CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT Emotionally Immature Parents with Morgan Pommells
Mar 19, 2024
Morgan Pommells, a therapist specializing in relationships between emotionally immature parents and their adult children, joins the conversation to explore the complexities of these family dynamics. They discuss how good intentions can lead to defensiveness, leaving children feeling unheard. The importance of validation and reflective communication for healing relationships is highlighted. Additionally, the conversation touches on the power of apologies and the need to grieve unrealistic parental ideals, emphasizing the journey toward emotional freedom and true identity.
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The Gray Area of Emotional Immaturity
- Emotionally immature parents often fall into a gray area between overt abuse and perfect parenting.
- Adult children may internalize painful experiences as personal fault due to lack of clear validation.
Defensiveness Blocks Healing
- Defensiveness from parents is a double trauma for adult children seeking validation.
- Repair requires acknowledgment, validation, and understanding of the child's experience.
Validate Child's Subjective Reality
- Parents should accept that past wounds cannot be undone but need acknowledgment.
- Validate the child's subjective experience without disputing their reality.
