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The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Laurence Steinberg

Being the parent of an adult child is more complicated than ever. But you can learn and adapt—and grow with your child.

Leading Expert on Adolescence and the Parent-Child Relationship | Award-Winning Psychologist | Author of You and Your Adult Child

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Lavin Exclusive Speaker

What it means to be an adult in your 20s and 30s has changed dramatically in one generation. Parents of children in this age range are wondering how to parent in a world that is so different from when they were younger—and DR. LAURENCE STEINBERG has the answers. He’s one of the world’s leading developmental psychologists, and the author of You and Your Adult Child: the first, and only, comprehensive guide for parents of adult children. It’s an invaluable resource for both parents and children hoping to build strong cross-generational bonds. He shows how young adulthood has changed—young people now take longer to reach milestones like graduation or marriage, but that’s not actually a bad thing—and how parents and children can work together to navigate this crucial life stage. And if things are going well between you and your child, he says, you’ll reap the benefits at home, at work, and in life.

“Filled with stories and science, this book will benefit grandparent, parent and child, alike—a gift that will keep on giving across the generations.”

— Daniel J. Siegel, New York Times bestselling author of Brainstorm

Dr. Laurence Steinberg is one of the foremost authorities on the parent-child relationship and parenting adult children. In his most recent book, You and Your Adult Child, he provides the first and only comprehensive parenting manual for people whose children are in their 20s and 30s.

Drawing on his decades of research as a developmental psychologist, he shows us how the challenges and milestones facing our children have changed in just a few decades, and how we can adapt and learn in order to lead a younger generation. He covers topics such as when and how to give advice, whether you should subsidize your child’s income, how to tell if your child is floundering or flourishing, and much more. With clear-eyed, practical insights, Dr. Steinberg shows you how you can not only be involved in your child’s life, but also grow alongside them as you navigate this crucial stage together.

Dr. Steinberg has also authored several books on development during the teenage years. He is an internationally renowned expert on adolescence and parenting teenagers. He has researched adolescent brain development, risk-taking and decision-making, parent-adolescent relationships, and much more. In talks, he equips parents of teenagers with the tools they need to not only survive the teenage years, but also develop strong bonds with their child and build a foundation for continued success. “Nowadays, adolescence is too long for mere survival,” he says. “Knowledge, not fortitude, is what today’s parents need.”

Dr. Steinberg has received lifetime achievement awards from the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Research on Adolescence. He is currently the Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University. He has authored nearly 500 articles and essays on development during the teenage years, and is the author of more than a dozen books. He has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, and CBS Morning News, and is frequently featured in media like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR, and many more.

Lavin Exclusive Speakers

Angela Duckworth

Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

Daron Acemoglu

2024 Nobel Prize Winner | 3rd Most Cited Economist in the World | MIT Institute Professor | Bestselling Co-Author of Why Nations Fail and Power and Progress

Alison Wood Brooks

Harvard Business School Behavioral Science Professor | "40 Under 40 MBA Professor" | Author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves

Derek Thompson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Abundance | Host of thePlain English Podcast | Staff Writer at The Atlantic

Clint Smith

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of How the Word Is Passed and Above Ground | The Atlantic Staff Writer

Speech Topics

Happiness & Wellness

You and Your Adult ChildHow to Grow Together in Challenging Times

Parents with kids in their 20s and 30s are facing challenges that their own parents never even had to think about. The world of young adulthood has changed so drastically in the last generation that many parents are wondering how to help their children navigate through an unfamiliar world. Laurence Steinberg is the author of the first, and only comprehensive guidebook for parents of grown children—he’ll help you understand what’s changed in the past few decades, and how you can respond in a way that will deepen and grow your relationship with your child.

Drawing on his book You and Your Adult Child, as well as his extensive research into adolescence and the parent-child relationship, Dr. Steinberg shows you the practical ways you can tell if your child is floundering or flourishing in the realms of education, romance, finances, mental health, parenting, and more. He’ll explain what you, as their parent, should (and should not) do to help them through this time.

This talk is a must-listen for parents of adult children, who will walk away better equipped to be successful parents and to help their adult child succeed in school, work, marriage, and parenthood. It’s also crucial for young people and leaders: anyone who’s interested in forming strong cross-generational relationships and adapting to a rapidly-changing world.

Mental Health and Fitness

MisunderstoodHow People in Their 20s and 30s Can Help Their Parents Understand Them

If you feel misunderstood by your parents, you’re not alone. Being in your 20s and 30s has changed dramatically in the last generation, leaving many people in that age range feeling like their parents are clueless about what it’s like to be a young adult. Dr. Laurence Steinberg is uniquely equipped to show you how to eliminate the misunderstandings and deepen your relationship with your parents.

Dr. Steinberg draws on his expertise as one of the world’s foremost developmental psychologists, as well as his book You and Your Adult Child, to explain how the world has changed in the last generation, and how this has affected adult children’s relationships with their parents. He shows you why your parents may not understand what you’re experiencing, and how you can communicate with them to help them see your point of view. Ultimately, he gives you the tools to not only avoid misunderstandings, but also to develop a better framework of communication and understanding for you and your parents, as you navigate this unfamiliar landscape together.