Toxic Parents: Rewriting the Script using the Drama Triangle

Welcome to the first episode of Dial Emma! Each week, I'll be answering your dilemmas with honesty, empathy, and a few therapeutic truth bombs to help you make sense of life’s stickiest moments. If you've ever wished you had a therapist in your back pocket, Dial Emma is here to help.

This week, our listener dilemma involves ageing parents in a toxic marriage, and an only child who often gets stuck in the middle of their conflict.

How do we manage responsibility for people we love and care about, while also remaining true to ourselves? How can we do things differently to get us closer to the outcomes we actually want?

In this episode, we explore the listener's dilemma through the lens of the drama triangle, highlighting the three roles we play in conflict: the Rescuer, the Persecutor and the Victim. We discover what the healthier alternatives to these roles might be, how to change the script, and how to navigate highly emotional family responsibilities while maintaining personal boundaries and self-identity.

If you have a dilemma for Emma, please fill out this form.

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Dial Emma is hosted by Emma Reed Turrell, produced by Lauren Brook.

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Social media:

Emma Reed Turrell @emmareedturrell

Dial Emma @dialemmapodcast

Email: contact@dial-emma.uk