Holly - I think your advice is usually very sensible but this time it’s a swing and a miss. This young man’s girlfriend is exhibiting very concerning controlling behaviour, which is a type of intimate partner abuse. As a clinical psychologist and mum of 3 teen and young adult children, I would not be following your advice. The young man needs more support from family and friends, not less. The more isolated he becomes by his girlfriend’s controlling behaviours, the greater the risk to his mental health and wellbeing. Would you be giving the same advice if the victim was female and the perpetrator was male?
Totally agree with Redballoon. Very surprised that all of the women interviewed for this article assumed that their children should and would have their husband’s surname, rather than their surname. Very puzzling. It’s 2020.