Close Modal

The Parent You Have

Navigating Your Relationship with a Difficult, Distant, or Estranged Parent to Reclaim Your Life

Hardcover
$30.00 US
6"W x 8"H | 15 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Mar 09, 2027 | 304 Pages | 9798217180127

The ultimate guide to going low-contact, no-contact, and setting clear boundaries with a difficult or distant parent, by the popular therapist known as @sitwithwhit

Is estrangement a dirty word? Not anymore. For too long, we were told “blood is thicker than water” and “family comes first.” But a growing number of adults are taking agency, prioritizing their own healing, and deciding what a healthy family relationship is – and what they will no longer tolerate.

In this supportive, realistic, and authoritative guide, you’ll discover the insights and tools to make your relationship with problematic parents work. Topics include:

  • Processing the past, and whether to ask for apologies
  • What to say when a parent rejects your attempts to repair
  • Managing the grief, guilt, and isolation that often come with estrangement
  • Breaking the cycle of generational harm, to show up better for your family of choice

Filled with illuminating stories, actionable advice, and ready-to-use scripts for even the trickiest scenarios, this is the roadmap for processing the past and prioritizing your own healing – to create the nourishing family life you deserve.
Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, the founder of Calling Home, author of Toxic Positivity, and the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a private online therapy practice in Florida. She helps adult family members have better relationships, set boundaries, and navigate estrangement. View titles by Whitney Goodman, LMFT

About

The ultimate guide to going low-contact, no-contact, and setting clear boundaries with a difficult or distant parent, by the popular therapist known as @sitwithwhit

Is estrangement a dirty word? Not anymore. For too long, we were told “blood is thicker than water” and “family comes first.” But a growing number of adults are taking agency, prioritizing their own healing, and deciding what a healthy family relationship is – and what they will no longer tolerate.

In this supportive, realistic, and authoritative guide, you’ll discover the insights and tools to make your relationship with problematic parents work. Topics include:

  • Processing the past, and whether to ask for apologies
  • What to say when a parent rejects your attempts to repair
  • Managing the grief, guilt, and isolation that often come with estrangement
  • Breaking the cycle of generational harm, to show up better for your family of choice

Filled with illuminating stories, actionable advice, and ready-to-use scripts for even the trickiest scenarios, this is the roadmap for processing the past and prioritizing your own healing – to create the nourishing family life you deserve.

Author

Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, the founder of Calling Home, author of Toxic Positivity, and the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a private online therapy practice in Florida. She helps adult family members have better relationships, set boundaries, and navigate estrangement. View titles by Whitney Goodman, LMFT