Are Therapists Encouraging Estrangement?

Whitney tackles an increasingly persistent narrative about family estrangement: therapists are encouraging people to cut ties from their families. Drawing from hundreds of responses from her audience—including adult children and estranged parents—she examines what actually happens in therapy rooms and whether the notion of a "secret underground movement" of therapists pushing estrangement holds up to scrutiny. She also answers a listener question about breaking cycles of reconciliation and abuse with a verbally abusive parent.

Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.

Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club⁠⁠

Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit

Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft

⁠⁠Order Whitney’s book, Toxic Positivity

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.

00:00 Are therapists encouraging estrangement?

02:22 The origins of this question and why it matters

05:58 What actually happens in therapy rooms

14:45 The difference between support and persuasion

29:19 Criticisms of therapists

39:31 Listener question: Breaking the cycle with a verbally abusive parent

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