What if your estranged adult child sends you an angry letter (or email or text), listing all your flaws and failings as a parent? Should you respond right away? What should you say? What if they tell you not to contact them?

In this essential and practical episode, RC Podcast host Tina Gilbertson urges parents to pause when they receive this type of communication from estranged adult children. Instead of rushing to reply to all the points in the letter, send a simple acknowledgement first. And after that, take the time you need to respond more fully.

To acknowledge your child's message, Tina offers a three-sentence "script" using your own words. The 3 elements she proposes will both safeguard goodwill and buy you time to gather your thoughts. Don't respond to your adult child's angry letter before listening to this episode.

For much more information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

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EPISODE LINKS:

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 177: How to Process a Letter From Your Estranged Adult Child (Part 1) 

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 178: How to Process a Letter From Your Estranged Adult Child (Part 2) 

When adult children go "no contact" with parents, in some cases it's because of an overdrawn emotional bank account between them.

In this thought-provoking episode, host Tina Gilbertson explains the workings of your relationship bank account with your estranged adult child(ren) -- including examples of emotional deposits and withdrawals.

Not every rejected parent has an overdrawn emotional account with their estranged adult child. But if the balance between you is in question at all, this episode will help you make a plan to set things right.

For much more information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

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EPISODE LINKS:

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 199. Validation: What, Why, How and When

General Discussion Forum (Reconnection Club members only)

How do you heal an estranged relationship with your adult child when there’s no contact?

Through a recording from a past group Q&A call, host psychotherapist Tina Gilbertson shares her insights about the self-reflexive relationship between parents and adult children, and its potential for healing.

Tina emphasizes that lingering emotional injuries in the parent -- who may not be aware of how those wounds continue to compromise them -- can play a significant role in why adult children choose to distance themselves. Recognizing this can be the first step toward healing.

Tina encourages listeners to prioritize their own healing and personal growth. Because by working on themselves, parents can create a healthier emotional environment, even from a distance.

Healing takes time. But change is possible, and with patience and dedication, estranged relationships can start to transform even before contact resumes. Join Tina as she delivers this challenging yet hopeful message, offering comfort and guidance to those in deep emotional pain.

For much more on healing relationships between parents and adult children, including what goes wrong and how parents can respond effectively, read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club.

Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE LINKS:

Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child: Practical Tips and Tools to Heal Your Relationship

Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings By Letting Yourself Have Them

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 194: Room For Improvement

Want to support the podcast? Become a Reconnection Club member and get access to educational content and online events hosted by Tina, as well as our members-only forums. Monthly and annual memberships are available. Learn more.

In this important episode for parents with estranged adult children, therapist and host Tina Gilbertson discusses a common mistake that can keep the distance between them. 

Many parents think estrangement is just a form of the “silent treatment” and a reaction to their parenting mistakes. They struggle to understand why all the good things they did -- such as providing support, resources or time --  don’t outweigh the issues their child is upset about.

This confusion can make parents feel rejected, abandoned, and unfairly treated.

By learning the key differences between estrangement and "the silent treatment,” parents can start to understand what their adult children might be trying to communicate through their silence.

For information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina’s book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

8 Differences Between Estrangement and “The Silent Treatment”

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 157: Is It Proportional?

Host Tina Gilbertson continues the conversation from Episode 203 about navigating differences in values within parent-adult child relationships.

This episode explores additional factors that can strengthen reconciled relationships, even in the presence of different values.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The concept of "glue" in relationships and what connects us beyond differing values
• The importance of shared goals and interests in family dynamics Fun as a vital component in rebuilding connections
• Identifying and focusing on what you have in common
• The role of respect and validation in fostering connection
• The significance of rituals and shared history in family relationships

Disclaimer: Tina emphasizes that contact is a Step 3 activity on the Road Map to Reconnection. Listeners are encouraged to assess their readiness before taking action based on the suggestions provided in this episode.

For information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 203: When You Have Different Values Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 97: Road Map to Reconnection (Part 1) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 98: Road Map to Reconnection (Part 2) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 99: Road Map to Reconnection (Part 3) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 198: Validation (Or Lack Thereof) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 199. Validation: What, Why, How and When Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 200. Validation and You, The Estranged Parent Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 201. Validation FAQs

In this insightful episode, psychotherapist Tina Gilbertson tackles the sensitive issue of how parents can manage differences in values with their adult children -- especially when those differences lead to estrangement.

Whether it’s political disagreements, religious conflicts, or cultural clashes, Tina explores how it’s not always the values themselves that cause tension, but the way those differences are handled.

Tina draws on years of experience working with values differences, to provide actionable strategies for parents to overcome value conflicts, reduce emotional friction, and begin the journey of reconciliation.

Through empathy, improved communication, and mutual respect, parents can create space for healing and rebuild relationships that may seem beyond repair.

Key Takeaways:

• Why handling value differences with adult children can either create distance or bring you closer together
• The role of empathy and effective communication in reducing conflict and fostering reconnection
• How to navigate difficult topics like politics, religion, and lifestyle differences without furthering estrangement 
• Practical advice for parents on healing family relationships, even when values don’t align

For information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE LINKS:

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 198: Validation (Or Lack Thereof) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 199. Validation: What, Why, How and When Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 200. Validation and You, The Estranged Parent Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 201. Validation FAQs Toastmasters International Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 190: You Can Do Hard Things

Follow The Reconnection Club on Instagram @Reconnectionclub.

In this inspiring episode, one parent shares his personal journey from estrangement to reconciliation with his adult child.

Through his voice, we hear not only a story of healing and hope, but also surprising insights into the meaning of reconnection.

This powerful account comes to us thanks to the generosity of one Reconnection Club member, who courageously offers his story in his own words. 

For information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

In this final episode of a series on validation (see links below), Reconnection Club Podcast host Tina Gilbertson brings clarity and compassion to one of the most emotionally charged applications of this skill: validating estranged adult children.

Earlier episodes explored what a lack of validation looks like, offered a two-step validation technique (be sure to review Ep. 199 before listening to this one), and suggested reasons to practice validating yourself before trying it with others. This episode features tips for applying validation in the sensitive context of a trouble relationship.

To round out this episode and the validation series, you’ll hear thoughtful answers to three frequently asked questions, including whether it’s okay to bring out negative feelings while validating, and how to regularly express empathy with small children without making them self-centered.

Offering both helpful guidance and hope, this series of episodes (198-201) will be treasured by anyone wanting to connect or reconnect with their adult child(ren) in a way that feels authentic, respectful, and emotionally intelligent.

For much more on relationships between parents and adult children, including what goes wrong and how parents can respond effectively, read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club.

Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE LINKS:

Part 1. Validation (Or Lack Thereof) (Ep 198)

Part 2. Validation: What, Why, How and When (Ep 199)

Part 3. Validation and You, The Estranged Parent (Ep 200)

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 193: The Truth of the Matter

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 37: Reconciliation -- The 4 Stages of Competence

Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings By Letting Yourself Have Them

About Social Learning Theory

RC Validation Resources page (members only)

Want to support the podcast? Become a Reconnection Club member and get access to educational content and online events hosted by Tina, as well as our members-only forums. Monthly and annual memberships are available. Learn more.

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In this thought-provoking third episode of a 4-part series on validation, Tina Gilbertson takes listeners deeper into the heart of the topic. She makes a compelling case for why self-validation isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Without it, our attempts to validate others, especially estranged adult children, can fall flat or even backfire.

Tina shares a powerful (and somewhat unsettling) example that highlights just how tricky it can be to validate someone’s emotions when you’re the one they’re upset with. What do you do when you don’t agree with their version of you? How do you stay grounded in your own truth while still offering genuine empathy?

You’ll come away from this episode with a clearer, more nuanced understanding of validation, and why it often starts with giving yourself what you may never have received from others.

For much more on relationships between parents and adult children, including what goes wrong and how parents can respond effectively, read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club.

Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE LINKS:

Part 1. Validation (Or Lack Thereof) (Ep 198)

Part 2. Validation: What, Why, How and When (Ep 199)

In this invaluable second episode of a 4-part series, host Tina Gilbertson wades into the nuts and bolts of validation -- a concept that can shift the dynamics of strained or distant relationships in positive directions.

With her usual warmth and clarity, Tina walks you through how to acknowledge someone’s feelings without judgment or correction. ... And without losing yourself in the process.

If you've ever wondered how to respond when your adult child expresses anger, pulls away, or shares something you deeply disagree with, this episode offers a fresh and practical perspective. Tina boils down validation to the basics: What it is, why it matters more than most people realize, how you can start practicing today, and when to apply this skill in your life and relationships.

You’ll learn a simple, two-step technique anyone can use to validate authentically. You’ll hear specific language to help you navigate emotional conversations with more confidence and calm.

This is an episode that may leave you thinking differently about the next conversation you have, and how you want to show up for it.

For much more on relationships between parents and adult children, including what goes wrong and how parents can respond effectively, read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.

Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club.

Not a member yet? Learn more and join.

EPISODE LINKS:

Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings By Letting Yourself Have Them

Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 163: Personal Growth vs. Parenting?