The Rules of Estrangement

Guilt

Parental Engagement When an Adult Child Has a Mental Illness

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on March 10, 2024

Parents with mentally ill adult children suffer with ongoing feelings of worry and guilt. They may be especially worried and guilt-ridden if their child cuts off contact.

Parents with mentally ill adult children suffer with ongoing feelings of worry and guilt. They may be especially worried and guilt-ridden if their child cuts off contact.

Family Dynamics

The Lonely, Fractured Lives of Estranged Grandparents

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on March 6, 2024

Despite a strong focus on attachment theory within families, many parents overlook their children's deep bond with their grandparents.

Despite a strong focus on attachment theory within families, many parents overlook their children's deep bond with their grandparents.

Addiction

Why Estrangement Reconciliation Is Often Within Reach

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on October 12, 2022

Reconcilations between parents and estranged adult children are often more possible than they seem.

Reconcilations between parents and estranged adult children are often more possible than they seem.

Guilt

Should I Help My Adult Child More?

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on July 13, 2021

Today's parents help their adult children more than previous generations. Is that the right idea, or does it prevent their kids from growing up?

Today's parents help their adult children more than previous generations. Is that the right idea, or does it prevent their kids from growing up?

Friends

'My Daughter-in-Law Stole Our Son From Us!'

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on March 4, 2021

"We were so close to our son until he got married. Now he doesn't want anything to do with us."

"We were so close to our son until he got married. Now he doesn't want anything to do with us."

Media

Does Social Media Worsen Parental Estrangement?

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on August 7, 2020

When your adult child unfriends you on Facebook: Understanding the many ways that social media worsens estrangement.

When your adult child unfriends you on Facebook: Understanding the many ways that social media worsens estrangement.

Parental Alienation

10 Common Mistakes Therapists Make With Estranged Parents

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on May 30, 2020

Can therapists sometimes make situations worse between parents and their adult children? Yes. Here are some of the most common mistakes.

Can therapists sometimes make situations worse between parents and their adult children? Yes. Here are some of the most common mistakes.

Am I a bad parent if I stop reaching out to my adult child? Sometimes giving up is best for everyone.

Forgiveness

Why Should I Have to Apologize to My Estranged Adult Child?

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on April 19, 2020

Do you just enable an estranged child's bad behavior by apologizing to them?

Do you just enable an estranged child's bad behavior by apologizing to them?

Friends

Estranged From Adult Children at the Holidays?

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on November 22, 2019

Here are some things you can do to feel better when you're not seeing a loved one over the holiday.

Here are some things you can do to feel better when you're not seeing a loved one over the holiday.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

"Radical Acceptance" After Wrongful Accusations

Joshua Coleman Ph.D. on November 18, 2019

Estranged from your adult child? Learning how to "radically accept" their complaints is not only good for you but good for your relationship.

Estranged from your adult child? Learning how to "radically accept" their complaints is not only good for you but good for your relationship.

If the stepmothers in my practice could listen in on each other's conversations, they would see how common it is to feel the way that they do.