210: From Emotionally Immature Parents to Emotionally Mature Parenting with Dr. Lindsay Gibson

The Best of You

Dr. Alison Cook

Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What does it actually mean to raise an emotionally mature child? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook sits down with renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson, whose groundbreaking book "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" helped millions name what they didn’t receive growing up. Now, Dr. Gibson turns toward a new question: How do we become the kind of parents who help our children feel safe, seen, respected, and emotionally strong? Together, they explore the emotional foundation children truly need—not perfection, but presence. They unpack what emotional maturity looks like, the impact of being raised by an emotionally immature parent, and how we can begin to give our own children the kind of parenting they need. You’ll explore: The signs of an emotionally immature parent What a “good enough” parent actually looks like How repair builds trust more than perfection does The dance of balancing connection and autonomy How to create emotional safety for your child Whether you’re parenting toddlers, teenagers, or adult children—or simply learning how to become more emotionally mature yourself—this conversation offers a hopeful, grounded framework for growth. Because healthy parenting isn’t about raising perfect kids. It’s about creating the kind of emotional soil where both you and your child can grow. More Resources: Order Dr. Lindsay’s new book, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child: Your Blueprint to a Lifetime of Happiness and Success for Your Child You can now preorder Dr. Alison’s newest book, The Secure Soul, and immediately receive the first 3 chapters as well as early access to the companion guide! Connect further with @dralisoncook on Instagram Curious what Family Role may have shaped you? Take the Family Role Quiz to learn how you may be showing up in your relationships with others. Want to hear more like this? Start here: Episode 175: A Game-Changing Toolkit to Help Kids Conquer Worry and Build Courage with David Thomas and Sissy Goff Episode 68: How Not to Lose Yourself—Remaining You While Raising Them with Alli Worthington 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! StoryWorth - Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to StoryWorth.com/BESTOFYOU! AirDoctor - Did you know the quality of oxygen you breathe affects your brain which in turn your thoughts? Eliminate 99.9% contaminants in your home with AirDoctor by visiting AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BESTOFYOU to get UP TO $300 off today! *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Maybe you've done the work. You've been to therapy. You're the most self-aware you've ever been.
0:04.0	You still feel alone, unseen, or empty inside. If that resonates, I wrote my new book for you.
0:10.3	It's called The Secure Soul, Finding Inner Strength and Connection when Trust doesn't come easy.
0:14.8	And it's about tending the parts of yourself that have been left behind so you can finally feel,
0:19.8	grounded, loved, and secure from the inside
0:22.6	out. And right now, when you pre-order, you get over $350 in free bonuses, including the first three
0:28.6	chapters so you can start reading today. Go to thesecureSolbook.com to order. You can't do these
0:35.0	things that encourage emotional maturity in your child. If you're not
0:38.4	also simultaneously working on this within yourself, how are you going to orient your beingness
0:46.0	toward your child in such a way that you will create the best possible soil for them to grow in?
0:53.1	And that is your mindset. That is your attitude toward your
0:57.8	child. This attitude that says, I know that you're real inside. I'm very interested in what's going
1:04.1	on inside there. I'm going to take your emotional needs completely seriously. You are precious to me for who you really are. And I'm going to get to know you at that level. And we're going to delight in each other.
1:25.0	Hey, everyone, and welcome back to this week's deep dive episode of The Best of You
1:29.7	Podcast. Today's conversation was such a gift for me personally and I know it's going to be
1:36.7	for you. We're talking about parenting. We're going into summer and we're not talking about it
1:42.8	as a set of techniques or skills or tips, but as one of
1:46.4	the deepest invitations to our own emotional and spiritual growth. If you're a parent, you
1:52.9	already know this. Our children have a way of bringing up parts of us that still need tending.
1:59.7	Maybe it's a part of you that is desperate to get it right to correct
2:04.1	any of the wrongs that maybe happened to you. Maybe it's a part of you that feels completely
2:08.9	overwhelmed like you're losing yourself in the work of parenting. Maybe it's a part of you
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 18 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Alison Cook, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Alison Cook and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.