By Lauren Grossbach, LMFT In Part 1 of this series, we explored what emotional parentification is, how to recognize its signs, and the lasting effects it has on adults. Now, let’s talk about healing and how you can begin reclaiming the life you deserve. How To Heal From Being A Parentified Child If you recognize yourselfContinueContinue reading “Parentification Part 2: How to Stop Being Your Parents’ Emotional Caretaker “
Category Archives: Families
You Were Never Supposed to Be the Strong One: Understanding Emotional Parentification
By Lauren Grossbach, LMFT Did you grow up feeling like you had to constantly be there to pick up the pieces when your parents fought? Did you learn to tiptoe around your parents’ moods, gauging their emotional temperature before you dared to speak? Were you the family’s emotional anchor, constantly consoling others, keeping everyone steady, onlyContinueContinue reading “You Were Never Supposed to Be the Strong One: Understanding Emotional Parentification”
Facing Your Inner Child: Healing Old Wounds for Better Relationships
By Erika Bellomo, LAMFT Most of us carry around pieces of our childhood that still affect how we feel, think, and act today. It may show up as that quiet voice in your head that says, “I’m not good enough,” or the habit of avoiding conflict because you learned early on that it wasn’t safeContinueContinue reading “Facing Your Inner Child: Healing Old Wounds for Better Relationships”
How Do You Know When It’s Time To Divorce? Tips From A NJ Marriage Counselor
By Jaunai Staton, LAMFT Have you caught yourself Googling “I hate my husband” (or wife), “divorce lawyers near me”, or wondering whether it’s time to leave, and then immediately felt guilty for even thinking about it? Relationships are complicated. Even if you once cared deeply about your partner, there can come a point where the relationshipContinueContinue reading “How Do You Know When It’s Time To Divorce? Tips From A NJ Marriage Counselor”
How to Break Free From Generational Trauma Patterns That Are Keeping You Stuck
By Jayln Giles-Ewell, LAAT, ATR-P When it comes to your family, do you ever find yourself thinking, “Why do they always do this?” Maybe you notice certain behaviors in your cousins, or you see the same arguments pop up at every family gathering. Perhaps you even notice similarities in how you (or your siblings) parent versusContinueContinue reading “How to Break Free From Generational Trauma Patterns That Are Keeping You Stuck”
Why New Parenthood Is So Hard on Relationships—And What You Can Do About It
By Megan Herelle, LAMFT at Brave Minds Psychological Services Welcoming a baby into your family is one of life’s most profound joys—and most significant challenges. You’re taking your family from a unit of two to a group of three; this is bound to come with changes and new challenges. If you’ve ever had to balance betweenContinueContinue reading “Why New Parenthood Is So Hard on Relationships—And What You Can Do About It”
Why Healing from Narcissistic Parenting Is Possible: 5 Key Steps Toward Emotional Liberation
By Jaunai Staton, LAMFT Do You Need Help Healing Your Invisible Wounds? Do you find yourself constantly seeking approval, feeling like you’re never quite “enough,” or wondering why certain childhood memories still trigger such intense emotions, even decades later? These may not be visible signs, but they’re often the lingering echoes of growing up with narcissisticContinueContinue reading “Why Healing from Narcissistic Parenting Is Possible: 5 Key Steps Toward Emotional Liberation”
Understanding Your Relationship Wounds: A Guide for Children of Narcissistic Parents
By Jaunai Staton, LAMFT If you grew up feeling like your emotions didn’t matter, or like love came with conditions, you’re not alone. For many, childhood meant learning to take care of others while quietly putting your own needs aside. Some parents may have looked responsible on the outside, and many were doing the bestContinueContinue reading “Understanding Your Relationship Wounds: A Guide for Children of Narcissistic Parents”
Breaking the Cycle: Moving Beyond Your Parents’ Emotional Immaturity
By Jaunai Staton, LAMFT Were You the Emotional Adult Too Soon? Healing from Parentified Childhood in NJ Did you grow up feeling like the adult in the room—always calming storms, smoothing things over, or being the one who had to stay steady when your parents couldn’t? It’s like growing up in a house where the relationalContinueContinue reading “Breaking the Cycle: Moving Beyond Your Parents’ Emotional Immaturity”
Narcissistic Parents: Recognizing the Patterns and Reclaiming Your Emotional Health
By Jaunai Staton, LAMFT When It Comes To Your Parents, You Feel Stuck, Unfulfilled, and Alone Do you find yourself constantly trying to get your parents’ affection, but it never feels like enough? These relationship patterns can be confusing and painful, often leaving you wondering what you’re doing wrong. Maybe you’ve felt dismissed or misunderstood moreContinueContinue reading “Narcissistic Parents: Recognizing the Patterns and Reclaiming Your Emotional Health “