168. Family Therapy in the Age of Estrangement with Lisa Mustard, LMFT
You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist
Navigating the Aftermath of Divorce
This chapter explores a child's emotional journey through the impact of parental divorce and the subsequent challenges of understanding familial dynamics. The narrator reflects on their father's infidelity, conviction, and imprisonment, which shaped their pursuit of self-awareness and a career in family therapy. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity, personal growth, and the influence of past experiences on present relationships.
In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Mustard, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and life coach, to delve into the complexities of family dynamics and the evolving landscape of therapy. We explore the alarming trend of family estrangement, particularly among young adults who are cutting ties with their parents, often leaving those parents bewildered despite having provided loving upbringings. Lisa shares her insights from the therapy room, highlighting how political stress and anxiety are further straining familial relationships, making it increasingly difficult for families to engage in constructive conversations.
We also discuss Lisa's innovative approach to continuing education for therapists through her podcourses, which combine podcasting with self-study content. This affordable and accessible method allows therapists to earn continuing education credits while engaging with relevant topics. As we navigate the conversation, we touch on the lack of resources for blended families and the need for more focus on pressing issues that affect modern marriages and families.
Throughout our discussion, we reflect on the importance of resilience, the impact of parenting styles, and the necessity of instilling values in children. We question how societal shifts have influenced therapy practices and the implications for future generations. Join us as we unpack these critical themes and consider what it means to foster healthy relationships in today's world.
Lisa Mustard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Life Coach in South Carolina, host of The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard, and creator of continuing education for therapists. While these resources weren’t mentioned during the episode, Lisa has created two powerful tools to help therapists and coaches navigate politically charged sessions with greater confidence and ease:
Coping with Political Stress eBook & Workbook: This 62-page guide is packed with reflection exercises, grounding practices, and strategies to help you manage media consumption and reconnect with your values. You can edit the ebook workbook (through Canva) with your branding and share with your clients.
Not a therapist but want the ebook workbook, click HERE (pdf download only, not editable).
Deep-Dive Therapist Conversation Framework (Printable PDF) Navigating Politics in Therapy Without Taking Sides: For my fellow therapists, this printable guide includes 97 essential questions to help you navigate political conversations in sessions with compassion and without taking sides.
00:00 Start
[00:00:10] Family estrangement in modern times.
[00:04:10] Introduction to gender dysphoria.
[00:09:05] AAMFT's focus on transgender resources.
[00:13:40] Family estrangement and therapy.
[00:14:24] Family estrangement and politics.
[00:18:15] Estrangement in family relationships.
[00:24:56] Struggles in affluent parenting.
[00:27:08] Parental values and child rebellion.
[00:31:20] Child of divorce experiences.
[00:35:06] Personal growth through therapy.
[00:37:36] Therapy and self-reflection.
[00:41:18] Future self and values.
[00:46:23] Neuroplasticity and personal growth.
[00:49:07] Emotional health and relationships.
[00:54:15] Family therapy's declining relevance.
[00:58:16] Military concerns about therapy confidentiality.
[01:02:07] Therapy vs. Coaching Distinctions.
[01:06:46] Coaching advice for therapists.
[01:09:18] Therapy growth and therapist fit.
ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.
PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCourses
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SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.
MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.
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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
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