DiscoverYou're Not Crazy: A Podcast for Cycle Breakers with Toxic ParentsWhy “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents
Why “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents

Why “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents

Update: 2025-11-03
Share

Description

As a therapist, boundaries coach, and cycle breaker herself, Torie shares the deeper truth behind these painful family dynamics: what really leads someone to end contact, how the media gets it wrong, and why accountability and power dynamics must be part of the conversation.


If you’ve ever been told you “abandoned” your family or felt judged for making the gut-wrenching decision to protect your peace, this episode will remind you that you’re not crazy — and that choosing yourself does not make you a selfish person.


We’ll cover:




  • Why “family estrangement” has become a loaded, stigmatizing term




  • The power imbalance between parents and adult children that not enough people are talking about




  • The truth about why cycle breakers go no contact — and why it’s never impulsive




  • How media narratives and even some therapists perpetuate shame




  • A more honest, hopeful way to talk about healing family relationships




Resources Mentioned:



Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Why “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents

Why “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents

Torie Wiksell