Whitney Goodman is a licensed marriage and family therapist and author on a mission to help adult family members have better relationships. Each week, Whitney has conversations with influential guests and real people to help listeners find new ways of looking at old family problems. Calling Home is available every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.
The CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT podcast is a valuable resource for anyone navigating complex family dynamics and seeking to improve their relationships. As an adult child and a person who is learning to take more responsibility for myself in my relationships, I have found this podcast to be incredibly helpful and affirming. Whitney's insights and advice provide guidance from both sides of the equation, allowing listeners to gain a better understanding of themselves and their role in their family dynamics.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is Whitney's ability to address difficult family dynamics with compassion, honesty, and practicality. Her approach is relatable and her advice is actionable. She offers insights that are applicable to people in any stage of life, whether they are dealing with estrangement, conflict, or simply trying to improve their communication skills. The inclusion of other experts on the show also adds depth and variety to the discussions.
Another great aspect of this podcast is the way it complements Whitney's Instagram content. While social media platforms like Instagram provide valuable information, being able to listen to a full-length conversation allows for a deeper understanding and engagement with the topics at hand. The podcast format also allows for more in-depth discussions and the opportunity to bring in different perspectives through guest experts.
As for drawbacks, one potential downside of this podcast may be its focus on specific topics related to family dynamics. While this narrow focus allows for a deep dive into these issues, it may not appeal as much to listeners who are seeking broader relationship advice or other topics outside of family dynamics. However, for those specifically looking for guidance on navigating difficult family relationships, this podcast is an excellent resource.
In conclusion, The CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT podcast is an informative and impactful resource for anyone seeking guidance on navigating complex family dynamics. Whitney's compassionate yet direct approach provides valuable insights that can help listeners improve their relationships with their families. Whether you're dealing with estrangement, conflict, or simply want to improve your communication skills, this podcast offers practical advice and relatable perspectives. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
Whitney Goodman interviews Dr. Ingrid Clayton about her new book "Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back." They explore fawning as the fourth trauma response, how it differs from people-pleasing and codependency, why children and marginalized people develop this survival strategy, and how it can masquerade as success while leading to complete self-abandonment. Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves-and How to Find Our Way Backhttps://www.ingridclayton.com/ Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 00:00 Dr. Clayton's Discovery of Fawning Through Her Own Trauma 04:26 Why Fawning Isn't About Shame - It's About Survival 09:00 How to Recognize Fawning in Your Own Life 12:16 The Connection Between Fawning and Family Estrangement 19:49 Fawning vs. People-Pleasing vs. Codependency 22:13 When Fawning Looks Like Success 27:46 Growing Out of the Fawning Response Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains major spoilers for the Netflix documentary "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish" Whitney analyzes the Netflix documentary by exploring the psychology behind extreme parental abuse and manipulation. She examines the case through the lens of child psychology, trauma bonding, and the devastating impact when a parent orchestrates elaborate schemes to control and isolate their child while positioning themselves as the sole source of comfort and support. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 00:00 Introduction to the Unknown Number Case 08:11 The Shocking Revelation: When the Abuser Becomes the Comforter 15:27 Understanding Abusive Parents Who Don't See Themselves as Abusive 21:07 The Predatory Behavior and Hidden Motivations 23:26 Trauma Bonding and Why Children Protect Their Abusers 27:43 The Difficulty of Admitting Your Parent Harmed You Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whitney interviews Michelle Dempsey-Multack about how to protect children during divorce and co-parenting. They debunk the myth that divorce inherently harms children, exploring how the quality of the divorce experience—not the divorce itself—determines the impact on kids. The conversation includes practical strategies for healthy co-parenting, introducing new partners, and handling difficult conversations with children.Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 00:00 Debunking Divorce Myths: It's About How You Handle It 02:45 Staying Together for the Kids vs. Healthy Single Parenting 08:00 How to Have a Good Divorce: Separating Emotions from Parenting 13:14 Speaking Poorly About the Other Parent and Its Long-Term Impact 20:16 Balancing Protection with Facilitating Relationships 33:11 Introducing New Partners: Timing and Red Flags Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Too often the phrase “grow up” is code for ignoring your past and repressing your childhood trauma. This dismissive “get over it” mentality fails to ever reach a healthy emotional maturity. Join Whitney as she explores what it actually means to acknowledge your past, set boundaries, and embrace your adult power. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 00:00 What People Think Growing Up Means 04:22 The Real Process of Growing Up: Acknowledgment and Mourning 08:45 Decentering Unhealthy Relationships and the Double Bind 14:13 Taking Accountability as an Adult 16:54 Building Emotional Maturity and Self-Trust Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney responds to a thoughtful listener question about self-reflection in family relationships - specifically when calling out parents' hurtful behavior makes them withdraw and feel bad about themselves leading to guilt about whether you're part of the problem. She also discusses Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement then explores troubling father-son enmeshment patterns she's observing in shows like McBee Dynasty. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 05:18 McBee Dynasty and Toxic Father-Son Dynamics 10:07 Family Secrets: September's Topic 14:52 When Parents Walk on Eggshells Around You 22:14 Q&A: How to Know If You're Part of the Problem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can estranged family relationships actually be repaired? Drawing from research on reconciliation, Whitney outlines the five core ingredients necessary for genuine repair - active empathetic listening, accountability, behavioral change, mutual willingness, and safety. Whitney distinguishes between genuine repair efforts and surface-level compliance, explains when relationships are likely unsalvageable, and provides practical guidance for assessing whether reconciliation is truly possible or if it's time to accept the relationship's limitations. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 03:42 The Five Core Ingredients of Family Repair 13:09 When Relationships Are Unsalvageable 23:05 Genuine Repair vs Surface-Level Compliance 28:33 Assessing Capacity for Change https://callinghome.co/topics/family-estrangement/how-to-begin-reconciliation-with-an-estranged-family-member https://callinghome.co/topics/family-estrangement/should-we-be-estranged-checklist https://callinghome.co/topics/accepting-your-parents/i-m-estranged-from-my-dying-parent-should-i-reconnect-and-help-them [1] Kelley, D. L., Waldron, V. R., & Kloeber, D. N. (2019). A Communicative Approach to Conflict, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/A-Communicative-Approach-to-Conflict-Forgiveness-and-Reconciliation-Reimagining-Our-Relationships/Kelley-Waldron-Kloeber/p/book/9781138052666?srsltid=AfmBOoq4iGgtwMAvbAv4-FKP9EOORNLadpnlRmmGIY_rXYPEvirm7Ymr [2] Tomm, K. (2002). Enabling Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Family Therapy. The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. https://dulwichcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/13-KarlT2.pdf [3] Blood, P. (2012). The Repair and Restoration of Relationships. In Springer eBook (pp. 349-370). https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-2147-0_17 [4] vanOyen Witvliet, C., Root Luna, L. M., Worthington, E. L., & Tsang, J. (2020). Apology and Restitution: The Psychophysiology of Forgiveness After Accountable Relational Repair Responses. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0091647120915181#:~:text=Abstract,promoting%20their%20empathy%20and%20forgiveness. [5] Fishbane, M. D. (2019). Healing Intergenerational Wounds: An Integrative Relational–Neurobiological Approach. Family Process, 59(3), 1043-1063. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31518458/ [6] De Mol, J., Lemmens, G., Verhofstadt, L., & Kuczynski, L. (2013). Intergenerational transmission in a bidirectional context. Psychologica Belgica, 53(3), 7–23. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb-53-3-7 [8] Byng-Hall, J. (2008). The significance of children fulfilling parental roles: implications for family therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 30(2), 147-162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00423.x[9] Paleari, F. G., Tagliabue, S., & Lanz, M. (2011). Empathic Perspective Taking in Family Relationships: A Social Relations Analysis. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236587449_Empathic_Perspective_Taking_in_Family_Relationships_A_Social_Relations_Analysis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney reflects on the polarizing response to her recent "Dear Estranged Parents" episode and shares her feelings about being misunderstood while trying to help families. Later, she discusses reality TV dynamics from Real Housewives of Miami about family sacrifice and entitlement, then addresses a caller's question about why dysfunctional family roles like scapegoat and golden child aren't stable but shift throughout the life cycle of a family system. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 05:41 Reality TV and Family Sacrifice Dynamics 12:01 Family Secrets: Next Month's Topic 13:58 Why Family Roles Shift Throughout Life 18:40 When Everyone's a Scapegoat, No One's Golden Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whitney speaks directly to estranged parents from her experience working with hundreds of adult children who have cut contact with their families. She addresses common arguments from parents like "I have no idea why this happened," "I did the best I could," and "my children are remembering it wrong." She explains why these arguments often do more harm than good and offers alternative reframing that could open the door to genuine repair. This episode is for any estranged parents who genuinely desire to understand their adult children's perspectives and find a path toward authentic repair. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 07:45 Argument #1: "I Have No Idea Why This Happened" 15:51 Argument #2: "How Will They Know I've Changed?" 22:08 Argument #3: "I Did the Best I Could" 27:24 Argument #4: "Family Should Always Stick Together" 31:21 Argument #5: "They're Remembering It Wrong" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney addresses a caller whose siblings want them to attend their parents' 50th anniversary trip not out of love, but to serve as a buffer against their abusive parents' dysfunction - and how to handle the pressure when "no" isn't being accepted as an answer. She also discusses sibling dynamics from the Apple TV show "Smoke" and shares her experience with red light meditation for stress reduction. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney responds to the question: can emotionally mature parents still raise emotionally immature adult children? She breaks down the research on emotional transmission from parent to child, examining the roles of modeling, contingency responses, and coaching. Whitney discusses how temperament, bidirectional influence, and developmental timing can complicate outcomes, while providing evidence-based strategies for fostering emotional maturity in yourself and your own (or prospective) children. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.coWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney addresses a caller dealing with a mother who accuses her of being the toxic one while engaging in silent treatment and triangulation tactics. She discusses parents who weaponize big parenting gestures like Disney trips and birthday parties to deflect from daily emotional neglect. She also analyzes emotionally immature parenting through the lens of the TV series Friday Night Lights, examining how involved parents can still cause harm when their support is conditional on performance. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 02:37 Friday Night Lights and Conditional Love 08:11 Disney Trips vs. Daily Emotional Presence 13:14 When Your Parent Accuses You of Being Toxic 21:24 The All-or-Nothing Parent Dilemma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney explores why siblings from the same dysfunctional family often have completely different experiences and reactions to their emotionally immature parents. She breaks down the common dysfunctional family roles - golden child, scapegoat, lost child, parentified child, and enabler - and explains how these roles create lasting divisions between siblings in adulthood. Whitney then gives guidance on how siblings can come to terms with these different reactions to their different experiences. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. 00:00 Why Siblings Experience the Same Parent Differently 03:19 The Five Dysfunctional Family Roles 07:29 How Childhood Roles Divide Adult Siblings 13:21 Accepting Different Healing Paths Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney discusses why AI can't replace real therapy and the privacy concerns with using ChatGPT for mental health support. Whitney also addresses a caller dealing with sibling estrangement - feeling alone and resentful when their brother cut off their emotionally immature mother while they chose to stay and work on the relationship. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney introduces the upcoming August topic for the Family Cyclebreakers Club: adult children of emotionally immature parents. She walks listeners through an 18-question assessment to help identify if they have an emotionally immature parent, explains the key traits of emotional immaturity based on Dr. Lindsay Gibson's work, and discusses the common patterns adult children develop to survive these family systems.Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.coWhitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney addresses a caller's concerns about co-parenting with her ex-husband while he is living with his mother with whom he has an enmeshed relationship with and who has actively tried to sabotage their marriage in the past. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to whitney@callinghome.co Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney explores one of the most painful realizations in family healing: when the "safer" parent was also complicit in your harm. She breaks down the complex dynamics between enablers and abusers in narcissistic family systems, explains why enablers are both victims and perpetrators, and provides crucial questions to assess whether reconciliation is possible. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney introduces a new TV pop culture segment, analyzing dysfunctional family dynamics in reality shows like Real Housewives of Miami and Love Island. She explores cultural expectations around who should maintain parent-child relationships and discusses the shift in generational attitudes toward supporting adult children's choices. Plus, Whitney addresses a caller question about a mother who explicitly states her unwillingness to be close to her daughter. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whitney sits down with entrepreneur and author Sahil Bloom to discuss his book "The Five Types of Wealth" and the powerful story of his parents choosing love over family approval. They explore how family estrangement shaped Sahil's understanding of what "family" really means, the toxic masculinity plaguing young men today, and why being a present father is the most fulfilling work he's ever done. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, Whitney explores the complexities of self-diagnosis, particularly around autism and neurodivergence, discussing when it can be helpful versus harmful and how to pursue formal diagnosis responsibly. She also addresses a caller's struggle with a narcissistic mother-in-law and provides practical advice for protecting children while navigating a spouse who isn't ready to set boundaries with their difficult parent. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney explores narcissistic family systems - what they look like, what they feel like, and what recovering from them might entail. She explore roles like the scapegoat and enabler, discusses why image matters more than authenticity in these families, and explains how the parenting styles of narcissistic parents create long-term, but not insurmountable, harm. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, I explore a quote from the book Forget Them Kids authored by an estranged parent that perfectly illustrates how many parents use "good intentions" to avoid accountability. I then answer listener questions about reconciling family political differences and navigating coming out to unsupportive parents for a second time as an independent adult. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I sat down with therapist and content creator Jacquelyn Tenaglia to discuss the rise of "therapy speak" online and in popular culture, how mental health terms are being misused and weaponized, and what to look for when consuming mental health content on social media. We explore the fine line between increased mental health awareness and the oversimplification of complex psychological concepts, plus red flags to watch for in mental health content creators. Follow Jacquelyn on IG at no.bs.therapist Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram Follow Whitney on YouTube Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, I'm exploring how to develop emotional closeness in your relationships. I discuss why some people struggle with vulnerability, how emotional immaturity creates barriers to closeness, and practical ways to practice emotional connection. Some family members may never be capable of deep emotional intimacy. Developing emotional closeness for yourself often means accepting these limitations while still finding meaningful connections elsewhere. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, I'm addressing why some mothers copy their daughters' appearance and behavior and what to do when in-laws constantly offer help but never follow through. As part of my Little Epiphanies part of the show, I also discuss emotional immaturity and enmeshment in parent-child relationships as seen in the Netflix show "Ginny and Georgia.” Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at (866) 225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What do you do when the person who needs care is someone who caused you significant harm? In this solo episode, I'm addressing what is probably one of the most dreaded dilemmas facing estranged adult children: how to navigate caring for aging parents. We'll explore different types of care that are available for you to choose from and other complex emotional and practical considerations. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Connect with Whitney Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this Q&A episode, I'm discussing the discovery of sexual abuse in the family and providing practical advice for someone struggling with boundary violations from their mother. We explore the concept of true boundaries and concrete strategies when nice requests aren't working. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Connect with Whitney Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram Follow Whitney on YouTube Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whitney speaks with Etinosa Agbonlahor about navigating difficult financial conversations with parents. They discuss strategies for approaching retirement planning, setting financial boundaries with financially irresponsible parents, and handling the emotional complexity of money conversations that often involve mortality and family dynamics. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Connect with Etinosa Book: "How to Talk to Your Parents About Money: A Short Practical Guide: Conversations That Build Peace, Confidence, and Financial Security” (available on Amazon) Website: https://etinosaa.com/ Podcast: Her First House Connect with Whitney Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram Follow Whitney on YouTube Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this solo episode, Whitney critiques a New York Times opinion piece claiming therapy culture is linked to declining birth rates. Drawing from her work with populations of estranged adults and research for her upcoming book on parent-child estrangement, Whitney addresses harmful misconceptions about why adults choose to limit contact with parents. Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram Follow Whitney on YouTube Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, I sat down with siblings Haley and Chad from the Necessary Conversation Podcast. Each week, they sit down with their parents to talk about politics and they invite us to listen (to say their political beliefs differ would be quite the understatement). They discuss their temporary estrangement due to politics and why they continue to sit down every week to have these conversations. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hi! I'm answering two caller questions today. Caller 1 was abused by her father, and now he's getting remarried to someone with young children. Caller 2 told her sister about their parents' abusive behavior, and it didn't go as planned. In the first ten minutes of the show, I recap some dysfunctional TV family dynamics in Sirens and Nine Perfect Strangers. May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, I discuss one reason young people end relationships with their parents: their desire for differentiation. You will learn why differentiation is crucial for healthy family dynamics, why adults may need to establish strict boundaries with their parents, and how relationships are formed based on role vs. relationship quality. May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I'm back with two caller questions this week. Caller 1 has been waiting for her siblings to see her perspective, but now that they have, she's having some conflicting emotions. Caller 2 is trying to make sense of her sister's apparent amnesia of their father's abuse. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You were the responsible one. The quiet one. The one who didn't need much. And now, as an adult, you feel stuck—like you never got the chance to just be a kid, and it's holding you back. Grieving a childhood that was chaotic, neglectful, abusive, devoid of emotional connection, or overly parentified can be challenging. You may feel like you're stuck in your childhood or your child self, and like you can't seem to let go or move into adulthood. In this episode, I explain what it means to grieve your childhood, the impact of a missed childhood, and how to become the adult you need. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Imagine your parents disapprove of your partner, and they're outwardly hateful about the life you've chosen to live. You had to end your relationship with them because of this. But now you're thinking about having a baby, and you want your baby to have grandparents. What would you do in this situation? That's one of the issues we're navigating in the latest Q&A episode out now. About the Host Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Calling Home Monthly Topic May | Grieving Complicated Relationship: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships • Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club • Follow Whitney on Instagram • Follow Whitney on YouTube • Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Episode #116 of the Calling Home Podcast with Whitney Goodman, LMFT In this solo episode, Whitney Goodman explores the complex grief that comes with mourning a parent who wasn't emotionally or physically present. Whether the parent is still alive but unwilling to change or has passed away, Whitney explores the confusing emotions that can arise and provides practical guidance on navigating both forms of loss. About the Host Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Have a question for Whitney? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466 Calling Home Monthly Topic May | Grieving Complicated Relationship: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club Follow Whitney on Instagram Follow Whitney on YouTube Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity Learn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoices This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mother's Day is this weekend, and I know that is hard for many of you. In this episode, I discuss who should be "celebrated" on Mother's Day and answer several of your questions about how to grieve and estrangement. Here are those resources I mentioned in the episode: Mother-Daughter Relationship worksheets, videos, scripts, and articles The Adult Daughters with Difficult Mothers Group Q&A: My Mom Didn't Protect Me From My Dad Q&A: My Mom Snuck Alcohol Around My Child Q&A: Mother's Day Mother-Daughter Relationships: Why Mothers Criticize Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This is an episode that every trauma survivor—and the people who love them—should listen to. Nate is an amazing speaker who discusses childhood trauma from a survivor's perspective, and I have no doubt this episode will deeply impact you. You can learn more about Nate and his work here. May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wow, so sorry for that mixup. My advice for Caller 1 has completely changed after I heard the entire voicemail, not just half of it. If you've already listened, this is an updated version of that episode. May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This episode is about repair, not perfection. You will learn: Why we react in ways we don't want to Why self-compassion is crucial for repair How to repair (with exact steps) May at Calling Home - Grieving Complicated Relationships: https://callinghome.co/grieving-complicated-relationships 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hi! We have two caller questions this week + my three little epiphanies: Some families are “role” families and some families are “relationship families.” Sometimes the most adult thing you can do is stand up for yourself. There is a special pain in families where people know exactly how to act around others, but give you the worst version of themselves. Caller 1 feels like a rest stop to her father and never his actual destination. Caller 2 is asking about personality changes for elderly adults. Take the Estranged Adult Child survey before June 30, 2025: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/qQRbFnc3 Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This episode is for anyone who is navigating estrangement. I sat down with Eamon Dolan, the author of the new book, The Power of Parting. We discuss: The hidden epidemic of child abuse at the hands of their family members Why estrangement is so taboo and challenging Eamon's steps for navigating estrangement and how to approach it Why our family members need to treat us like friends If you are an adult who is estranged from one or both of your parents, please complete my Estranged Adult Survey before June 30, 2025. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club at Calling Home: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, we have two caller questions. I also talk about my three little epiphanies for the week: The most ineffective way to resume contact with someone after estrangement is by demanding a relationship with them. For some adults, their parents are their biggest haters. There's a big difference between not wanting kids and feeling like you can't have them because of your own childhood wounds. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I recorded this solo episode of @thecallinghomepodcast for anyone who is parenting without role models or someone who is fearful of having children because they don't have a roadmap from their own childhood. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, we have a Q&A episode. I answer two caller questions: 1. Caller 1 wants to know if her dad has autism or narcissistic traits. I break down the difference. 2. Caller 2 is struggling to have a surface-level relationship with her family. I also dive into my three little epiphanies for the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe 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/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With that Chappell Roan clip on Call Her Daddy going viral, this episode couldn't be more timely. I sat down with Amanda White, the author of Fence Sitter and we talk about motherhood, deciding to have children, regret, and the paradox of joy and pain in parenthood. This episode is great for anyone considering having a child or struggling with early parenthood. Join The Family Cyclebreakers Club: www.callinghome.co/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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/join Whitney'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/sitwithwhit Subscribe 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/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe 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/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe 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/join 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/sitwithwhit Subscribe to Whitney's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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