The Reconnection Club Podcast

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 mem...

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 t...

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...

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...

Reconnection Club Members can use the player on our Podcast Player page to play episodes continuously. Follow us on Instagram .    *   *   * Many estranged adult children report feeling invalidated in their interactions with their parents. These feelings -- of being dismissed, misunderstood, or emotionally unseen -- often contribute to ongoing disconnection. But what exactly does invalidation soun...

This important episode features excerpts from a previously recorded conversation between host Tina Gilbertson and trauma expert Harold "Pat" Patrick, regarding trauma from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Their discussion uncovers how unresolved trauma from even the distant past can subtly shape the emotional lives of parents today -- especially those facing rejection from their adult childre...

When adult children become estranged from their parents, the ripple effects can often spread to other family members—siblings, grandparents, and even close friends. These "innocent bystanders" can become collateral damage in the fallout of a family rift. In this clarifying episode, host Tina Gilbertson explores four common reasons why estranged adult children might distance themselves from others...

Parents have various ways to cope with the pain of prolonged estrangement from their adult children. One of them is to find a way to let their children go, with love, in their hearts. Letting an adult child go can bring a measure of relief to those who are able to do it. They may feel more peaceful and less sad. It's relatively easy to let go of someone in silence. But what happens if they suddenl...

The journey through unwanted estrangement from adult children can remain challenging even after extensive personal work and therapy, as hidden barriers continue to surface. In this pivotal episode, Reconnection Club Podcast host Tina Gilbertson explores how parents who have built fulfilling lives and invested in their own growth may still have blind spots that hinder their healing journey. Key Ins...

When adult children cut contact with their parents, they often cite experiences and memories that their parents remember completely differently. But what happens when two people recall the same events in contradicting ways? In this illuminating episode, Reconnection Club host Tina Gilbertson tackles the complex nature of truth in family relationships. Through an engaging example of a backyard barb...

When your adult child goes "no contact," it can feel like you're suddenly in a state of emergency. How did this happen? What is a parent supposed to do? How do you fix this painful problem if your child won't talk to you? When dealing with a crisis, the last thing you might be concerned about is balance. But balancing activity with sufficient rest is critical for anyone trying to solve an importan...

Having a no-contact adult child can be not only painful, but genuinely confusing. They might agree to receive texts from you, but not reply to any texts you send. Maybe they tell you they love you, even as they continue to create distance. When you stop contacting them at their request, why do they then claim you don't care about them? What's going on? What do they want? How can you figure that ou...

When your adult child goes no contact, you search for solutions. You hunt for ideas, inspiration, support and above all, answers. And the whole time, you feel awful. Estrangement, in other words, is hard. It's natural to gravitate towards quick and relatively easy solutions: Writing an apology letter. Sending gifts. Showing up unannounced. Sending one text after another, despite receiving no reply...

This is Part 2 of a 2-part episode that began with Episode 188 ( not 187 as stated in this episode). Click here for Part 1 . More often than not, when no-contact adult children end their estrangements and return to the relationship, there's an elephant in the room -- at least from the parent's point of view. Parents feel like they're walking on eggshells, trying to avoid whatever it was that creat...

More often than not, when no-contact adult children end their estrangements and return to the relationship, there's an elephant in the room -- at least from the parent's point of view. Parents feel like they're walking on eggshells, trying to avoid whatever it was that created the problem in the first place. If only their adult children would tell them what went wrong, so they could keep it from h...

Hear the voices of parent who are facing the holidays without their estranged adult children this year... If you're unwillingly estranged from your adult child or children during the holiday season, host Tina Gilbertson and members of the Reconnection Club community want you to know you're not alone. Listen to this very special episode in your podcast player app before it expires on December 30th,...

Following on from episodes 160 and 162 (see episode links below), host Tina Gilbertson addresses another one of those cognitive distortions (or common thinking errors) that create extra suffering in an experience that's already painful: Estrangement from your adult child(ren). In this episode, Tina runs through a total of six examples (keep listening after she reviews the first three!) of black an...

Some estranged adult children go no contact because they say their parents are too critical. Has your adult child made this complaint? Are you frustrated because you just don't see what they're seeing? Does it seem like your adult child is too sensitive, and you're walking on eggshells because you never know what's going to make them feel criticized? Or do you recognize what they're talking about,...

Getting along with in-laws is an age-old tradition, but also a challenge for many. When your adult child appears to be estranged because their partner doesn't like you, it can feel like a hurtful and impossible situation. The partner may seem like a cruel and powerful gatekeeper, standing between you and your child and grandchild(ren). Resentment soon follows. And things go downhill from there. Al...

Not every parent whose adult child goes no contact feels like hiding it from friends and acquaintances. But many parents do. If you feel uncomfortable sharing the fact of your adult child(ren)'s estrangement, you might identify with the Reconnection Club member whose words Tina shares in this forum-inspired episode. If you fear the judgement of others, could it be that you've been judging yourself...

Political differences can play a role in family estrangement. But simply having differences is not the whole problem. How we communicate with family members who don't share our views affects our ability to connect with them in spite of those differences. In this helpful episode, Tina shares an excerpt from her conversation with relationship expert Bill Eddy, author of Calming Upset People with EAR...

When you have an estranged adult child who's gone no-contact, it's impossible not to think about change. Something needs to change if your adult child's estrangement is to end. But making changes isn't easy. Especially if you're not sure what to change, or how, or why. In this episode, Tina shares her personal experience of an unexpected change that happened in her life. She talks about how change...

Reconciliation between parents and no-contact adult children can be thought of as a phase of estrangement. That means that for many parents, reconciliation will be disappointing – at least for a while.  Things aren't back to normal. Conversation doesn't flow. You might still feel estranged, even though there's contact. What's going on? In this episode, Tina normalizes some of the disappointing and...

"We see the world not as it is, but as we are." In this episode, Tina invites parents unwillingly estranged from their adult children to take a step back and consider their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. She compares our individual worldview to a pair of glasses, with lenses of a particular color. We can't help but perceive the world in a limiting way as long as it reaches us thr...

Find all episodes at reconnectionclub.com/podcast .  If you've received a letter from your estranged adult child, this week's episode of the Reconnection Club Podcast, along with the one preceding it ( Episode 177 ), is a must-listen. Because however hopeless, hurt or angry you might feel when you read it, it could actually contain the blueprint for future reconciliation and peace. Many parents fa...