CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT

I found this podcast yesterday and I’ve already listened to nine or ten episodes. A few years ago I initiated estrangement from my family without having the vocabulary to describe it or any awareness of its rising commonality. I wish I had had a resource like this to help cope with such a shocking and lonely experience. Most estrangement content out there lingers on themes of an abusive past or traumatic childhood, which is not my experience. This is the first podcast I have found that focuses on the other, more nuanced drivers of estrangement that are actually way more common. Estrangement does not always or even usually indicate some ghastly mistreatment in childhood; it’s about a relationship between adults that’s not working in the present. Eventually my parents got therapy and improved enough to make strides toward reconciliation, but I wasn’t ready to move at their pace. Immediately there was backsliding, confirming my fears, and a form of semi-estrangement has resumed. This podcast has already helped me to reframe much of what happened, especially the uneven efforts at healing. It has helped me contextualize my family’s conduct, and also given me insight into aspects of my own behavior that I had not fully considered. Honestly, I feel like a lot of this content would be helpful even for families who are not estranged. Understanding the dynamics that lead to loss of contact might prevent the rift in the first place. I can’t recommend this enough.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m listening to the latest episode with both yourself and Dr Ramani, this pod is always a wealth of information and validation! Thank you, Whitney ❤️

Thank you for your efforts and work on this painful and lonely subject. I have listened to every podcast and learn so much from each episode. I feel connected to this work, the ins and outs of making sense of and healing from dysfunctional family systems. I also feel empowered with possibility by the stories, shares, and compassionate space you hold here. Thank you

Really insightful show, great guests, I learn something new every time. Very emotionally supportive for adult children who have serious relationship rifts with their parents.