Grieving a Parent Who Wasn’t Really There: How to Mourn the Relationship You Never Got
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
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.
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22:33
Q&A: I Answer Your Mother's Day Questions
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
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29:12
Trauma From A Survivor's POV with Nate Postlethwait
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
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1:00:26
Q&A: My Twin Brother Must Hate Me (UPDATED!)
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
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27:05
The Power of Apologizing: How to Repair When You React
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
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.
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