People don't walk into a therapist's office and say they're having a differentiation problem. They say they feel like a different person around their family, or that they have a whole life their parents know nothing about. Whitney walks through what differentiation actually is, and the four very different situations people are in when they can't be themselves around family.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What differentiation means in Bowen family systems, and the three ways it commonly goes wrong
- The difference between a family that disagrees with you and one that targets who you are
- Why going no contact doesn't automatically differentiate you from your family
Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles.
Have a question for Whitney? Send a voice memo or email to whitney@callinghome.co
Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club: https://callinghome.co
Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit
Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft
Order Whitney's book, Toxic Positivity: https://sitwithwhit.com/toxic-positivity
Sign up for updates on Whitney's new book: https://cmnyyv4kpyt.typeform.com/to/PHMzjy0o
This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.
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