The Best of You

Episode 127: Healing Childhood Wounds—The Enmeshed Family & 5 Toxic Patterns that Affect Your Ability to Thrive in Adult Relationships


Listen Later

Are patterns from your past influencing how you show up in relationships today?


In this episode, we explore how early family dynamics—like criticism, control, & emotional immaturity—shape our adult relationships. This process isn’t about placing blame but about building awareness of behaviors that impact self-worth, boundaries, and relational health. By naming these patterns, we open a path to greater confidence, healthier connections, autonomy, and healing.


In this episode, we cover:


* The two essential ingredients for building secure parent-child attachment

* The role of enmeshment and individuation in emotional health

* 5 common parenting patterns that disrupt secure attachment

* 5 questions to assess how these patterns may be impacting you today

* Practical steps to heal and change


Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here.

Have a question or an episode idea? Leave them here.


If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love:


The Best of You: Break Free From Painful Patterns, Mend Your Past, and Discover Your True Self In God


Episode 109: Healing Burdens From the Past—How to Overcome Childhood Wounds and Heal Your Younger Self with Tammy Sollenberger


Thanks to our sponsors:

  • Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou today and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today.
  • This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BESTOFYOU and get on your way to being your best self.
  • Go to thrivemarket.com/bestofyou for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift!
  • Turn back time on the appearance of your skin with Purity Woods’s Age-Defying Dream Cream. Purity Woods is currently offering 17% off sitewide but we have an additional 10% discount for our listeners for a total savings of 27%! Go to puritywoods.com/BESTOFYOU or enter code BESTOFYOU at checkout for an additional 10% off your first order.
  • Visit cozyearth.com and unlock an exclusive 35% off with code BESTOFYOU.

  • Music by Andy Luiten

    Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

    While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Best of YouBy Dr. Alison Cook

    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    739 ratings


    More shows like The Best of You

    View all
    The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast by The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

    The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

    4,798 Listeners

    The Allender Center Podcast by The Allender Center | Dr. Dan Allender

    The Allender Center Podcast

    636 Listeners

    That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs by That Sounds Fun Network

    That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

    10,383 Listeners

    Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness by Art of Leadership Network

    Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness

    436 Listeners

    Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick by Michael John Cusick

    Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

    452 Listeners

    The Next Right Thing by with Emily P. Freeman

    The Next Right Thing

    5,447 Listeners

    The Dr. Leaf Show by Dr. Caroline Leaf

    The Dr. Leaf Show

    3,069 Listeners

    The Place We Find Ourselves by Adam Young | LCSW, MDiv

    The Place We Find Ourselves

    2,578 Listeners

    Made For This with Jennie Allen by Made For This with Jennie Allen

    Made For This with Jennie Allen

    6,631 Listeners

    The Boundaries.me Podcast by Dr. Henry Cloud

    The Boundaries.me Podcast

    862 Listeners

    Being Known Podcast by Being Known Podcast

    Being Known Podcast

    1,134 Listeners

    Lisa Harper's Back Porch Theology by AccessMore

    Lisa Harper's Back Porch Theology

    2,698 Listeners

    NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson, MD by THINQ Media

    NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson, MD

    164 Listeners

    Therapy and Theology by Lysa TerKeurst

    Therapy and Theology

    1,907 Listeners