CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT

Hey everyone, and welcome back! I am so excited to have Carla Fernandez on the podcast today. She's a grief guide, community builder, the author of Renegade Grief, and co-founder of The Dinner Party, an organization that creates spaces where people who have experienced loss can gather around a table and share their stories. Carla's work centers on reimagining how we approach grief, not just as individuals but as communities, especially in a culture that often rushes us to move on or only makes space for certain kinds of grief. We discuss young grievers, toxic positivity, what people get wrong about grieving, and losing someone you don't exactly "miss."Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi! We're back with two caller questions this week. Caller one is a passive-aggressive MIL and caller 2 is concerned about having her family at her wedding. I also share my three little epiphanies for the week about giving grace, the most googled question about estrangement, and Chappell Roan.Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this enlightening discussion, Amanda White, author of *Fence Sitter*, explores the intricate decision of motherhood and the emotional rollercoaster of parenthood. She delves into the societal pressures influencing family choices and the ambivalence many feel about having children. With candid reflections on joy, exhaustion, and potential regrets, Amanda encourages open conversations around parenting. This talk is a must-listen for anyone grappling with their own family dynamics and the evolving nature of these decisions.

This week, I'm sharing my three little epiphanies: The show Long Bright River is a great representation of what it's like to love a family member in active addiction and the different paths we can take in a family. (More on that below) Why I'm so tired of quotes like, "It's your parent's first time living too."  I saw this video about growing up in an "ask family" or a "guess family," and it's fascinating.  I also answer two caller questions. Caller 1 is estranged from her parents but wants to support her sister who has cancer. Caller 2 still feels really anxious around her family but wants to maintain a connection. This is a great episode about boundaries, difficult choices, and deciding if we can tolerate surface-level relationships.Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinWhitney's Book Toxic Positivity.Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ok, I go on a little rant in this one because I am so tired of people trying to remain totally neutral about family estrangement. Obviously estrangement is bad. It's not an ideal outcome. No one wants to experience it. And, sometimes it is the only choice. In this episode I cover: how abuse is actually quite common in families why saying estrangement is "bad" isn't going to solve anything what we actually need to do to prevent estrangement in families Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi! Today I am sharing my three little epiphanies for the week about love is blind, estranged family members having mental health issues, and why some people will never get help when they're struggling. We also have 2 caller questions. #1 is deciding what kind of relationship she can have with her mother, #2 has a MIL who screams at her and crosses every boundary.Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over 22,000 of you answered my poll questions about abandonment and estrangement. In this episode, I review your responses and discuss what "abandonment" means in the context of adult-child and parent relationships.As always, thank you so much for contributing to this episode. I love it when we collaborate like this. Let me know your thoughts!Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm answering a caller's question today. This caller has a very distant relationship with her father, and she's trying to figure out what to do. He's super invested with his step-kids and those grandchildren, but he can't seem to show up for her and her children. I try to help this caller understand why she has resentment for her father's ambivalence, how to grieve that loss, and what to do about the relationship.Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I read the book I Can Fix This by Kristina Kuzmič and immediately knew I needed to get her on the show. In this episode, we talk about what it's like to have a teenager with a mental health diagnosis, surrendering to the fact that we cannot control it, and how to help them and yourself. This is the perfect episode for anyone who has felt clueless, helpless, and out of control in the face of a loved one's mental health struggles. (I also say the one thing that she wishes people would stop saying to people who speak about their mental health publicly). Get Kristina's book here.Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi! In this Q&A episode, I am talking about my three little epiphanies this week: why it's good to be a little bit delusional, a new podcast from NPR about conspiracy theories, and accepting imperfection in our family relationships.We also have two caller questions: Caller 1 is trying to set boundaries with her in-laws and does not want them to drink around her child. Caller 2 is unsure if she should re-connect with her dad. He kicked her out of the house at 16 and wants to have lunch. Watch me on Tamron Hall: https://www.hulu.com/watch/f9b07570-9030-4979-8700-7a9bd317326bJoin The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/joinHave a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466.Follow Whitney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sitwithwhitSubscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices