Psychologist Joshua Coleman was estranged from his young adult daughter after his divorce,  remarriage and the start of a new family.

She said he had let her down and she didn’t feel like a priority in his life. She cut off contact, which Coleman said was the most painful experience of his life. They did reconcile after a few years and now Coleman treats families who are estranged.

Families are complicated. They can be the source of boundless love and support, and the cause of emotional pain and suffering. This week on The Connection, what drives parents and children apart, what it takes to make amends and rebuild the relationship, and how to grieve and move on when reconciliation becomes impossible.

Coleman’s book is Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict. Also with us is psychologist Lucy Blake, author of No Family is Perfect: A Guide to Embracing the Messy Reality.