The AAMFT Podcast Episode 136: Loving Someone with Mental Illness
Dec 12, 2025
In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Sherman, a clinical psychologist and author, shares her journey of supporting families affected by mental illness. She tackles misconceptions about family involvement and discusses the impact of mental health on relationships. Dr. Sherman highlights the balance between supportive love and codependency, offering practical strategies for families. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing children's needs and maintaining hope in recovery, sharing valuable insights from her own books designed for families.
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Episode notes
Mental Illness Is Systemic
- Mental illness affects entire family systems and creates ripple effects beyond the identified patient.
- Therapists must honor, normalize, and help family members navigate uncertainty, loss, and transformation.
Origin Story From A VA Waiting Room
- Michelle Sherman started supporting families after seeing waiting-room relatives at a VA clinic and wrote a small grant to help them.
- Her personal family losses and clinical work have driven her 30-year focus on family support.
Don't Write Off Families
- Common myths: families don't exist or don't want involvement are often false and harmful.
- Excluding families from care misses vital history, early-warning signs, and treatment influence.
