Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman

Joshua Coleman
  • 4.7 (33)
  • Relationships

Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman is a podcast dedicated to exploring and understanding the intricate dynamics of family life through a multifaceted lens. Hosted by Dr. Joshua Coleman, a seasoned psychologist with decades of experience, this show dives deep into the complexities of modern familial relationships, along with transformative strategies to foster healthier connections and mend broken bonds. Each episode will tackle a broad range of topics affecting families today - from estranged relationships and family conflict, to the latest research and evolving societal pressures. Discussions will be intellectually stimulating, offering a 360-degree view of the strains on family life through interviews with leading academics, psychologists, sociologists and historians. If you’ve ever asked: • Why do adult relationships with parents fall apart?• When is estrangement appropriate?• Is reconciling and healing after estrangement possible?• Why is estrangement becoming more common today? Then you’re in the right place. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply interested in understanding the current landscape of family dynamics, Family Troubles will provide valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives. Join in as we unravel the modern challenges facing families, share expert opinions, and provide a space for learning about the evolving nature of family estrangement and relationships.

  1. 4d ago

    What's It Like for the Child Who Isn't Estranged When the Other Is? With Celia Flinn

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Celia Flinn, a school-based therapist in the Bay Area who brings both clinical insight and lived experience to the topic of sibling estrangement. Celia shares what happened when her sibling became estranged from her parents, how that changed her role in the family, and what it felt like to become the child who stayed. We talk about the often overlooked impact of estrangement on siblings. When one child cuts off contact, the sibling who remains can become the middleman, the emotional support, the “good child,” or the person expected to hold the family together. Celia describes the loneliness of that position, the pressure it can create, and the complicated grief of loving both the parents who are in pain and the sibling who has pulled away. Celia also shares the concept of the “glass child,” a term often used for siblings of children with serious medical or developmental needs, but one that can also apply in estrangement. It is the feeling of being present, but looked through, while the family’s emotional attention is focused on the person who is absent. Listen for more on: • How sibling estrangement affects the child who remains connected to the family • What it feels like to become the middleman between estranged family members • The pressure of being the “good kid” or the child who stays • Why siblings may feel both loyalty and resentment during family estrangement • How the “glass child” experience can show up in estranged families • Why parents may unintentionally overlook the pain of the child who is still present • The importance of boundaries when a sibling relationship becomes one-sided • Why communication requires both sharing your truth and tolerating someone else’s • How therapists can help or hurt when they encourage cutoff without exploring repair • Why slowing down, managing emotions, and listening can make reconnection more possible Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about sibling estrangement, family roles, communication, and the quiet pain carried by the child who stays. Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  2. Jul 21

    Turning Pain into Purpose: A Conversation with Alphonso James

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Alphonso James, a speaker, advocate, author, and exoneree who spent 32 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. At 17 years old, Alphonso was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, but his story is not only about injustice. It is also about resilience, forgiveness, faith, and the difficult inner work of becoming free long before he was physically released. Alphonso shares what it was like to enter prison as a teenager, how he survived solitary confinement, and the moment that began to change the course of his life. We talk about the power of being believed, the role of forgiveness, and how pain, trauma, and rage can either imprison us further or become part of a larger path toward healing. We also discuss what Alphonso’s experience can teach families about estrangement, bitterness, listening, and the possibility of reconciliation. His perspective is deeply moving, especially when he talks about forgiving the people who wrongfully imprisoned him, the cost of holding onto anger, and why sometimes the most healing thing we can offer another person is simply to listen. Listen for more on: • What it was like for Alphonso to be wrongfully convicted at 17 years old • How he survived 32 years in prison while maintaining his innocence • The moment someone finally said, “I believe you,” and why those words changed his life • How Alphonso taught himself to read and began his journey of self-discovery • Why forgiveness does not mean saying that what happened was okay • How bitterness can keep both ourselves and others emotionally imprisoned • What estranged families can learn from Alphonso’s approach to forgiveness • Why listening can be more powerful than advice • How trauma continues even after freedom, healing, and public success • Why true freedom is not only about leaving a physical prison, but breaking the prisons we carry inside ourselves Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a powerful conversation about wrongful conviction, forgiveness, family, trauma, and what it means to turn pain into purpose. Guest links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealphonsojames/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-alphonso-james/ Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  3. Jul 14

    Gender Identity, Therapists and Culture as Paths to Estrangement with Sasha Ayad

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Sasha Ayad, M.Ed., LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked with adolescents for over 19 years and focuses on teens and young adults struggling with gender dysphoria and gender identity. Sasha and I discuss the complicated intersection of gender identity, therapy, adolescence, culture, and family estrangement. We explore why some parents feel shut out of conversations around their child’s identity, how therapists and cultural messages can shape family dynamics, and why curiosity, caution, and emotional nuance matter when families are navigating deeply personal and often polarizing issues. Sasha shares what she has observed through her clinical work with gender-questioning adolescents, as well as her consultations with families and parents. We talk about the importance of psychological exploration, the influence of online communities and cultural narratives, and how families can become divided when disagreement is treated as rejection or harm. Listen for more on: • Why adolescence can be such a complex time for identity development • How gender dysphoria and gender identity questions can affect family relationships • Why some parents feel excluded, blamed, or misunderstood in the therapeutic process • Why disagreement does not always mean rejection • How parents can stay connected when they are scared, confused, or uncertain • How gender identity conversations can become a path to estrangement when families lose the ability to talk openly Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about gender identity, therapy, culture, and the challenges families face when love, fear, disagreement, and identity collide. Guest links: Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vAnk7bth6WuDDrW48Atce?si=597816e10e514b89 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/widerlenspod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SashaLPC Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  4. Jul 7

    Lindsey and Leslie Glass: How an Estranged Mother and Daughter Reconciled

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Lindsey and Leslie Glass, a mother-daughter author and advocacy duo, co-founders of Reach Out Recovery, and authors of The Mother-Daughter Relationship Makeover, to talk about addiction, recovery, estrangement, and what it can take for mothers and daughters to find their way back to one another. Lindsey and Leslie bring both personal experience and professional advocacy to this conversation. Through their own story of addiction, separation, repair, and reconciliation, they offer a deeply honest look at how family relationships can go off track, and how healing can still be possible even after years of pain, conflict, or distance. We talk about the complicated emotional terrain between mothers and daughters, the impact of addiction and recovery on family life, and why reconciliation often requires more than love alone. It also takes accountability, boundaries, honesty, and a willingness to see the other person in a new way. Listen for more on: • How addiction and recovery can shape mother-daughter relationships • Why estrangement does not always mean the relationship is over forever • What Lindsey and Leslie learned through their own experience of conflict and reconciliation • Why accountability matters on both sides of family repair • How shame, blame, and old family patterns can keep people stuck • What families can do when love is still there, but the relationship feels broken Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a moving conversation about addiction, estrangement, recovery, and the possibility of finding your way back to friendship, understanding, and love. Guest links: Website: https://reachoutrecovery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reachoutrecovery/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReachoutRecovery/ Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  5. Jun 30

    Dating While Estranged: Revealing Personal Details in Early Romantic Involvement with E! Relationship Expert Dr. Darcy Sterling

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Dr. Darcy Sterling, a NYC-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker, relationship expert, and host of E! Network’s Famously Single, to talk about what it means to date while estranged from a parent, adult child, sibling, or other family member. Estrangement can be painful enough on its own. But when you’re beginning a new romantic relationship, it can raise a whole new set of questions: When do you share it? How much do you say? Will the other person judge you? And how do you talk about something deeply personal without making it the whole story? Dr. Darcy and I discuss the challenges of revealing personal details early in dating, especially when those details involve family conflict, shame, grief, or unresolved relationships. We also talk about vulnerability, emotional pacing, and how to build intimacy without feeling pressured to disclose everything at once. Listen for more on: When to share family estrangement in a new romantic relationshipWhy estrangement can bring up shame, fear, or anxiety in datingHow much personal history to reveal early onThe difference between being honest and oversharingWhy timing matters when discussing painful family experiencesHow to protect yourself emotionally while still building trustWhat a partner’s response can tell you about their emotional maturityHow estrangement can shape intimacy, vulnerability, and connectionTune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about dating, disclosure, and how to navigate new relationships when part of your family story feels difficult to explain. Guest links: Website: https://www.askdrdarcy.com/ Podcast: https://www.askdrdarcy.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdarcysterling/ Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  6. Jun 9

    What Does Research Tell Us About Estranged Parents, Siblings and More with Lucy Blake

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with developmental psychologist and family relationship researcher Professor Lucy Blake, whose work has helped shape our understanding of family estrangement, sibling relationships, and family dynamics across the lifespan. We explore why family relationships are often more complicated than the idealized versions we see in culture and social media, and how those expectations can impact both parents and adult children. Lucy shares insights from her groundbreaking research on estrangement, reconciliation, therapy, and sibling relationships. We discuss the importance of context, compassion, and understanding the many factors that shape family experiences over time. Listen for more on: • Why unrealistic family expectations can create pressure and disappointment • What research reveals about the cycles of estrangement and reconciliation • The impact of loneliness, friendship, and community on family relationships • How therapy can help people navigate estrangement without judgment • What sibling estrangement teaches us about family dynamics and perceived favoritism • Why family conflict is rarely as simple as right versus wrong Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for an empowering conversation about family relationships, resilience, and finding a more compassionate way to understand ourselves and the people we love. Guest links: Website: https://www.drlucyblake.com/ Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cUEiQNYAAAAJ&hl=en Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  7. Jun 2

    Breaking the Cycle: What History Teaches Us About Today's Family Crisis with Professor Steven Mintz

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Historian and University of Texas Professor, Steven Mintz to explore the challenges of modern parenting, family dynamics, and building resilience in children and adults alike. Steven shares his expertise on how family relationships evolve, the pressures parents face today, and strategies to create healthier, more connected households. We dive into the impact of generational patterns, the role of emotional awareness, and practical communication tools that help families navigate conflict without losing connection. Steven provides insights on fostering empathy, setting boundaries, and guiding children toward independence while maintaining strong family bonds. Listen for more on:  • Steven’s perspective on navigating modern parenting challenges  • How generational patterns affect family dynamics • The importance of emotional awareness in parent-child relationships • Practical communication strategies to reduce conflict and build trust  • Balancing boundaries and connection for healthier relationships • Tools for building resilience and supporting children’s emotional growth Tune into this episode of Family Troubles to hear an empowering conversation about family, parenting, and the strategies that help create stronger, more resilient relationships. Guest Links: Substack: https://stevenmintz.substack.com/ Books: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B001IXU2N8 Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

  8. May 26

    What Does It Take to Reconcile? Why Cutoff Culture Is Growing and What Families Can Do Instead with Tania Khazaal

    In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Tania Khazaal for a thoughtful and candid conversation about family estrangement, emotional healing, and what it really means to move forward without losing ourselves or the people we love. Tania shares her personal story of cutting off contact with her mother, what brought her back, and how changing the way she understood her mother’s story changed the way she understood herself. We talk about the rise of what Tania calls “cutoff culture,” the growing tendency to frame distance as healing, and why both parents and adult children may need to build more resilience, compassion, and stronger communication skills to repair relationships. We also explore the role of social media, emotional language, accountability, and what reconciliation can actually look like in practice. Listen for more on:  • Tania’s journey from estrangement to reconciliation with her mother  • Why understanding a parent’s story can shift how we see our own  • The difference between healing, boundaries, and emotional avoidance  • How social media and “cutoff culture” shape family relationships  • Communication habits that help repair trust and reduce defensiveness  • Tania’s three-stage framework for healing and rebuilding connection Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for an honest conversation about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the possibility of creating stronger relationships without losing yourself in the process. Guest Links: Website: https://taniakhazaal.com/ Instagram: @taniakhazaal LinkedIn:Tania Khazaal TikTok: @taniakhazaal YouTube: Tania Khazaal  Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links: Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

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4.7
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Family Troubles with Dr. Joshua Coleman is a podcast dedicated to exploring and understanding the intricate dynamics of family life through a multifaceted lens. Hosted by Dr. Joshua Coleman, a seasoned psychologist with decades of experience, this show dives deep into the complexities of modern familial relationships, along with transformative strategies to foster healthier connections and mend broken bonds. Each episode will tackle a broad range of topics affecting families today - from estranged relationships and family conflict, to the latest research and evolving societal pressures. Discussions will be intellectually stimulating, offering a 360-degree view of the strains on family life through interviews with leading academics, psychologists, sociologists and historians. If you’ve ever asked: • Why do adult relationships with parents fall apart?• When is estrangement appropriate?• Is reconciling and healing after estrangement possible?• Why is estrangement becoming more common today? Then you’re in the right place. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply interested in understanding the current landscape of family dynamics, Family Troubles will provide valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives. Join in as we unravel the modern challenges facing families, share expert opinions, and provide a space for learning about the evolving nature of family estrangement and relationships.

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