In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Tania Khazaal for a thoughtful and candid conversation about family estrangement, emotional healing, and what it really means to move forward without losing ourselves or the people we love. Tania shares her personal story of cutting off contact with her mother, what brought her back, and how changing the way she understood her mother’s story changed the way she understood herself.

We talk about the rise of what Tania calls “cutoff culture,” the growing tendency to frame distance as healing, and why both parents and adult children may need to build more resilience, compassion, and stronger communication skills to repair relationships. We also explore the role of social media, emotional language, accountability, and what reconciliation can actually look like in practice.

Listen for more on:
• Tania’s journey from estrangement to reconciliation with her mother
• Why understanding a parent’s story can shift how we see our own
• The difference between healing, boundaries, and emotional avoidance
• How social media and “cutoff culture” shape family relationships
• Communication habits that help repair trust and reduce defensiveness
• Tania’s three-stage framework for healing and rebuilding connection

Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for an honest conversation about family, forgiveness, resilience, and the possibility of creating stronger relationships without losing yourself in the process.

Guest Links:
Website: https://taniakhazaal.com/
Instagram: @taniakhazaal
LinkedIn:Tania Khazaal
TikTok: @taniakhazaal
YouTube: Tania Khazaal

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman
Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard
Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Professor Judith R. Smith to discuss her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change. Drawing from years of research and interviews, Judith explores what it means to parent an adult child struggling with mental illness, addiction, unemployment, estrangement, and ongoing instability.

We talk about the emotional reality many mothers quietly carry, the chronic fear, guilt, exhaustion, ambivalence, and grief that can come with loving a child you cannot “fix.” Judith also challenges common ideas like “tough love” and highlights the larger social systems that leave families carrying impossible burdens alone.

Listen for more on:

• How mothers often tie their sense of self to their children’s wellbeing
• Why “tough love” can fail families facing mental illness or addiction
• The concept of chronic sorrow and ongoing grief in parenting
• How guilt and self blame shape difficult parent-child relationships
• Why small boundaries and self care matter for overwhelmed parents
• The importance of community, support groups, and reducing shame

Tune into this episode of Family Troubles for a thoughtful conversation about difficult parenting, resilience, and finding support in the middle of uncertainty.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.difficultmothering.com/
Book: Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/difficultmothering/

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman
Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard
Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg

In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Michelle Weiner-Davis to unpack something I see far too often, how divorce can quietly evolve into long-term family estrangement. We explore how these fractures don’t just impact couples, but ripple through entire families, sometimes for decades.

We also get into the role of therapy, communication, and personal narratives in shaping these outcomes. I share insights from my own work (and life), and we talk about what actually helps families stay connected or find their way back to each other.

Listen for more on:

• How divorce can lead to lasting parent-child estrangement
• Why kids taking sides creates long-term family fractures
• The impact of therapy culture on family relationships
• How communication mistakes can block reconciliation
• Why empathy and curiosity matter more than being right
• The simple skills that can rebuild connection

If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who needs a more hopeful path forward in their family relationships.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.divorcebusting.com/
Email: michelle@divorcebusting.com

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman
Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard
Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-olRqS_o2xJlkpxWEEErg