89: What People Get Wrong About Estrangement with Whitney Goodman

What if estrangement isn't about ungrateful kids—but about parents who can't let go? This week we chat with Whitney Goodman, LMFT to discuss the myths and actual research about estrangement and what all the online discourse is missing.

In conversation, we discuss:

• Why estrangement has become a more common topic in online mental health spaces.
• The differences between setting boundaries, creating distance, and choosing no contact.
• How estrangement can bring both relief and grief — sometimes at the same time.
• How trauma, attachment, and family dynamics influence estrangement decisions.
• What often gets overlooked when estrangement is discussed in all-or-nothing terms.
• How to approach these decisions with more clarity, compassion, and flexibility.

Whitney is the host of the Calling Home Podcast. You can find more about Calling Home and Whitney on social media @sitwithwhit.

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To learn more about therapy reach out to Therapy for Women Center, therapyforwomencenter.com. We have therapists licensed in 42 states across the country and have offices if you are local to the Philadelphia area.

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