03/05/2026
I love the Calling Home podcast, and their recent episode reading letters written by estranged family members was illuminating in a lot of ways.
When I work with clients navigating estrangement, there is often a period of grief for the family member they may never have, or the apology that may never come. I'm mindful that their estranged loved one is *not* the client in my office, and we cannot change them. A lot of our work centers on boundaries and acceptance.
For the family member on the other side of estrangement, however, the work looks a lot different. I often tell these clients not to sell themselves short. You are capable of change, even when it's hard. This post highlights what some of that change process can look like.