Navigating young adulthood is a challenging transition, but when Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is involved, it can feel overwhelming for both young adults and their parents. For many Latter-day Saint (LDS) families, this phase of life often includes preparing for missions, attending college, or stepping into independence. However, anxiety and OCD can disrupt these plans, leading to what many parents recognize as a "failure to launch."

A young woman wearing a red hoodie and carrying a matching red backpack walks toward a historic university building. This could represent the benefits of working with a young adult therapist in Provo, UT

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment designed to help parents support their children with anxiety and OCD—and it is just as effective for parents of young adults. By learning how to respond supportively without enabling avoidance behaviors, parents can empower their young adult children to face their fears, build resilience, and move forward with confidence.

Understanding the Impact of OCD on Young Adults

OCD in young adulthood often presents as persistent, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that interfere with daily life. For Latter-day Saint young adults, this can manifest as scrupulosity—an intense fear of moral or religious failure—or as severe anxiety about making decisions, maintaining social relationships, or stepping into adult responsibilities.

Fear of Moral Failure

Many young adults experience constant worry that they’ve sinned or are not worthy, leading to a need to seek reassurance from parents or church leaders and even avoid spiritual activities they used to enjoy. This fear can become overwhelming and interfere with their ability to engage fully in their faith community, leaving them feeling isolated and unsure of themselves and their place in the world.

Perfectionism

Young adults with OCD may obsess over making the "right" decision, whether it's choosing a college major, career path, or deciding whether to serve a mission. This paralyzing need for perfection can delay important life milestones and create ongoing stress.

Avoidance and Withdrawal

Anxiety can cause young adults to pull back from social events, educational opportunities, or spiritual involvement. This withdrawal often stems from a fear of making mistakes or being judged, leading them to isolate themselves and miss out on growth opportunities within their community and personal development.

For some young adults, this anxiety leads to postponing or avoiding significant milestones, like turning in mission papers, committing to higher education, or moving out of the family home. This "failure to launch" can leave parents feeling helpless, unsure how to encourage independence without pushing too hard.

How SPACE Treatment Helps Parents Support Young Adults

SPACE, developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University, is a parent-based treatment model that focuses on empowering parents to make thoughtful, supportive changes to help their child or young adult reduce anxiety and OCD symptoms. Although traditionally used for children and teens, SPACE is highly effective for parents of young adults facing OCD-related challenges.

The two core components of SPACE are responding supportively and reducing accommodations.

Responding Supportively

Parents learn to validate their young adult's emotions without reinforcing their anxiety. This means acknowledging their struggles while encouraging them to take small steps forward. This approach allows them to gradually confront their anxiety while still feeling supported. By guiding these gradual steps, parents can help their child build resilience and develop confidence in managing their anxiety about who they are and their purpose in this life.

Reducing Accommodations

Parents often accommodate OCD behaviors to ease immediate distress—like offering constant reassurance or allowing avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations. SPACE helps parents gradually reduce these accommodations, fostering independence and resilience. For example, if your young adult constantly seeks reassurance that they are spiritually worthy, SPACE teaches you to validate their feelings without feeding the compulsion to ask for constant validation. Over time, this supportive but firm response helps them manage their anxiety more effectively.

Addressing "Failure to Launch"

"Failure to launch" is a common concern for parents of young adults with OCD, and it can be especially challenging for families navigating significant life transitions. For Latter-day Saint families, this may involve preparing for milestones like serving a mission, pursuing higher education, or moving toward greater independence—all of which can feel overwhelming for young adults struggling with anxiety and OCD. However, this challenge is not exclusive to the Latter-day Saint community and can impact families of all backgrounds.

Scrupulosity, a form of OCD centered on moral or religious fears, can make young adults excessively worry about their worthiness to serve a mission or participate in church activities. This can lead to avoidance behaviors, such as delaying mission paperwork, dropping out of college, or feeling unable to move out and live independently. These struggles often leave parents feeling helpless, and unsure of how to provide support without enabling their child’s anxiety.

Set Clear Boundaries

Gently encourage responsibility by setting clear expectations around daily routines, household contributions, and personal goals. For example, you might ask your young adult to take charge of planning and preparing one family meal each week or to manage their own schedule for attending church and completing household chores. This kind of structure fosters a sense of accountability and helps your young adult feel more secure and capable of handling everyday responsibilities while gradually building independence.

A motivational message is displayed on wooden blocks against a blue background, reading "SMALL STEPS EVERY DAY." Learn how OCD therapy for young adults can offer support

Encourage Small Steps

Break down overwhelming goals into manageable tasks. If applying for college feels too overwhelming, begin by setting aside time each week to explore different programs online. Attend a local college fair or schedule a campus tour at a nearby university to ease the process. Gradually tackling each step—like filling out one section of the application at a time—can help your young adult build confidence and feel more in control of their future.

Reduce Accommodations

If your young adult experiences anxiety triggered by certain family activities, such as avoiding a specific TV show they once enjoyed but now find distressing, it’s important to consider how you respond to these concerns. Instead of modifying the family’s behavior to avoid their discomfort entirely, you can choose to proceed with the planned activity while offering understanding and support. For instance, if they feel triggered by a particular movie night selection, you might acknowledge their feelings but gently encourage them to participate—or give them the option to step away if needed—without changing the activity for everyone else. This approach helps them learn to tolerate discomfort, an essential skill in managing OCD, while maintaining normal family routines.

Supporting Missionaries and Returned Missionaries

For many Latter-day Saint young adults, serving a mission is a significant life goal. However, anxiety and OCD—particularly scrupulosity—can make this experience incredibly challenging. Some struggle to submit their mission papers due to overwhelming anxiety. Others may return home early, feeling a profound sense of failure and shame.

Before the Mission

If anxiety is delaying mission readiness, SPACE helps parents avoid excessive reassurance and encourages gradual steps toward preparedness. For example, if your young adult feels overwhelmed by the mission application process, you might start by sitting down together to review the application in smaller parts—perhaps focusing first on gathering references or writing a personal statement. Setting a goal to complete one section each week can make the process feel more manageable and allow them to build confidence as they move forward.

During the Mission

For missionaries struggling with scrupulosity or anxiety while serving, parents can use SPACE strategies to provide supportive, non-accommodating encouragement during weekly communications. For instance, if your missionary child frequently seeks reassurance that they've followed mission rules perfectly, you might acknowledge their concerns but gently redirect the conversation to focus on their efforts rather than perfection. This supportive approach helps them manage anxiety while staying engaged in their service without reinforcing compulsive reassurance-seeking.

Returning Home Early

Coming home early from a mission can be emotionally devastating, often leaving young adults feeling disconnected from their peers and overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or shame. SPACE equips parents to validate their child's emotions while gently encouraging gradual re-engagement with community and spiritual activities. This might look like attending a short portion of church meetings together or volunteering for a low-pressure service project, allowing the young adult to rebuild their confidence and sense of belonging at their own pace.

Creating a Supportive, Faith-Based Environment

For Latter-day Saint families, integrating faith with mental health support is essential. SPACE treatment aligns seamlessly with gospel principles of agency, accountability, and grace. Parents can foster a supportive environment that encourages spiritual and emotional growth by emphasizing effort over perfection, incorporating gospel principles, and focusing on progress.

By modeling patience and resilience, parents can help their young adult see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than failures. This approach not only supports their mental health but also strengthens their relationship with their faith, allowing them to navigate life’s uncertainties with greater confidence and spiritual grounding.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Supporting a young adult with OCD and anxiety can be a challenging and emotional journey. As a parent, you naturally want to see your child grow into a confident and resilient individual, ready to take on life's challenges. The SPACE treatment model empowers you to foster that growth by providing supportive strategies that encourage independence and emotional strength.

A woman in glasses and a light blue blouse sits beside a distressed young woman with braided hair, offering a comforting hand on her shoulder. This could represent the support a young adult therapist in Provo, UT

By learning how to respond supportively without reinforcing anxiety-driven behaviors, you can help your young adult gradually build the skills they need to manage their OCD and anxiety. This approach not only nurtures their mental and emotional well-being but also strengthens their confidence in navigating their personal, academic, and spiritual goals. With patience, persistence, and the right tools, your family can move forward together, fostering hope, strength, and lasting resilience.

Begin the Journey with A Young Adult Therapist in Utah or Arizona

Supporting a young adult with scrupulosity or OCD can feel overwhelming, but lasting relief and progress are within reach. With evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and the supportive strategies offered by SPACE, your child can learn to navigate their anxiety and reclaim confidence in their faith and daily life. At Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD, I offer compassionate, individualized care designed to meet your family’s needs.

Reach out today through the contact page or directly at claire@mountainhomeocd.com.
Schedule a session with a therapist who understands the unique challenges of OCD and anxiety.
Begin supporting your young adult in building resilience and managing their OCD symptoms with confidence.

Explore Personalized Services at Mountain Home Center

At Mountain Home Center, I offer more than just support for religious OCD through SPACE treatment. My evidence-based treatments are designed to help you address a variety of challenges, including different OCD themes, anxiety disorders, and relationship struggles. I understand the unique needs of Latter-day Saints and others seeking faith-compatible care, and I am committed to providing compassionate and personalized support tailored to your journey. Whether you're managing scrupulosity, relationship OCD, or general anxiety, I am here to help you find balance and peace. My goal is to empower you to achieve mental well-being while staying true to your values and spiritual goals.

Using SPACE Treatment to Address Young Adult OCD