Whitney answers two listener questions that share a theme: how do you protect your peace while staying connected to difficult family relationships? The first question explores reconnecting with in-laws after a year and a half of no contact—when is it safe to reopen that door, and how do you move forward without reopening old wounds? The second addresses hosting family in your new home when one relative consistently disrespects boundaries and your independence. Both questions wrestle with the tension between honoring your growth and navigating relationships with people who haven't changed.
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? Call in and leave a voicemail for the show at 866-225-5466
Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club
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Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft
Order Whitney’s book, Toxic Positivity
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.
01:14 Question 1: Reconnecting with in-laws after no contact
09:06 A few possibilities of what might happen here
11:59 Question 2: Hosting family when one relative disrespects boundaries
14:07 Potential outcomes of setting boundaries with the problem relative
17:56 Connect with the Family Cycle Breakers Club
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