CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT

In this episode of The Calling Home podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the concept of ambiguous loss, a term coined by researcher Pauline Boss in the 1970s. This type of loss refers to grief that has no definitive boundary or closure, such as the loss of a loved one who is physically absent but still present in thoughts, or a loved one who is physically present but emotionally absent. Goodman provides advice on how to grieve this type of loss, including giving oneself permission to grieve, finding people who understand the situation, and being open to having a different type of relationship with the person. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Calling Home Podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the topic of adult sibling Relationships with Dr. Geoffrey Greif, a professor at the university of Maryland and author of “Adult Sibling Relationships”, co-authored by Michael E. Whoolley. Whitney and Geoffrey dive into the fascinating research behind the categories of sibling relationships as well as what can factor into creating these bonds as they evolve throughout the different stages of life. Join her Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Calling Home Podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the topic of estrangement between adult children and their parents. She shares insights from hundreds of stories she received from her followers, highlighting common themes such as emotional immaturity, boundary violations, addiction, and denial of problems within the family. Goodman also shares results from polls she conducted on Instagram, revealing that most respondents took one to five years to decide to become estranged, and the main causes were a history of abuse and emotionally immature parents. She emphasizes that most respondents indicated that an apology and changed behavior could help mend the relationship. Join her Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of the second season of Calling Home, Whitney discusses adult sibling estrangement with guest Fern Schumer Chapman, author of Brother Sister Strangers. They discuss the complexities of sibling estrangement, including the feelings of rejection, self-blame, and the impact on family dynamics. Fern shares her personal experience of a 40-year estrangement from her brother, which was followed by a 10-year reconciliation. They discuss the factors that can lead to estrangement: family trauma, parental favoritism, poor communication skills, and differing family values. Fern advises that estrangement is not always permanent and maintaining even a limited relationship can be beneficial for all family members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of The Calling Home podcast's first season, Whitney discusses the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. She emphasizes that love and protection are not the same thing, and a mother can love her child but still put them in dangerous situations. We'll talk about why mothers might criticize their daughters, such as projecting their own standards or seeing their daughters as competition. And a reminder to identify patterns they want to break in their own relationships and consider the systemic factors that might impact these relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whitney is joined by Leslie Priscilla, founder of Latinx Parenting, about the intersection of culture, parenting, and childhood.They discuss the harmful parenting behaviors that are often excused as part of culture, the impact of colonization on parenting styles, and the importance of treating children with respect. They also talk about the challenges faced by Latinx families, such as the expectation to take care of parents in old age and the normalization of violence against children.Leslie emphasizes the importance of breaking generational cycles, being gentle with oneself, and finding a supportive community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reconciliation is a process that requires both parties to take responsibility, acknowledge their roles, apologize, and work towards a new relationship.Reconciliation should move slowly, especially in cases of long-standing estrangement or rifts. Setting boundaries, managing expectations, and accepting family members as they are now are all important as a family works toward making things better. Celebrate small victories along the way, and remember that reconciliation is not a final destination but a process that may involve steps forward and backward.A holiday related question from a Calling Home listener about why families often cater to the most toxic individual during celebrations and holidays ends todays episode.Today's episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh. Use code homefree for FREE breakfast for life - get one breakfast item per box while your subscription is active. HeloFresh is America’s #1 Meal Kit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whitney talks with Elizabeth Earnshaw, a marriage and family therapist, about navigating relationships with in-laws. They discuss finding common ground, setting boundaries, and the importance of communication. They also explore a conflict over a child's last name and the potential harm of criticizing in-laws. They highlight the benefits of having in-laws involved in one's life and the challenges of merging different family cultures.

Some tips to help you survive Thanksgiving with your family!Expect your family to be the same as they are every other day, complete with their flaws and positive traits. Remember that you are an adult and have the power to decide how you spend your day. Get clear on your limits and plan for when those limits are reached. Identify what is important to you on this day and align your actions with those values. Avoid picking battles or starting a healing journey with your family on this day. If anything goes wrong, remember that a holiday is just a day and it will end.HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore how emotionally immature parents impact their children's emotional health. Discover their common traits like lack of empathy and difficulties in expressing emotions. Hear about the feelings of loneliness and confusion kids often face. Learn effective coping strategies for adults dealing with these challenging family dynamics. Additionally, tackle listener questions on issues like the silent treatment and the fear of repeating harmful patterns.