Podcasts about Enmeshment

What does a boy learn about being a man when his mother depends on him emotionally?More than most people realize.He may learn that a good man keeps women happy. That loyalty means unlimited access. That independence hurts the people you love. That strength means needing nothing.Those lessons often become invisible rules that shape how he leads, loves, sets boundaries, handles conflict, and trusts himself as an adult.In this episode, I use the Emotional Pattern Framework to explore how childhood experiences become emotional lessons and why many men continue living by rules they never consciously chose.You'll learn:why some men feel responsible for women's emotionshow guilt becomes confused with loyaltywhy healthy boundaries can feel like betrayalIf you've ever wondered why some men struggle to trust themselves—even after leaving home—this episode explains one possible reason.

What led to the loss of Ricky and Doughboy? Enmeshment aka Emotional *ncest.

Ashish Joshi returns to Been There Got Out — and this time, he's brought a new book and a perspective that may change how you talk about your case forever.If you've been calling your situation a "high-conflict divorce," you may be inadvertently sharing blame you don't deserve. Attorney Ashish Joshi — a domestic violence specialist who focuses on parental alienation and family court litigation — explains why the term "high-conflict" is legally and strategically dangerous for targeted parents, and what the more accurate framework of "family violence" actually means in court.In this conversation, Joshi draws on his brand-new book, Litigating Family Violence, to walk us through the umbrella of behaviors that constitute family violence — from coercive control and emotional abuse to financial abuse, immigration weaponization, and yes, parental alienation. He explains how all of these are interconnected, and why treating them as separate issues misses the point.If you're in family court right now, or trying to understand why nothing seems to be working the way it should, this episode gives you something rare: a practicing trial attorney explaining exactly what courts look for, what language to use, and what actually makes the difference in these cases.IN THIS EPISODE:- Why calling your case "high-conflict" may actually hurt you in family court- What "family violence" means legally — and how it changes the narrative- "Leaving is a process, not an event" — and why courts need to understand this- The difference between parental alienating behaviors (PABs) and parental alienation itself- Resist-refuse dynamics: what they are, and what's really causing them- When to go to court early — and what to ask for instead of pointing fingers- What a proper, enforceable reunification therapy order actually requires- The "running the clock" tactic: how the favored parent uses delay as a weapon- Child voice vs. child choice — and why courts shouldn't let kids decide- Peer-reviewed research: adult children thanked courts for intervening- Enmeshment, parentification, and the cult-like loyalty dynamic- Vicarious trauma and why self-care isn't optional for litigating parentsABOUT ASHISH JOSHI:Ashish Joshi is a practicing family law attorney who specializes at the intersection of domestic violence and parental alienation. He is a sought-after speaker at legal and judicial conferences, including the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts), and is the author of two books for legal practitioners and litigants: Litigating Parental Alienation and his newest, Litigating Family Violence. His work bridges the gap between academic research and what actually happens in courtrooms.Ashish Joshi website: www.joshiattorneys.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Litigating-Family-Violence-Ashish-Joshi/dp/1639057439/#ParentalAlienation #FamilyViolence #HighConflictDivorce #CustodyBattle #CoerciveControl #ReunificationTherapy #FamilyCourt #TargetedParent #BeenThereGotOut

Resources5-Step Boundary Setting Process (google doc)ArticlesWhat is Enmeshment, and How Do You Set Boundaries?Enmeshment vs. Codependency: 7 DifferencesWhat is Enmeshment? 12 Signs To Spot It + How to HealUnderstanding the Fawn Response: Coping Mechanism in Trauma Recovery by Mona Kirstein, PhDIs it Codependency or Trauma Bonding? How to Tell the DifferenceBooksSet Boundaries, Find Peace* by Nedra Glover TawwabHow to Do the Work* by Dr. Nicole LePera  Become a member of The Soul Horizon community (or give a one-time donation) to support the podcast. Thank you for your generous support—it breathes life into The Soul Horizon.

In this reflection I try to locate when/ how enmeshment started with a sibling. Supporting themes: Dating; Polyamory; Possession; Expected loyalty/ solidarity; Friendships; Communication; Abuse; Emotional dysregulation: The advanced skill of teaching. Topology: Ni domness; Enneagram Type 8; INTJ

In this reflection I talk about the danger of familial enmeshment as relating to selfhood. Topology: INTJ8

In this episode of The Light Inside, host Jeffrey Besecker welcomes Ben Oofana for a deep dive into the complexities of relational ambiguity, separation, and unresolved grief. They discuss how these emotional states can activate older attachment patterns, leading clients into cycles of connection-restoring emotional rumination that mimic repair but often result in reactivation of past traumas. The conversation emphasizes the importance for clinicians to formulate care strategies when clients are driven by grief, shame, longing, or relational threats. By understanding these dynamics, therapists can help clients move beyond fixed narratives and reclaim their agency, differentiation, and adaptive contact. Tune in to explore these transformative insights and more.Timestamp00:00:00 - Introduction to The Light Inside00:00:22 - Relational Ambiguity and Emotional Rumination00:01:10 - Mint Mobile Advertisement00:02:24 - Early Attachment Learning and Emotional Rumination00:03:28 - Clinician's Role in Addressing Rumination00:04:06 - Ben Ofana's Background in Somatic Therapies00:05:57 - Early Relational Patterns and Their Impact00:09:08 - Transition from Implicit Learning to Narrative Identity00:12:04 - Psychological Arousal and Relational Misinterpretation00:14:08 - Emotional Processing and Cognitive Understanding00:17:12 - Slowing Down and Holding the Field00:19:14 - Relational Dynamics and Overextension00:21:00 - Personal Reflections on Emotional Saturation00:24:44 - Fear of Loss and Desperation in Relationships00:25:55 - Constructive Work with Rumination00:28:26 - Clinical Takeaways and Interventions00:31:22 - Overthinking and Cognitive Cycles00:34:09 - Healing Process and Letting Go of Unhealthy Attachments00:35:26 - Relational Contact and Boundaries00:38:27 - Personal Experience with Anger and Guilt-Shame Cycle00:40:27 - Core Childhood Patterns and Activation00:42:43 - Emotional States and Relationship Dynamics00:44:02 - Biological Flooding and Regulation00:45:19 - Skills for Deactivating Emotional States00:46:51 - Insight and Internal Change00:48:09 - Attunement and Empathy in Therapy00:50:10 - Client Awareness and Emotional Processing00:52:11 - Tracking and Metabolizing Bias in TherapyCreditsHost: Jeffrey BeseckerGuest:Ben OofanaExecutive Program Director: Anna GetzProduction Team: Aloft Media GroupMusic: Courtesy of Aloft Media GroupConnect with host Jeffrey Besecker on LinkedIn.What if many of the secondary behaviors we label as “seeking safety” are actually attempts to restore coherence at the deeper primary level?Developmental and attachment research suggests that before children can reason about trust, risk, or safety, they are learning through load, responsiveness, attunement, and the capacity of caregivers to regulate environmental demands.

"But I Had a Happy Childhood": Why Your Eating Disorder Still Makes Complete SenseThis one comes up with almost every single person I work with.But Victoria, I had a happy childhood. My parents loved me. I don't have any trauma. So why do I have an eating disorder?This episode is my answer. Because trauma is not only what happened to you. Trauma is also what didn't happen to you. The absence of the big stuff does not mean your emotional needs were met. And unmet emotional needs in childhood are trauma, just not the kind that gets talked about enough.This episode is for you if:You have always said "but I had a happy childhood" and wondered why that hasn't explained or healed thingsYou feel like you have no right to struggle because nothing that bad happened to youYou have done the therapy, the journaling, the work, and still feel it in your bodyYou want to understand why your eating disorder was created in the first placeYou are ready to grieve what you didn't get, without blame, but with truthIn this episode, we cover:✨ Why trauma is not only what happened to you, it is also what didn't happen to you✨ How unmet emotional needs in childhood create the same nervous system wounds as more obvious trauma✨ What a "happy childhood" can actually look like beneath the surface, and what it communicates to a developing nervous system✨ Being sent to your room when upset, and what that taught you about big emotions✨ How early body shame can begin long before magazines or social media✨ Early sleep separation and why your nervous system may have been in low-level survival mode from the very beginning✨ Enmeshment and codependency: what it looks like to grow up not knowing where you end and your parent begins✨ Erika Commissar's research on the first three years of life and why it matters so much for eating disorder recovery✨ Why the myth of quality over quantity time does not hold up for babies and toddlers✨ Why talk therapy alone often cannot reach wounds that formed before you had words✨ Four practical things you can begin with: permission to grieve, somatic work, writing to your younger self, and understanding the eating disorder as a messenger rather than an enemy✨ Victoria answers a listener question from someone who is pregnant and exhausted by the fightPowerful quotes from the episode:

In this episode, Pastor Josh and Sharon McPherson tackle some of the biggest questions Christian families are asking today. From youth sports and parenting priorities to grandparents, family boundaries, and preparing young men and women for marriage, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and biblical insight.How do parents know when it's time to “get off the train” of endless activities and travel sports? What should families do when grandparents undermine the values they're trying to build at home? How can young men and women prepare themselves for a healthy, God-honoring marriage? Josh and Sharon dive into each topic with honesty, humor, and years of real-life parenting experience.These are questions from real listeners! If you want to submit your own questions, send it to info@StrongerManNation.comGET YOUR TICKETS NOW!          Freedom Con 2026: Rise of the Statesman          June 19-20, 2026 • Father's Day Weekend          The Gorge Amphitheater, George, WashingtonREGISTER: https://www.FreedomCon26.comSupport the showThanks for listening! Go to www.StrongerManNation.com for more resources. 

Enmeshment is why your marriage feels lonely even when nothing is wrong, and your spouse has been competing with your mother for years without anyone naming it.If you call your mom four times a day, run every decision past her, and feel guilty when you don't, this video explains what is actually happening in your nervous system, and why the books on enmeshment and the boundary advice on social media never reached the layer that needed to be reached.Kenny Weiss is a relationship, communication, and childhood trauma recovery specialist. He teaches the Worst Day Cycle™, the Authentic Self Cycle™, and the Emotional Authenticity Method™. He names the exact mechanism most therapy misses: enmeshment is not closeness without boundaries, it is identity colonization, where a parent overwrites the child's preferences, beliefs, and sense of self before the child can speak.Enmeshment is the absence of boundaries, where the child becomes responsible for the parent's emotional equilibrium. The reversed umbilical cord is what happens when a parent unconsciously recruits a child to be their surrogate spouse, therapist, or emotional regulator. The child grows into an adult whose nervous system is wired to one person, which is why their spouse feels like the second relationship even after twenty years of marriage.The Loyalty Bind is the invisible contract written in the child's nervous system before they can read. It says, if I choose myself, I betray my parent, if I betray my parent, I lose love, if I lose love, I die. That contract was rational at age five. It still runs at thirty-five, forty-five, fifty-five, which is why setting a boundary with an enmeshed parent feels like committing a crime, not setting a limit. The Emotional Authenticity Method™ is the six-step process Kenny uses to rewire that contract, ending with Feelization, where the new emotional blueprint becomes the loudest voice in the room.Kenny Weiss has helped thousands of high-functioning adults break the loyalty bind, rebuild internal boundaries, and stop competing with their parents for their own marriage. His work is a blueprint rewrite, not symptom management.TOPICS COVEREDenmeshment, enmeshed family, married to your mother, mother son enmeshment, mother daughter enmeshment, identity colonization, loyalty bind, parentification, narcissistic parent, family of origin, codependency with parents, reversed umbilical cord, surrogate spouse, emotional incest, setting boundaries with parents, Worst Day Cycle, Authentic Self Cycle, Emotional Authenticity Method, Kenny WeissTIMESTAMPS0:00 — The Kitchen Scene You Already Know1:30 — Why Your Spouse Has Been the Mistress3:00 — Enmeshment vs Closeness: The Tennis Court Net5:30 — Identity Colonization: The Wound No One Names8:00 — The Reversed Umbilical Cord10:30 — The Worst Day Cycle of Enmeshment13:00 — The Loyalty Bind You Signed at Five15:30 — Why Just Set a Boundary Never Worked17:30 — The Authentic Self Cycle Rewrite19:30 — The Emotional Authenticity Method22:00 — The Conversation That Brings You Home

In this emotionally insightful episode of Nerdy Bitz, The Reverend Tracy returns with a brand-new TL;DL titled “Gilmore Girls, Parentification, And The Romanticization Of Enmeshment.” Using the beloved television series Gilmore Girls as the centerpiece of the discussion, The Reverend Tracy takes a deeper psychological look at the show's famous “best friend mother” dynamic and why so many audiences mistake emotional enmeshment for healthy parenting.While Gilmore Girls is often celebrated for its fast dialogue, quirky charm, and close-knit relationships, this episode explores the darker emotional implications underneath Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's relationship dynamic. The Reverend Tracy examines how the show unintentionally normalizes parentification — a psychological pattern where children take on emotional responsibilities, burdens, or relational roles that are developmentally inappropriate for them.Throughout the episode, she discusses how children placed into emotionally adult roles often become caretakers, mediators, therapists, or emotional support systems for their parents long before they are emotionally equipped to carry those responsibilities. What may appear “cute,” “mature,” or “best-friend-like” on the surface can actually create long-term difficulties involving boundaries, emotional regulation, identity formation, conflict management, and adult relationships later in life.The episode breaks down:What parentification actually isThe difference between closeness and emotional enmeshmentWhy “best friend parenting” can blur emotional boundariesHow children in enmeshed households often suppress their own emotional needsThe psychological consequences of children becoming emotional caretakersHow media romanticizes unhealthy family dynamicsWhy emotionally immature parenting is often misunderstood as relatabilityThe long-term effects parentification can have on anxiety, guilt, people-pleasing, and adult relationshipsThe Reverend Tracy also explores why audiences are frequently drawn to these relationship dynamics in television and film, especially when unhealthy emotional dependency is framed as loyalty, closeness, or unconditional love. Using examples from Gilmore Girls, she highlights how unresolved trauma and emotional loneliness can shape parenting styles in ways that feel normal to viewers who experienced similar family structures growing up.Rather than attacking the series itself, the discussion uses Gilmore Girls as a lens to better understand the importance of healthy boundaries, emotional maturity, and allowing children to fully experience childhood without carrying adult emotional burdens.Support Friends Talking Nerdy on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠.As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms.Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

Your "narcissistic mother" is almost never a narcissist. She is something the rest of YouTube has no language for, and naming it correctly is the only thing that gives you a real shot at getting free.If you have spent years collecting evidence, watching every Dr. Ramani video, and still feel stuck despite finally having a label that explains her behavior, this video is going to land different. You will see why every narcissistic abuse framework identifies the behavior on the surface and never identifies the architecture underneath, and why that gap has kept you in a kind of healing that has no door at the other end.This video walks you through the Worst Day Cycle™, the Authentic Self Cycle™, and the Emotional Authenticity Method™ as applied to the mother-adult-child dynamic, with the Desert vs Denver diagnostic that lets you finally tell the difference between true narcissism and what Kenny Weiss calls the falsely empowered codependent. You will see how enmeshment overwrote your operating system, why setting a boundary with her feels like committing a crime, what the Loyalty Bind is, and the six-step somatic and emotional process that interrupts the collapse in real time.The "narcissistic mother" is almost never a narcissist. She is a falsely empowered codependent, a wounded child in a suit of armor she has been welding on since she was five years old, and the distinction matters because one of these can heal and the other almost never can. The narcissist is the desert, the same weather every day, no buried wound to reach. The falsely empowered codependent is Denver, the weather changes, and the warm days, the real remorse, the genuine apologies are evidence of an Authentic Self that the narcissist does not have.Enmeshment is not closeness. Enmeshment is identity colonization. The mother who used you for emotional intimacy, image management, and ego fulfillment did not just cross your boundaries, she overwrote your entire internal operating system. The Loyalty Bind, the contract your nervous system signed at age five that says if I choose myself I betray her, if I betray her I lose love, if I lose love I die, is why setting a limit with her feels like committing a crime in your body. That contract expired the day you became a functioning adult, but nobody told your nervous system. The withdrawal is real, and it passes.TOPICS COVERED: narcissistic mother, falsely empowered codependent, dr ramani alternative, enmeshment, identity colonization, loyalty bind, codependence spectrum, mother daughter relationship, mother son relationship, kenny weiss, worst day cycle, authentic self cycle, emotional authenticity method, desert vs denver, narcissist or codependent, signs of enmeshment, parentified child, adult child of narcissist00:00 — Why Your Mother Is Probably Not a Narcissist01:30 — Kenny's Safeway Memory at Age Six03:30 — The Real Cultural Epidemic Nobody Names06:00 — Desert vs Denver, The Diagnostic Nobody Else Uses09:00 — The Over-Armored Knight Underneath the Mother Mask11:30 — The Worst Day Cycle™ Running Inside Her14:00 — Enmeshment as Identity Colonization16:00 — The Loyalty Bind and Why Boundaries Feel Like a Crime18:00 — Why the Distinction Decides Whether Healing Is Possible20:00 — The Authentic Self Cycle™ Applied to Your Mother21:30 — The Six-Step Emotional Authenticity Method™ in Real Time23:30 — Three Voices, One Microphone, One Boundary Script24:30 — Why Dr. Ramani Style Frameworks Cannot Touch This25:30 — Identity Close

This Dhamma talk was offered on May 1, 2026 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.

This podcast discusses enmeshment and how it is a form of idolatry known in the Bible as the pride of life.www.CynthiaBaileyRug.com

Enmeshment is a parenting style society mischaracterizes as love. In this video, Kenny Weiss explains how enmeshed families dissolve the boundaries between parent and child, turning the child into an emotional caretaker, confidant, and surrogate spouse before they can even tie their shoes.If you grew up as the responsible one, the peacekeeper, the emotional shock absorber, and you still can't understand why you're exhausted and resentful in your adult relationships, this video connects the dots. Enmeshment creates two types of codependence: the disempowered (people-pleaser, frozen, helpless) and the falsely empowered (super-achiever, hyper-controlling). Both are survival persona formations built to maintain attachment to caregivers. Your childhood did not teach you how to love. It taught you how to disappear.Kenny Weiss teaches that enmeshment follows the Worst Day Cycle™, a four-stage pattern of trauma, fear, shame, and denial installed in the first seven years of life while the brain is in theta wave state. The enmeshed child who was the emotional caretaker becomes the love addict in adult relationships, chasing connection because childhood taught them love must be earned through performing. The enmeshed child who was engulfed becomes the love avoidant, pulling away from intimacy because closeness means being consumed. Neither partner is responding to the present moment. Both are replaying childhood.The Emotional Authenticity Method™ is the six-step process that heals enmeshment at the level where it was installed: the nervous system and emotional blueprint. It begins with somatic down-regulation, moves through identifying the real feeling underneath the guilt and obligation, locating it in the body, tracing it to its childhood origin, connecting with the Authentic Self, and Feelization, the step that builds a new emotional addiction to replace the old enmeshment blueprint.Kenny Weiss is a relationship, communication, and childhood trauma recovery specialist and the creator of the Worst Day Cycle™, the Authentic Self Cycle™, and the Emotional Authenticity Method™. He has spent over two decades helping high-functioning, emotionally exhausted adults break free from repeating patterns of codependence, enmeshment, shutdown, and self-abandonment. His work integrates neuroscience-backed somatic practices with proprietary emotional blueprint mapping to create lasting transformation at the nervous system level.TOPICS COVERED: enmeshment, enmeshed family, parentification, emotional incest, enmeshment trauma, codependency, love addict love avoidant0:00 — The Phone Call That Drops Your Stomach1:30 — What Enmeshment Actually Is and Why Society Celebrates It3:00 — The Facebook Mom Who Moved Into Her Daughter's College4:15 — How Enmeshment Installs Through the Worst Day Cycle6:00 — The Two Survival Personas Enmeshment Creates7:30 — Love Addict and Love Avoidant: The Blueprint Collision9:00 — Why Boundaries, Therapy, and Communication Skills Never Stuck10:30 — The Emotional Authenticity Method: Six Steps for Enmeshment13:00 — Is a Six-Year-Old About to Pick Up the Phone?

Enmeshment happens when your role as a practitioner turns into emotional over-responsibility, and suddenly your worth feels tied to your patients' progress.   Five Strategies to Break Free from Enmeshment 10:29 Set Clear Boundaries 12:59 Encourage Patient Autonomy 16:13 Create Structured Treatment Plans 18:48 Regularly Evaluate Your Practice 23:25 Prioritize Self-Care Links Catalyst Studio Brainstorming Session Select Your FREE Gift Take this Quiz!   Connect with Lara:  Website The Catalyst Way YouTube Instagram  Facebook LinkedIn TikTok     Podcast production and show notes provided by The Catalyst Way

On the episode this week: Aaron sounds oddly familiar.   Aaron talks to guest Dr. Ken Adams. As the expert, Ken answers the age old question: “what is Enmeshment?”. Do you have challenges with control, identity, long term commitment, working too much, affairs, eating disorders, and more? You aren't alone, 50% of people have similar challenges in enmeshment. Find out possible reasons why and how to overcome them on this episode.   Links: Overcoming Enmeshment   Books: Silently Seduced, by: Ken Adams When He's Married to Mom, by: Ken Adams   Walk With Me: Staying Human in an Age of Artificial Companions, by: Nate Larkin   NEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store) June 5-7, 2026 Italian/International Samson Retreat Oct 23-25, 2026 U.S. Samson Summit   Send mail to: Pirate Monk Podcast/Samson House PO BOX 1656 Columbia, TN 38402   If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to piratemonkpodcast@gmail.com.     The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society.   For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com.  Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com.   The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.

ResourcesApply for 1:1 Business MentorshipWork with Dani: TikTok | Instagram | WebsiteRepurpose Ai: Streamline your content creation and repurpose effortlessly with ⁠Repurpose Ai⁠.Later Content Scheduling: Simplify your social media strategy with ⁠Later⁠.Flodesk: Elevate your email marketing with Flodesk – get 50% off your first year using ⁠this link⁠.Other Resources:Submit a question to be featured on the podcast and receive live coaching! Send a voice note or fill out the⁠ question form⁠.Where To Find Us:Instagram:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠TikTok:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠Newsletter:⁠ Subscribe here⁠Threads:⁠ @sigma.wmn⁠Vitality is often overlooked in conversations about health. Instead of focusing on building energy and resilience, many approaches centre on fixing symptoms once something has already gone wrong. In this episode, naturopath Dani May shares her perspective on why vitality should be the starting point for wellbeing.Dani explains how energetic alignment shows up in her naturopathic practice and how supporting the nervous system, creative expression and daily energy levels can change how women experience both health and work. The conversation also explores the emotional side of running a wellbeing practice, including separating your identity from your business and developing resilience when things feel personal.You'll also hear about Dani's path to creating her own voice in naturopathy, why structure can support creative freedom, and how building simple systems in business can give practitioners more space to focus on what they care about most.Tune in to hear:Why focusing on vitality can support long-term wellbeing more than constantly trying to fix problems.What energetic alignment looks like within a naturopathic practice.How systems and structure can give creative women more space and freedom in their work.Find the Complete Show Notes Here → ⁠https://sigmawmn.com/podcast⁠In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why vitality and nervous system support are essential foundations for wellbeing.How separating your identity from your business helps build emotional resilience.Why structure and systems often support creativity rather than restrict it.Themes & Time Stamps:00:00 - Introduction & Getting to Know Dani02:31 - Cultivating Vitality vs. Fixing Problems05:27 - Why Structures & Systems Create Freedom for Creatives06:56 - Dani's Highest Value for 2026: Creative Expression08:14 - Hot Take: Why The Artist's Way May Be Self-Sabotaging10:37 - Using Your Business as a Creative Outlet (And Why It Hurts)16:08 - Enmeshment, Reactivity & Emotional Resilience in Business19:24 - Dani's Unique Flavour of Naturopathy & Energetic Alignment22:12 - What Energetic Alignment Means in Practice23:08 - Cutting Through the Noise: Honouring Your Own Truth25:36 - Why Vitality Matters More Than Just "Fixing" Health Issues27:40 - Replenishing Your Reserves & Nervous System Work30:41 - What Dani Wishes Her Clients Would Stop Doing33:28 - What Dani Gained from Aligned Business Coaching35:34 - How Structure Creates Spaciousness for Creatives38:20 - The Aura Ring Experiment: Why "Flow Days" Are Stressful40:04 - TikTok vs. Instagram for Health & Wellness Businesses44:00 - Dropping the Ego & Going Where Your Clients Are45:07 - Why You Should Start Business Coaching Before You're Ready47:13 - Best First Step to Work with Dani

Melisa and Alli talk how dating looks today compared to 25 years ago before smart phones encouraged near constant contact. We also address how to approach dating multiple people and how to avoid moving too quickly. Send us a DM on Instagram to pitch yourself or your friend! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lesbian-chronicles-coming-out-later-in-life--5601514/support.

In this insightful episode of the Secret Life Podcast, host Brianne Davis-Gantt dives deep into the complexities of enmeshed sibling relationships. She explores how the bonds between brothers and sisters can sometimes blur the lines of individuality, leading to an unhealthy dynamic where one sibling feels responsible for the other's emotions and choices. Brianne sheds light on the signs of enmeshment, including feelings of guilt when making independent decisions and the pressure to maintain constant contact.Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, Brianne illustrates how these relationships often stem from childhood experiences where healthy emotional boundaries were lacking. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing these patterns and taking steps toward healing and independence. Listeners will learn practical strategies to untangle from enmeshment, including fostering self-awareness, tolerating discomfort, and rebuilding their identities outside of their sibling roles.This episode is a vital listen for anyone navigating the intricacies of sibling relationships, particularly those feeling the weight of emotional entanglement. Join Brianne as she encourages you to embrace your individuality while maintaining a loving connection with your siblings, proving that true closeness does not require control.

Do you feel setting a boundary with your narcissistic mother would mean you don't care for her? Or that it would make you a bad daughter? Does that result in you silently taking abuse after abuse all in the name of caring for her? One of the things I get told very often is: I'm not able to set boundaries because I care for her too much.Something that is often assumed is that setting a boundary (which could go all the way to no contact or not) means you don't care about your mother. The thing is: you can still care, but you don't have to take the abuse.We end up mixing caring and remaining silent in the face of abuse because as "good daughters" we feel we need to be responsible for our mother's emotionality. Her emotionality is not and never should have been your responsibility. Feeling responsible for your narcissistic mother emotionality is a result of enmeshment.  In this episode I share 3 steps to break the pattern of enmeshment and reclaim your own life. Your mother is not the protagonist in your life, YOU ARE!Enmeshment with my narcissistic family nearly broke my marriage. If you want to know what helped us going through hell and coming out stronger than ever listen to this new episode of THE HE WANTS SHE WANTS MARRIAGE PODCASTHosted by Mark usher & Matilde Crocini - Relationship & Intimacy Experts

You grew up learning how to read a room before you learned how to read a book. You learned to stay quiet. To manage emotions that weren't yours. To keep the peace so you'd stay safe. And now you're wondering why your relationships feel heavy, why boundaries feel terrifying, and why you tolerate more than you ever should. Imagine understanding why you feel responsible for everyone else's emotions. Imagine finally putting down the invisible backpack you've been carrying your whole life. Imagine choosing yourself without drowning in guilt. In this episode, we're diving deep into enmeshment, codependency, and emotionally immature family systems — and how these childhood dynamics follow us straight into adulthood, romantic relationships, and even motherhood. This conversation will crack things open if you've ever felt like: The truth teller in your family The "good girl" who kept everything together The one who gets blamed for rocking the boat In this episode, you'll learn how to: ✔️ Identify enmeshment vs. codependency — and how each one shows up in your body and behavior ✔️ Understand hero child vs. scapegoat child roles and how they shape adult relationships ✔️ Stop managing emotions that were never yours to carry ✔️ Recognize why chronic defensiveness erodes connection over time ✔️ Set boundaries without shrinking yourself or over-explaining You're not broken. You adapted to survive. And now you get to choose something healthier.   LINKS: Repair Guide for the Woman Taught to Keep the Peace https://breathworkcollective.myflodesk.com/repair-guide-for-women Free Empower YOU Breathwork: https://breathworkcollective.myflodesk.com/empower-breathwork   Boundary Babe Academy: https://the-breathwork-collective.circle.so/checkout/boundary-mastery  Follow My Journey: https://www.instagram.com/its.amandaclark/ The Supported Woman Group Transformation Experience: http://amandaclark.biz/supported-woman-group-coaching   

In this episode, I explore what it really takes to break free from the relationship patterns that keep us stuck—with trained educator and relationship expert Stefanos Sifandos. With a background in behavioral science, trauma, and somatics, Stefanos brings a grounded, embodied perspective to the way we love, attach, and relate to ourselves and others.We unpack how early experiences and unprocessed trauma quietly shape our nervous systems, our choices, and the dynamics we recreate in intimate relationships. Stefanos explains why awareness alone isn't enough, and how lasting change requires working with the body—not just the mind—to rewire safety, trust, and emotional regulation. If you've ever found yourself repeating the same cycles despite years of “knowing better,” this conversation sheds light on why that happens and what actually helps shift it.We also talk about self-leadership, emotional responsibility, and what it means to cultivate a healthier sense of self without bypassing the discomfort that growth often demands. Stefanos shares practical insights on boundaries, communication, and how to meet conflict as an opportunity for deeper connection rather than something to avoid or dominate.This episode is an invitation to relate more consciously to your partner, your past, and yourself. If you're committed to personal growth, healing relational wounds, and stepping into your highest potential with honesty and integrity, this conversation offers both clarity and depth.Order Stefanos' book, Tuned In and Turned On: A Path to True Connection, Deep Healing, and Lasting Love, at tunedinandturnedonbook.com.DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended for diagnosing or treating illnesses. The hosts disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects from using the information presented. Consult your healthcare provider before using referenced products. This podcast may include paid endorsements.THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:BON CHARGE | Use the code LIFESTYLIST for 15% off at boncharge.com/lifestylistQUANTUM UPGRADE | Start your 15-day free trial at lukestorey.com/quantumupgradeFOUR SIGMATIC | Get a free bag of their bestselling mushroom coffee at foursigmatic.com/lukeLVLUP HEALTH | Get 15% off with code LUKE15 at lukestorey.com/lvlupMORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:(00:00:00) Place, Memory, and the Moment Everything Broke Open(00:20:03) How Childhood Wounds Shape Our Adult Relationships(00:33:33) Codependency, the Nervous System, and the Real Work of Intimacy(01:14:34) Celibacy, Solitude, and Rebuilding Self-Worth from the Inside Out(01:45:15) Body Shame, Transparency, and Emotional Responsibility in Relationship(02:10:35) The Mother Wound, Enmeshment, and Integrating Growth(02:32:58) Integrity, Service, and the Inner Conflict Around Being Paid to HelpResources:• Website: stefanossifandos.com• Instagram:

Are You Tired of Shrinking Yourself Just to Keep the Peace?Beloved,Do you ever notice yourself orbiting around someone else's mood—adjusting, fine-tuning, quietly making yourself smaller so things stay comfortable?Is there a tender ache inside you… a longing to be chosen? To be someone's priority without having to earn it through over-giving, fixing, or disappearing?And at the same time, does a small voice whisper: What if my needs are too much?This Isn't a Flaw—It's a Survival PatternThese feelings aren't random. They're signals from your nervous system, rooted in something deeper than this lifetime.You carry invisible agreements—soul contracts formed long ago when you learned that love required self-abandonment. Codependency is the word we use, but energetically, it looks like cords and hooks that whisper: My worth depends on how well I manage others.These patterns often began in childhood, in environments heavy with unspoken needs, instability, or emotional chaos. You learned to stay safe by becoming hyper-attuned to everyone else.What Once Protected You Is Now Keeping You StuckWhen your nervous system wired itself to anticipate danger, silence your truth, or become responsible for someone else's emotions, it required a kind of forgetting—a forgetting of your original sovereignty.Even now, as you crave real connection, you might find yourself stuck in the same painful loop:* Is it safe to be seen in my full intensity?* Will I be “too much” if I ask for reciprocal care?* Can I actually rest inside relationship without vanishing?Love, I know this heaviness and low vibe feeling. And I also know it doesn't have to stay this way.So, perhaps the answer is yes. And there is work we can do together.You Were Never Meant to Disappear in Order to Be LovedThrough the Light Between Oracle, I'll walk beside you as we release the energetic contracts formed in moments of fear, confusion, or self-erasure.Using sacred technologies—unconscious contract clearing, channeling from your Higher Self, and attunement to your Light Body's intelligence—we begin restoring what your nervous system forgot.Together, we will:* Listen compassionately to the younger parts of you who believed love required smallness* Witness and clear the energetic hooks still binding you to past dynamics* Rewrite the vows that say “I must fix others to stay connected”* Restore sovereignty to your field—so you belong first to yourselfThis work is subtle, but it reverberates. Once a soul remembers its center, it doesn't easily forget again.You're Not Too Much. You're Coming Home.You were born to be loved for who you are—not for how well you manage, fix, or disappear.You are simply returning to the full frequency of who you were always meant to be: Whole. Expressed. Guided. Sovereign.Your Invitation to Step Back Into YourselfIf your heart stirred reading this, you're ready. Not because you've hit a breaking point, but because some quiet part of you knows it's time to come home.I'm waiting for you inside the Light Between Oracle app.There, you'll receive Personal Bespoke Readings crafted specifically for your energetic signature, alongside guided practices to clear your field, recalibrate your nervous system, and activate your Light Body.This isn't dependency. It's devotion—to your clarity, your healing, your divine remembrance.Allow me to walk with you.Open The Light Between Oracle now and step onto the path of sacred reclamation.With devotion,With love and order in your energy,Yours truly,Kassandra, co-creator with - EmpathicaP.S. I hope you'll join me so we can work through the stress held in your body—helping your heart and mind move through this changing world with peace.Go to thelightbetweenoracle.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelightbetween.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Jake and Bob reflect on a few topics that were discussed during a recent "Holy Desire" Priest's retreat with the JPII Healing Center. They discuss the connection between communion with God and the removal of pain, how woundedness redirects good desires, and why coping strategies are not usually virtuous. Jake and Bob also answer a few questions received from priests at the retreat, such as—Am I using wounds as an excuse for sin? What is the difference between soul ties and enmeshment? And should I share my wounds with my parents?   Key Points: Healing is best understood as an ongoing encounter with God's love that restores communion and is not simply the removal of pain. Pain relief can be a fruit of healing, but it should never become the primary goal over intimacy with God. Broken communion is the reason we experience pain. Wounds often lead us to develop maladaptive responses that we mistakenly elevate into "virtues." Holy desires naturally draw us toward love and communion with God and others. When wounds and vows press down on holy desires, those desires often emerge sideways as disordered desires. Disordered desires are not evil at their core but are distorted expressions of something originally good. Enmeshment reflects a lack of healthy differentiation and often develops within family systems. Soul ties are distorted bonds that form through sin, wounds, or misplaced dependency. Learning to recognize the good desire beneath another's behavior transforms how we relate to them. Love grows when we respond to a person's holy desire rather than reacting to their maladaptive behavior. Discernment, timing, and freedom of heart are essential when considering sharing one's wounds with parents.   Resources: Principles of Catholic Theology by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Holy Desire Workbook (In the dropdown menu select the "Workbook" as the type) Rick and Dick Hoyt Video Deadly Wounds and Holy Desires Chart   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 06:34 What does "I Experienced Healing" Mean? 13:40 Can the Way I Cope with a Wound Actually be a Virtue? 18:42 How are Disordered Desires Formed? 29:36 How Do I Find the Holy Desire Behind My Sin? 35:55 Am I Treating Woundedness as an Excuse for Sin? 42:54 What is the Difference Between a Soul Tie and Enmeshment? 51:07 Should I Share My Wounds with My Parents?   Connect with Restore the Glory:  Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast  Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast   Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!

Do you consider yourself GenX?  Do you know someone who was born between 1965-1980?  Don't miss this episode inspired by a TikTok on "The Top GenX Blindspots". Whoa! For me, and many midlife women, these are things we learned to do to survive in a system where our emotional and mental needs weren't met. We were pretty ingenious actually, one might even say, warrior like! Yet, as adults, these adaptive, protective strategies become maladaptive and hurt us and our relationships. Join me as I explain how the way we were raised might be quietly sabotaging our emotional wellbeing and the health of our relationships.  If you have ever wondered why you say you are fine when you are not, why you push your own needs aside, or why you feel responsible for everyone around you, this episode will help so much. And I don't leave you hanging - after listening, you'll have some simple strategies to help you care for yourself, connect more deeply, and begin shifting patterns that have been in place for decades.  This episode is the perfect starting point as we begin a new year and move toward February's relationship healing work in the Love Your Life School. Join me, fellow GenX woman, as I look at three hidden patterns that are probably playing out in your relationships and affecting your mental health.    If you liked this show, you'll love these two:   Learned helplessness on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/274-overfunctioning-and-learned-helplessness/id1434429161?i=1000634097009   Learned helplessness on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MF4IJSaVSMpfNhRAb7wyN?si=JuwR8qQnRiydi4fKDz1UDw   Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/enmeshment-codependency-with-dr-kate-balestrieri/id1434429161?i=1000733979384   Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WMOkGaEpLNHcmvF0W5JTa?si=kMALGFXuTQWzb-oFH5qDGQ   Get the full show notes here

Do you consider yourself GenX? Do you know someone who was born between 1965-1980? Don't miss this episode inspired by a TikTok on “The Top GenX Blindspots”. Whoa! For me, and many midlife women, these are things we learned to do to survive in a system where our emotional and mental needs weren't met. We were pretty ingenious actually, one might even say, warrior like! Yet, as adults, these adaptive, protective strategies become maladaptive and hurt us and our relationships. Join me as I explain how the way we were raised might be quietly sabotaging our emotional wellbeing and the health of our relationships. If you have ever wondered why you say you are fine when you are not, why you push your own needs aside, or why you feel responsible for everyone around you, this episode will help so much. And I don't leave you hanging - after listening, you'll have some simple strategies to help you care for yourself, connect more deeply, and begin shifting patterns that have been in place for decades. This episode is the perfect starting point as we begin a new year and move toward February's relationship healing work in the Love Your Life School. Join me, fellow GenX woman, as I look at three hidden patterns that are probably playing out in your relationships and affecting your mental health. If you liked this show, you'll love these two: Learned helplessness on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/274-overfunctioning-and-learned-helplessness/id1434429161?i=1000634097009 Learned helplessness on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MF4IJSaVSMpfNhRAb7wyN?si=JuwR8qQnRiydi4fKDz1UDw Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/enmeshment-codependency-with-dr-kate-balestrieri/id1434429161?i=1000733979384 Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WMOkGaEpLNHcmvF0W5JTa?si=kMALGFXuTQWzb-oFH5qDGQ Get the full show notes here

The first episode of the Neurodiverse Love Docuseries will be released on February 14, 2026. Through this four part series, you will meet four Neurodiverse couples who share some of their lived experiences, lessons learned and the strengths, challenges and differences they've had in their marriages. None of the couples knew they were in a mixed neurotype relationship when they married and each shares some of the experiences that have led to more connection, understanding and acceptance of each other's differences.In addition, you will hear from three coaches/therapists who work with Neurodiverse couples. They share their perspective on why challenges may be occurring and also provide strategies and tools for increasing connection.To contribute to this very important project or to learn more about the docuseries click here.——————————————————————————During this episode you will hear another presentation from the 2025 Neurodiverse Love Conference. Greg Fuqua reviews the most common and important dynamic patterns he sees in ND relationships. He also reviews ways of empowering healthier patterns of growth and understanding in ND couples. More specifically GRE addresses the following topics:ADHDer's and Autistics; The magnetism of ND polarities;Emotional Dynamics;Enmeshment vs Ownership;Co-regulation vs Self-regulation;Pursuer/avoidant; Communication Dynamics;Nuanced vs Literal;Emotional Content/Context vs Factual and Logistical Content.Greg Fuqua is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMHC) in the state of Iowa and runs Divergent Counseling, Coaching and Consulting LLC that supports neurodiverse couples, neurodivergent issues, therapists and others nationwide/worldwide through counseling, trainings, consultations and coaching. He is a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS); a level 2 trained Neurodiverse Couples Therapist and identifies as autistic himself. Greg has appeared as a special guest and 2-time season co-host of the “Neurodiverse Love” Podcast and he is the Co-host of the “Neurodivergent Connections” YouTube channel with Mona Kay and Scott Simpson. Greg specializes in working with Autistics, ADHDers and neurotypes of all kinds, including Neurodiverse (ND) Couples, ND families, transgender and LGBTQ clients and DID, OSDD or plurality/multiplicity in clients. Greg is a trauma informed therapist and an Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner. You can learn more about Greg at: https://www.gregfuqua.com——————————————————————————If you would like to buy unlimited access to all 30+ video sessions from the 2025 Neurodiverse Love Conference click here and use code Podcast50 to get $50 off. With your purchase you will also get these FREE BONUSES: unlimited access to the 27 video sessions from the 2023 Neurodiverse Love Conference, the Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards and Workbook. If you have any questions or need additional information please email: neurodiverselove4u@gmail.com

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2870: Dr. Margaret Rutherford explores the hidden emotional toll of enmeshment, when a parent relies too heavily on their child for emotional support and identity. She reveals how this dynamic stifles independence, breeds guilt, and leaves adult children struggling with boundaries, self-trust, and autonomy, while also offering guidance on how to break the cycle and heal. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drmargaretrutherford.com/when-a-parent-needs-too-much-what-is-enmeshment-and-how-does-it-hurt-a-child/ Quotes to ponder: "If the parent represses the girl's (or boy's) anger not just once but over and over again, a deeper injury occurs: the girl will eventually dismantle her anger response." "When the child reaches adulthood, they can be stricken by guilt for simply wanting and needing their own life." "Your task is to build your own sense of identity, while learning to share in healthy supportive relationships." Episode references: Educated: https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2870: Dr. Margaret Rutherford explores the hidden emotional toll of enmeshment, when a parent relies too heavily on their child for emotional support and identity. She reveals how this dynamic stifles independence, breeds guilt, and leaves adult children struggling with boundaries, self-trust, and autonomy, while also offering guidance on how to break the cycle and heal. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drmargaretrutherford.com/when-a-parent-needs-too-much-what-is-enmeshment-and-how-does-it-hurt-a-child/ Quotes to ponder: “If the parent represses the girl's (or boy's) anger not just once but over and over again, a deeper injury occurs: the girl will eventually dismantle her anger response." “When the child reaches adulthood, they can be stricken by guilt for simply wanting and needing their own life.” “Your task is to build your own sense of identity, while learning to share in healthy supportive relationships.” Episode references: Educated: https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whitney brings on Amanda White from Therapy for Women to react to the most requested show from her audience, you guessed it: Gilmore Girls. They break down season one, episode 18 "The Third Lorelai," analyzing the dynamic between four generations of women—Emily, Lorelai, and Rory plus the chaotic arrival of Emily's mother-in-law Trix. Even if you haven't seen Gilmore Girls or this episode, Whitney and Amanda explore the universal experiences of being controlled by a matriarch, how emotional distance in one generation can create enmeshment in the next which in turn can cause estrangement in the next, and the weaponization of money and gifts in family dynamics.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? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.coAmanda's website: https://therapyforwomencenter.com/therapist/amanda-e-white-lpc/Therapy for Women IG: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomencenterJoin the Family Cyclebreakers Club⁠⁠Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhitFollow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft⁠⁠Order Whitney's book, Toxic PositivityLearn more about ad choices. Visit podcast.choices.com/adchoicesThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.04:00 Scene 1: Emily loses control when her mother-in-law visits07:12 Scene 2: Money as connection and control23:04 Scene 3: Weaponizing gifts and criticism440:54 Scene 4: Lorelai's insecurity49:21 The dinner table scale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Camille U. Adams joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about generations of mothers choosing to unmother their children, colonial violence in Trinidad and Tobago, stifling relationships, cognitive dissonance, finding the psychological, emotional, and geographical distance we need, narcissism and the golden child, not wanting to tell the story we ultimately find a way to tell, being a poet first, retracting and pulling back to get close to ourselves and write, exigence in memoir, going no contact with family, cocooning ourselves, finding support systems that work, getting into literary magazines, how content creates form, and her 300-page poem How To Be Unmothered: a Trinidadian memoir. Info/Registration for Ronit's 10-Week Memoir Class Memoir Writing: Finding Your Story https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/memoir-writing-finding-your-story   Also in this episode: -the narcissist's nest -using elements of fiction -trusting yourself   Books mentioned in this episode: -Thick and Other Essays by Dr. Tressie McMillam Cottom -Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz -Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat -Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward -The Dragon Can't Dance by Earl Lovelace -The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon   Dr. Camille U. Adams is a writer from Trinidad and Tobago. Camille is the author of the memoir, How To Be Unmothered: a Trinidadian memoir, released August 2025 with Restless Books. Her manuscript was recognised as a finalist in the Restless Books Prize in New Immigrant Writing 2023. Camille earned her MFA in Poetry from City College, CUNY and a Ph.D. in Creative Nonfiction from FSU. She has been awarded Best of The Net - nonfiction 2024, and has received five Pushcart Prize nominations, three Best of the Net nominations, and recognition for a notable essay in Best American Essays 2022. Among Camille's awarded fellowships is an inaugural Tin House Reading Fellowship, an inaugural Granta nature writing workshop fellowship, an inaugural Anaphora Arts Italy Writing Retreat Fellowship, a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, a Community of Writers Erica Ellner Memorial Scholarship, and a Roots Wounds Words Fellowship. Additionally, Camille is a Tin House alum and has received support from Kenyon Writers Workshop, VONA, and others. She has served as a juried reader for Tin House for two consecutive years, as a CNF editor at Variant Lit, and as an assistant editor at Split Lip Magazine and at The Account. Camille currently lives in Brooklyn where she teaches and is hard at work on book two.    Connect with Camille: Website: www.camilleuadams.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camille_u_adams Twitter: https://x.com/camille_u_adams Threads: https://www.threads.com/@camille_u_adams Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/camilleuadams.bsky.social   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book.   More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social

In this reflection I use an email that I received a few days ago to expand the conversation around interpersonal conflict.  Supporting themes:  Enmeshment; Epistemic equality; AI analysis.   Typology:  INTJ; Enneagram 8; ISFJ; ISFP; INFP.  

Today's podcast explains the dynamics of being in a marriage damaged by family enmeshment, and offers encouragement for the non-enmeshed spouse in this situation.(Please pardon the unusual voice. I use a voice cloner because I have some physical issues with my voice and this time (along with a few others) it surprised me with someone else's voice entirely..LOL I thought her voice sounded nice so I decided to leave it.)www.CynthiaBaileyRug.com

Wondering if your mother-in-law is just “a lot,” or if you're actually dealing with a truly toxic mother-in-law situation? You are so not the only one lying awake replaying her comments and wondering what to do when this relationship feels way too involved in your marriage and family. In this episode, we're talking about how a toxic mother-in-law dynamic starts to erode your sense of safety at home. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish - clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and author of You, Your Husband and His Mother - joins me to talk honestly about what happens when your partner is still emotionally tied to his mom, you're trying to build a healthy new family, and you keep getting caught in the middle. We look at why some moms struggle to let go, why so many women end up over-functioning for everyone, and why so many men freeze or minimize when it's time to set boundaries with a toxic mother-in-law… and then we talk about what you can do: becoming a united “vault” as a couple, setting real boundaries instead of endless “requests,” and getting clear on your options when the dynamic with your mother-in-law is starting to feel unbearable. Here's how we walk through it together: 00:00 Why Mother-in-Law Conflicts Hurt Communication and Connection 03:14 Dr. Tracy's Story and Why She Wrote “You, Your Husband and His Mother” 05:24 Mother–Son Bonds, Gender Roles, and the Roots of Toxic Mother-in-Law Dynamics 11:03 Unhealthy Family Patterns: Control, Enmeshment, and Emotional Caretaking of Mom 20:56 Overfunctioning Wives, Underfunctioning Husbands, and the Mother–Child Dynamic 24:39 The VAULT Method: Becoming a United Couple and Setting Boundaries with In-Laws 30:48 Requests vs Boundaries: What Really Works with a Toxic Mother-in-Law 51:41 Change, Accept, or Leave: Your Choices in a Toxic Mother-in-Law Situation If this stirs up a very specific conversation with your partner (or a replay of your last holiday with his mom) and your chest tightens a little, I have something for exactly that moment. My Communication That Connects training walks you through the evidence-based do's and don'ts of communication that actually creates understanding instead of more defensiveness and hurt. I'll help you get clear about the real issues under your fights, give you a framework you can start using right away with your partner, and walk you step-by-step through how to have hard conversations in a way that protects your emotional bond instead of tearing it down. And if you're at the point where you're thinking, “I don't want to keep holding this all together by myself,” I would be genuinely honored to support you more directly. At Growing Self, you can privately tell us what's going on with your marriage, your mother-in-law, your family, and we'll help you connect with the right therapist or coach on my team. It's a simple, secure way to raise your hand and say, “Here's what I'm struggling with, please point me to the right person.” You can start that process anytime by scheduling a consultation. You deserve a family life that feels safe, sane, and loving, even if your extended family is… a lot.

This podcast offers tips for victims of enmeshed, emotionally incestuous parents to help them heal.(Please pardon the unusual voice. I use a voice cloner because I have some physical issues with my voice and this time (along with a few others) it surprised me with someone else's voice entirely..LOL I thought her voice sounded nice so I decided to leave it.)www.CynthiaBaileyRug.com

Are you struggling to set boundaries with a parent?  Do you feel responsible for other people's emotions?  Are you having trouble breaking free from codependent behavior? Well great news….you might be experiencing enmeshment! Enmeshment and enmeshment trauma can deeply affect your sense of self, your peace, and your current relationships. In this episode of the Love Your Life Show, I sit down with expert Dr. Kate Balestrieri, to break down: - What enmeshment and enmeshment trauma really are - How it shows up in families, divorces, and romantic relationships - Red flags that you might be stuck in an enmeshed dynamic - How to begin healing and individuating (even if this has been your “normal” for years) - How to be the CYCLE BREAKER

Are you struggling to set boundaries with a parent?  Do you feel responsible for other people's emotions?  Are you having trouble breaking free from codependent behavior? Well great news….you might be experiencing enmeshment! Enmeshment and enmeshment trauma can deeply affect your sense of self, your peace, and your current relationships. In this episode of the Love Your Life Show, I sit down with expert Dr. Kate Balestrieri, to break down: - What enmeshment and enmeshment trauma really are - How it shows up in families, divorces, and romantic relationships - Red flags that you might be stuck in an enmeshed dynamic - How to begin healing and individuating (even if this has been your "normal" for years) - How to be the CYCLE BREAKER

Listen to my Morning Monologue: I'm sharing my take on pressing issues, enlightening research on human behavior, answering questions I get by email, and my favorite, most instructive interactions with callers. Everything you'll hear is designed to help you become a better spouse, parent, family member, co-worker, friend, and human being. It's the free therapy you need! Call 1-800-DR-LAURA / 1-800-375-2872 or make an appointment at DrLaura.comFollow me on social media:Facebook.com/DrLauraInstagram.com/DrLauraProgramYouTube.com/DrLauraJoin My Family!!Receive my Weekly Newsletter + 20% off my Marriage 101 course & 25% off Merch! Sign up now, it's FREE!Each week you'll get new articles, featured emails from listeners, special event invitations, early access to my Dr. Laura Designs Store benefiting Children of Fallen Patriots, and MORE! Sign up at DrLaura.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Those of us with children understand there is no parenting blueprint or path to “get it right” all the time. This can lead us to shy away from offering empathy as we become afraid of enabling poor behavior or stealing opportunities for them to build resilience. Yet it's empathy — even imperfect empathy — that empowers us to help our children through grace and truth.  Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi chats with Briana about some empathy challenges in parenting and how to bounce back when you miss the mark. You'll learn practical tools to care for your children through empathy in a way that helps them rise to the challenge of growth and independence. And this is helpful in all of our closest relationships — not just with kids! Resources for this Episode:Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for YouSecure: Letters From Papa to Help Moms Nurture Their Child's DevelopmentDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

“Differentiation of self is being a unique individual while maintaining connection with people you love,” explains Dr. Julie Hanks. “We've been trained, particularly as women, to be enmeshed—to feel other people's pain for them. And that does no one any good. It doesn't help them, and it doesn't help us.” On Episode 239, Dr. Hanks joins Cynthia and Susan for a conversation about enmeshment. It has been a core theme in her 30 years of practice as a therapist in Utah, working with families in which “the boundaries are not clear at all and everything's everyone's business.” So why are some Latter-day Saints prone to focusing too much on the lives and choices of their children or other family members? Does our church have teachings that actually promote family enmeshment?  

Whitney analyzes the Amazon Prime show "The Girlfriend" to explore mother-son enmeshment and emotional incest. She analyzes how the show illustrates blurred boundaries, guilt and manipulation, marital dysfunction, and the devastating long-term impacts on sons' ability to form healthy romantic relationships, connecting the fictional dynamics to real research on these family patterns. 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. 00:00 Introduction to The Girlfriend and Mother-Son Enmeshment 04:00 Defining Emotional Incest and What It Looks Like 09:06 Power Assertion and Blocked Individuation 14:10 The Girlfriend as Both Rival and Mirror 17:25 How Marital Dysfunction Fuels Enmeshment 21:56 Why Enmeshed Sons Struggle with Adult Partnerships 25:12 Lies, Isolation, and the Ultimate Betrayal 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

Learn how lower-vibrational forces latch on and how to protect yourself.MAGNETIC AFFIRMATIONS (25 MINUTE):https://youtu.be/diRQevBDhio?si=RnB1gMEk4SqYlhljMAGNETIC AFFIRMATIONS (1HR+): https://21-day-break-up-glow-up-challenge.teachable.com/p/making-mind-magnetic-affirmations-all-eyes-will-be-on-you-793498

The mother wound is often missed or misunderstood... however, iv found it to be the missing link to most guys wounds that lead them down the road to addictions to sex, porn and masturbationWhy?Because the mother is at the heart of our safety, nurture, affection and intimacy. She models for us what a women is like and what its like to interact and live around oneWhen men have a mother wound, they struggle to feel safe, to trust, to risk, to find their voiceI talk about my weekly Trauma Care Workshop on this episode - These workshops have been FIRE in our all new Inner Circle program - a place of proven recovery, brotherhood and identity in ChristJoin the ⁠⁠⁠DeepClean Inner Circle⁠⁠⁠⁠ today!In this Episode, Im going to talk about everything mother wound:- How our mother forms our sexuality- Common wounds from the mother- Enmeshment - mom uses the son to numb her pain- Triangulation - mom does everything for the family to numb her pain- 4 practical steps you can take to heal your mother wound and BE A MAN who is free from porn, masturbation, sex and the fear holding you down from all God made you to beLooking for MORE? Work with me 1:1: ⁠Book your free strategy call to learn more about DeepClean Signature ⁠Our all new Inner Circle program has been FIRE - a place of proven recovery, brotherhood and identity in ChristJoin the ⁠⁠DeepClean Inner Circle⁠⁠ ⁠today!If you're really on the fence of what to do next, ⁠⁠⁠heres my free 90 day porn survival guide⁠⁠⁠, this can be an awesome starting point if you're not ready to invest $2 per dayMORE resources and info on 1:1 Coaching with Shawn: ⁠⁠https://secrethabit.ca/

Welcome to the "Week in Review," where we delve into the true stories behind this week's headlines. Your host, Tony Brueski, joins hands with a rotating roster of guests, sharing their insights and analysis on a collection of intriguing, perplexing, and often chilling stories that made the news.       This is not your average news recap. With the sharp investigative lens of Tony and his guests, the show uncovers layers beneath the headlines, offering a comprehensive perspective that traditional news can often miss. From high-profile criminal trials to in-depth examinations of ongoing investigations, this podcast takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of true crime and current events.       Each episode navigates through multiple stories, illuminating their details with factual reporting, expert commentary, and engaging conversation. Tony and his guests discuss each case's nuances, complexities, and human elements, delivering a multi-dimensional understanding to their audience.  Whether you are a dedicated follower of true crime, or an everyday listener interested in the stories shaping our world, the "Week in Review" brings you the perfect balance of intrigue, information, and intelligent conversation. Expect thoughtful analysis, informed opinions, and thought-provoking discussions beyond the 24-hour news cycle. Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Welcome to the "Week in Review," where we delve into the true stories behind this week's headlines. Your host, Tony Brueski, joins hands with a rotating roster of guests, sharing their insights and analysis on a collection of intriguing, perplexing, and often chilling stories that made the news.       This is not your average news recap. With the sharp investigative lens of Tony and his guests, the show uncovers layers beneath the headlines, offering a comprehensive perspective that traditional news can often miss. From high-profile criminal trials to in-depth examinations of ongoing investigations, this podcast takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of true crime and current events.       Each episode navigates through multiple stories, illuminating their details with factual reporting, expert commentary, and engaging conversation. Tony and his guests discuss each case's nuances, complexities, and human elements, delivering a multi-dimensional understanding to their audience.  Whether you are a dedicated follower of true crime, or an everyday listener interested in the stories shaping our world, the "Week in Review" brings you the perfect balance of intrigue, information, and intelligent conversation. Expect thoughtful analysis, informed opinions, and thought-provoking discussions beyond the 24-hour news cycle. Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The impact of enmeshed families doesn't end in childhood—it follows people into every adult relationship. In this segment, Tony Brueski, Stacy, Todd, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore how toxic loyalty and control spill into marriages, friendships, and self-identity. From mandatory Sunday dinners to overbearing in-laws, the conversation highlights how enmeshed families suffocate independence—even decades later. Stacy shares her own jaw-dropping story about an ex-mother-in-law who tried to control everything, from prom night to medical crises, underscoring how deeply this pattern runs. Shavaun explains how parents like Donna Adelson can live “inside” a child's head, influencing every decision—even when physically absent. For many, the control doesn't fade until the parent dies, leaving a strange combination of grief and freedom. Some adult children even describe it as a physical weight being lifted the day the controlling parent is buried. We explore how these dynamics breed anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. People raised in such homes often replicate the cycle, marrying partners who resemble the controlling parent, chasing the same dysfunctional approval, or reliving unresolved trauma. This discussion shows how enmeshment can feel like a cult on a micro level: unquestioned authority, alternate reality, roles assigned to each family member, and loyalty above all else. It's a chilling framework that helps explain why certain families, like the Adelsons, cross moral and legal boundaries. Hashtags: #AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #FamilyTrauma #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #EnmeshedFamilies #PsychologyOfCrime #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The impact of enmeshed families doesn't end in childhood—it follows people into every adult relationship. In this segment, Tony Brueski, Stacy, Todd, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore how toxic loyalty and control spill into marriages, friendships, and self-identity. From mandatory Sunday dinners to overbearing in-laws, the conversation highlights how enmeshed families suffocate independence—even decades later. Stacy shares her own jaw-dropping story about an ex-mother-in-law who tried to control everything, from prom night to medical crises, underscoring how deeply this pattern runs. Shavaun explains how parents like Donna Adelson can live “inside” a child's head, influencing every decision—even when physically absent. For many, the control doesn't fade until the parent dies, leaving a strange combination of grief and freedom. Some adult children even describe it as a physical weight being lifted the day the controlling parent is buried. We explore how these dynamics breed anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. People raised in such homes often replicate the cycle, marrying partners who resemble the controlling parent, chasing the same dysfunctional approval, or reliving unresolved trauma. This discussion shows how enmeshment can feel like a cult on a micro level: unquestioned authority, alternate reality, roles assigned to each family member, and loyalty above all else. It's a chilling framework that helps explain why certain families, like the Adelsons, cross moral and legal boundaries. Hashtags: #AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #FamilyTrauma #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #EnmeshedFamilies #PsychologyOfCrime #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this revealing episode of the Secret Life Podcast, host Brianne Davis-Gantt confronts the complex dynamics of dysfunctional families. With her trademark authenticity, Brianne breaks down the seven types of dysfunctional family systems, including enmeshment, authoritarianism, and emotional neglect, shedding light on how these patterns can shape our lives and relationships.Throughout the episode, she explores the roles individuals often assume within these families—scapegoat, hero, lost child, and more—demystifying how these roles contribute to the ongoing cycle of dysfunction. Brianne shares her personal insights and encourages listeners to reflect on their own family backgrounds, emphasizing that it is possible to break free from these inherited patterns.Listeners will gain practical tools for recognizing and addressing dysfunction in their own lives, empowering them to take charge of their narratives and create healthier family dynamics. Brianne's candid discussion serves as a powerful reminder that change is possible if one is willing to do the work. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that invites you to examine your roots and redefine your future.