey toward self-development and personal growth.

Based on Lindsay Gibson’s self-help hit, the Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Guided Journal offers soothing, self-reflective writing practices to help you process your emotions, heal the invisible wounds of growing up with an emotionally immature parent (EIP), and set intentions for building healthier and more reciprocal relationships now and in the future. With this empowering journal, you’ll explore how your relationships and overall well-being have been negatively impacted by EIPs, grow beyond these negative effects to live a more expansive life, and cultivate a deeper connection with your true self.

The simple act of putting pen to paper affirms the importance of your thoughts and feelings. When you write about your inner experiences—your thoughts, feelings, and wishes—you connect emotionally with yourself. Journaling can be an encounter with your soul—your own spark of absolute individuality. The reflective practices in this journal will help you forge a more authentic connection to your spark—who you really are.

Written by renowned mental health and wellness experts, New Harbinger’s Journals for Change combine evidence-based psychology with proven-effective guided journaling techniques to help you make lasting personal change—one page at a time.

Genres: Self Help, Mental Health, Psychology, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2024

About the author

Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, is a New York Times bestselling author and licensed clinical psychologist with over thirty years of experience. She holds degrees from Central Michigan University and the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Gibson, author of the bestselling book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, has been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, appeared on major podcasts like Mel Robbins and Ten Percent Happier, and been featured by many TikTok book clubs. She speaks regularly at conferences such as the National Association of Social Workers Conference and Psychotherapy Networker Conference.

Reviews

[Sandra Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents” is a straight-shooting, eye-opening guide to understanding why certain wounds from childhood follow you into adulthood. Lindsay Gibson lays it out clearly: some parents don’t have the emotional capacity to show up, connect, or nurture, and their children grow up carrying the fallout.

The book’s strength is its clarity. The author explains the different types of emotionally immature parents, the patterns they create, and the survival roles children slip into. It’s validating without being dramatic, and practical without talking down to you. The chapters on boundaries and emotional independence hit especially hard: simple yet impactful advice.

Overall, it’s a powerful, accessible tool for anyone who wants to understand themselves better: why they react the way they do, why certain relationships drain them, and how to finally break old patterns.

[Dawn Bold · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like somebody watched my life happen and wrote a book about it. Smacked with truth every two seconds or so. Be prepared if you pick it up.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have studied Dr. Lindsay Gibson’s work extensively for the last few years. I buy every book she publishes. As such, I found the journal a little repetitive. There wasn’t much new information there for me to draw on.

However, if you’re new to her work, the journal is an excellent resource. Lindsay Gibson herself gets five stars & beyond—all the stars. This author changed my life in profound ways that I once thought impossible. My mind & my time is finally my own.

[MAPP Lab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feelings in Focus: Emotionally Immature Parents Study

The Multimethod Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology (MAPP) Lab at Cleveland State University wants to understand your experience!

During childhood, did your parent:
* Avoid emotional situations or conversations?
* Get defensive, angry, or upset when you told them how you felt?
* Make you feel guilty for expressing your feelings?
* Have difficulty with criticism or self-reflection?
* Not think about other people’s feeling?
* Tell you to stop being emotional or to “get over it”?

Requirements to participate:
* Age 18 years or older
* Reside in the U.S.
* Be fluent in English
* Have/had a parent who is emotionally immature (does any of the listed behaviors)

This IRB approved study (IRB-FY2024-264), will not associate usernames or profiles with responses in any way. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kathleen W. Reardon, the faculty advisor, and I at mapplab@csuohio.edu or (216) 687-3762.

If you’re interested, you can access the interest form here: https://csufull.qualtrics.com/jfe/for...

[Flint Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completed in tandem with the main text at my therapist’s behest. Very worthwhile.