John-Paul's Therapy Podcast: This Trusted Place

S8 | E9 Family Estrangement: How To Navigate The Painful Divide ft Karl Melvin

John-Paul Davies Season 8 Episode 9

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In this really insightful and hopefully helpful podcast, I interview Karl Melvin, a therapist with over 13 years of experience in the area of navigating family estrangement. Karl defines estrangement as creating distance between family members, which can vary in degree and form, which can be emotional, geographical, or communicative. The discussion highlights the challenges and dynamics involved in estrangement, emphasising its complexity and the continuum from complete disconnection to minimal contact.

Karl shares some therapeutic approaches for dealing with estrangement, focusing on individual circumstances and the importance of understanding family dynamics. He discusses the role of communication in reconnection, suggesting the use of different mediums like video and voice notes, and stresses the importance of timing and changing circumstances.

The conversation also covers emotional and practical support strategies, including some from Karl's book, "Navigating Family Estrangement," offering insights and tools for understanding and managing this difficult and complex issue. These include Karl's "estrangement toolbox," which offers tools including emotional validation and practical planning for family events. 

Karl encourages resilience and maintaining hope, advising viewers not to give up on themselves despite the difficulties they face and the challenges of estrangement. As ever, I hope it's helpful.

Karl’s Socials: 

Website: https://karlmelvin.com 

Email: info@karlmelvin.com  

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-melvin- psychotherapist-ma-miacp-2a29679/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karl.melvin/  

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ToxicEscape/  

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karl-Melvin

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My podcast with the audio of this video is at: https//www.buzzsprout.com/2067601

Website at: https://www.thistrustedplace.co.uk

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