All Things TDS

For the first time on All Things TDS Podcast, a parent joins me to tell her estrangement story in her own words. Carolyn shares how a relationship that was once incredibly close changed over time, how what she believed would be a short break in communication became more than five years of estrangement, and what she has learned along the way. This is a conversation about accountability, grief, acce...

In this episode, Dr. Traci examines the patterns that turn moral certainty into superiority, disagreement into a character defect, contempt into justified mistreatment, and personal conviction into self-appointed authority over someone else. The Clancy trial is one public example. The same patterns can enter families when communication becomes a demand for agreement and when refusing to accept ano...

In this episode, Dr. Traci examines the Radical Woke Righteousness surrounding the Clancy case: how compassion became certainty, how compassion depended on who needed it, and how a radical woke worldview transformed a criminal trial into a feminist cause. This episode does not deny the seriousness of postpartum psychosis. It confronts what happened when women claiming to advocate for mental health...

This is Part 3 of a three-part series on family estrangement. In this episode, we examine abuse, mental illness, and substance abuse and the role they can play in estrangement. These issues can affect either the parent or the adult child, and when children are involved, the responsibility of the other parent to protect them also matters. Not every family experiences these issues in the same way, a...

This episode is Part 2 of a three part series, we examine the parent’s side of a relationship moving toward estrangement.  We discuss what parents can take responsibility for without taking responsibility for choices that were not theirs. This episode is about accountability, perspective, and learning to hold two truths at once: a parent can recognize where they contributed to the breakdown and st...

This episode is Part 1 of a three-part series examining estrangement between parents and adult children. Estrangement is often explained by focusing on what a parent did. This episode asks a different question: How did estrangement become the response you were willing to choose? This is not about deciding whether estrangement is always right or wrong. It is about examining the pathway to that deci...

When an estranged parent says, I don’t know what happened, adult children often respond with, you know exactly what you did. This episode challenges that assumption. A parent can know there were problems, hurt feelings, boundaries, disagreements, and requests for change, and still not understand how those problems became the end of the relationship. Dr. Traci examines the difference between knowin...

In this episode of All Things TDS Podcast, Dr. Traci examines a question raised by Elizabeth Bernstein: Are therapists contributing to the rise in adult children cutting off their parents? Rather than focusing only on whether a therapist directly recommends estrangement, this episode explores a more subtle concern: what happens when one understanding of a family relationship begins to feel like th...

What happens when the person helping you heal begins directing how you should live? In this episode of All Things TDS Podcast, Dr. Traci examines the growing concern that some mental health professionals contributing to family estrangement by validating one perspective as complete truth, labeling absent family members, and encouraging clients to go no contact. This episode challenges mental health...

In this episode, Dr. Traci examines how online communities can shape the way people interpret family conflict, assign psychological labels, establish boundaries, and make life-changing decisions. She explores why extreme interpretations often receive the most attention and the role of online bullies who move beyond disagreement and attempt to punish the entire person by attacking their appearance,...

In this episode of All Things TDS Podcast, Dr. Traci explores a question with profound implications for families, friendships, and society. This episode explores why agreeing to disagree has become a forgotten relationship skill, how disagreement became confused with disrespect, and why healthy relationships require far more than simply setting boundaries. Whether you are a parent, an adult child,...

Why do conversations between parents and adult children so often feel like they’re speaking two different languages? What if it’s because they’re evaluating the same relationship through two completely different lenses? In this episode, we explore the difference between outcome and intent. As a therapist and educator, I believe understanding someone’s behavior is not the same as excusing it. Under...

What happens when the generation that challenged the way previous generations approached mental health becomes the generation raising today's teenagers? In Part 2 of this series, we explore a difficult but important question: Have we begun organizing our lives around our feelings rather than simply learning from them? As a therapist and educator, I believe emotions matter. They provide valuable in...

Why are so many parents feeling like they've lost control of their own homes? In Part 1 of this two-part series, we examine the rise of teen takeovers and explore why this growing issue may have more to do with modern parenting trends than with teenagers themselves. Many millennial parents entered parenthood determined to do things differently than previous generations. They wanted to be more emot...

Leading with Empathy: The Key to Healing Family Estrangement In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we explore one of the most powerful tools for improving relationships and addressing family estrangement: empathy. In a culture that often encourages people to focus on who is right and who is wrong, empathy invites us to seek understanding before judgment and connection before division. We...

The Real Feeling Beneath the Anger: Understanding Primary and Secondary Emotions In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we explore a powerful concept that can transform the way we understand ourselves and our relationships: the difference between primary and secondary emotions. While anger is often the emotion we see and express, it is frequently not the emotion driving our behavior. Benea...

In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we take a closer look at the realities of growing up in a very different era and why understanding that history may be important when evaluating family relationships today. Many adult children view their childhood experiences through a modern lens, but what was life actually like for the generations who came before them? We explore the cultural norms,...

What Nobody Tells You About Estrangement: The Unknown Factors That Matter In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we explore an often-overlooked aspect of family estrangement: the historical and cultural context in which parents raised their children. Before judging past parenting decisions by today's standards, it is worth asking an important question: What did parents actually know at the...

In Part 2 of this powerful series, “Choosing Connection: Navigating Pain Without Going No Contact,” we continue the conversation about what it really means to stay connected to a parent through conflict, disappointment, and emotional pain. While estrangement is often presented online as the healthiest or only option, many adult children wrestle with a different path that includes maintaining conta...

In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we set the stage for why Traci chose connection over estrangement. In Part One of  “Choosing Connection: Why I Never Estranged from My Mother” we look at the emotional complexity of childhood and the decisions we make as adults.    Join our Facebook Page at All Things TDS Podcast.  We are looking for parents and adult children who would like to share...

In this episode of the All Things TDS Podcast, we explore the heartbreak behind Mother’s Day social media posts and celebrations. We examine both the adult child’s perspective and the mother’s perspective, looking at the emotions, misunderstandings, pain, and silence that often exist beneath the surface of family estrangement.   Follow us on Facebook at All Things TDS Podcast. 

Is cognitive warfare quietly reshaping your family relationships? In this episode, we explore how manipulation of information, online narratives, and psychological influence are driving division inside modern families. From social media echo chambers to conflicting belief systems, discover why more adult children are experiencing deep hatred leading to estrangement. Learn to recognize the signs of...

In this episode, Traci explores how online narratives, viral content, and digital communities influence adult children’s decisions to estrange from their parents. This episode unpacks the role of social media in shaping perception, identity, and family relationships.   Follow us on Facebook at All Things TDS Podcast. 

In Stop Calling Me a Narcissist: What Narcissism Really Means, we unpack why the word narcissist gets thrown at parents casually, what does it actually mean, and the difference between a narcissistic personality disorder and the everyday behaviors people often misunderstand. We also take a closer look at a growing trend: labeling an estranged parent as a narcissist. While some family dynamics are...

Even after creating distance, the questions don’t always go away. In this episode, What Adult Children Still Wonder After Estranging from Parents, we explore the quiet, lingering thoughts, curiosity, and doubts.  What do they still wonder about their parents? Do they question if things could have been different? Do they ever have hope? This episode offers a thoughtful, compassionate look into the...