Edge of the Couch We Wish Your Mom Would Go To Therapy
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Nov 26, 2025 Join the hosts as they explore the intriguing dynamics of wanting others to seek therapy. They discuss the tendency of clients to internalize blame and the complexity of relationships where partners act as each other's therapist. The conversation delves into how caregiving can become infantilizing, alongside the challenges therapists face in navigating their own emotions. A fascinating examination of trauma's intergenerational impact leads to discussions on empathy versus accountability. Plus, a sneak peek into their upcoming Canadian tour!
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The Missing Person In The Room
- Therapists often wish the 'other person' in a client's story would do their own work because that would change the system dramatically.
- Jordan Piquel and Allison McCleary note this is common in couples and parent-child dynamics and shapes therapy goals.
The Identified Patient Problem
- Identifying one 'problem' person often misses the system dynamics that sustain issues.
- Allison McCleary highlights child and family cases where the child gets labeled while the family's system remains unchanged.
When Caregiving Becomes Parental
- Long-term caretaking can infantilize partners and create a rescuer-rescued dynamic rather than reciprocity.
- Jordan Piquel and Allison McCleary note gendered patterns where caregivers may unconsciously play parental roles to partners.