227. College Student Estrangement

If you have a college-aged adult child who's creating distance between you, you're not alone. Why do young adults suddenly go from frequent voluntary contact and "I love you" to feeling "smothered"? And how should parents respond? In this episode featuring a recording from a past Q&A call, podcast host Tina Gilbertson, LPC, tackles the problem of college cutoff. You'll hear one family's story that might resemble your own in this essential episode for parents of college-aged adult children. For evidence-based information on estrangement, and tools to repair a troubled parent-adult child relationship, read host Tina Gilbertson's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child. https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe 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. https://reconnectionclub.com Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack https://tinagilbertson.substack.com EPISODE LINKS: The Reconnection Club Podcast https://reconnectionclub.com/category/podcast/ The Reconnection Club https://reconnectionclub.com For members: The Reconnection Club Resource Library https://reconnectionclub.com/library

One of the hardest things to understand if you didn't abuse your child or children, is that their estrangement may still be a way of protecting themselves. Although there are estranged adult children with horrific stories of abuse and neglect, they are not the only ones creating distance from parents and family. Parents of all backgrounds, temperaments, disciplinary styles and socioeconomic levels are being held at arm's length by adult children who were not abused, and yet are motivated by self-protection. They're not lying. They just might be talking about factors that are all but invisible to you, and even to other family members. In this cornerstone two-part episode (Part 1 can be found at https://reconnectionclub.com/225), you'll learn about relationship dynamics that may be unfamiliar or challenging, that could contribute to your adult child's going no-contact or low-contact. Once you understand what they're protecting themselves from, you can begin the work of reducing the impact of those factors, and healing your relationship. For much more evidence-based information and tools to repair the parent-adult child relationship, read host Tina Gilbertson's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child. https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe 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 at https://reconnectionclub.com Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack: https://tinagilbertson.substack.com EPISODE LINKS: Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 119: Finding Out Where the Boundaries Are https://reconnectionclub.com/119 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 193: The Truth of the Matter https://reconnectionclub.com/193 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 198: Validation (Or Lack Thereof) https://reconnectionclub.com/198 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 149: From Enmeshment to Estrangement https://reconnectionclub.com/149 Personal Healing: More Than a Detour for Rejected Parents https://reconnectionclub.com/bedrock

One of the hardest things to understand if you didn't abuse your child or children, is that their estrangement may still be a way of protecting themselves. Although there are estranged adult children with horrific stories of abuse and neglect, they are not the only ones creating distance from parents and family. Parents of all backgrounds, temperaments, disciplinary styles and socioeconomic levels are being held at arm's length by adult children who were not abused, and yet are motivated by self-protection. They're not lying. They just might be talking about factors that are all but invisible to you, and even to other family members. In this cornerstone two-part episode (Part 2 releases June 15, 2026), you'll learn about relationship dynamics that may be unfamiliar or challenging, that could contribute to your adult child's going no-contact or low-contact. Once you understand what they're protecting themselves from, you can begin the work of reducing the impact of those factors, and healing your relationship. For much more evidence-based information and tools to repair the parent-adult child relationship, read host Tina Gilbertson's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child:  https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe 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: https://reconnectionclub.com Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack: https://tinagilbertson.substack.com

When your adult child stops talking to you, many parents' biggest fear is they'll never come back. If silence goes on for months or years, you might naturally wonder if the unthinkable has happened, and the relationship with your child(ren) is actually over. In this hopeful episode, therapist and host Tina Gilbertson argues that estrangement itself is a sign the relationship is still alive. Find out how to use this time to strengthen the relationship, even when it appears there's no movement. As long as you yourself are learning, growing, healing and evolving, your relationship with your adult child(ren) is potentially doing the same. For evidence-based information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child. https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe 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. https://reconnectionclub.com Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack - https://tinagilbertson.substack.com EPISODE LINKS: Family Systems Theory (Murray Bowen):  Bowentheoryacademy.org - https://bowentheoryacademy.org/bowen-theory/bowen-theory-history-and-concepts Vermont Center for Family Studies - https://vermontcenterforfamilystudies.org/about/bowen-family-systems-theory/ Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 217 How to Tolerate Anxiety During Estrangement From Your Adult Child https://reconnectionclub.com/217 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 25: Estrangement... A Phase of Development?  https://reconnectionclub.com/25 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 212: The Open Secret About Reconnection https://reconnectionclub.com/212  

In this thoughtful remake of Episode 3, RC Podcast host and therapist Tina Gilbertson walks listeners through some of the most common mistakes parents make when adult children become estranged. As a parent, sometimes you have to avoid words and actions that might come naturally if you want to successfully reconnect. Steering clear of anything that could make your adult child's estrangement worse is obviously important. This helpful episode will guide you away from common pitfalls, and toward more productive action. Be sure to check out the all links below after listening. For evidence-based information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child. (Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe) 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. https://reconnectionclub.com Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack. https://tinagilbertson.substack.com EPISODE LINKS: Reconnection Club Podcast Ep 120: Rules of Thumb Are Not Rules https://reconnectionclub.com/120 Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 144: What's Your Strategy https://reconnectionclub.com/144 Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 172: When to Respect a No-Contact Request https://reconnectionclub.com/172 Don't Be in a Hurry to Apologize to an Estranged Adult Child  https://reconnectionclub.com/dont-rush-apology What Does a No-Contact Request Sound Like? https://reconnectionclub.com/nocontact-request Why We Act Impulsively (And How Not To) https://reconnectionclub.com/threat-response Top 7 Mistakes downloadable handout https://reconnectionclub.com/top7 Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe The Reconnection Club Podcast https://reconnectionclub.com/podcast The Reconnection Club https://reconnectionclub.com

Estranged adult children might say to their parents, "You brought this on yourselves" – referring to parental behaviors that contributed to their need for space. But parents may say the same thing to adult children who choose estrangement, and then discover they're still unhappy: "You're bringing this on yourself (by keeping your distance)." Where do we go from here? It's a stalemate. But the question of who "brings estrangement on themselves" is far less relevant to reconciliation, than whether we can find compassion for everyone who contributes to their own suffering in any way. Because "everyone" is us. In this thoughtful, mind-changing episode, psychotherapist and host Tina Gilbertson urges listeners not to withhold compassion from themselves and others, even when problems appear to be self-inflicted. For evidence-based 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. Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack.  

Episode 1 Redux Most parents who are unwillingly estranged from their adult children worry about time passing while they're estranged. They know life is short. Grandchildren grow up fast. Time is not unlimited. This makes parents anxious to reconnect, which is understandable. But acting on anxiety too often leads to ineffective behaviors. In this revitalization of a classic episode, RC Podcast host Tina Gilbertson, LPC, offers thoughts on why Time can be a friend to parents in pain over estrangement. She names five different gifts that Time can bestow, and suggests how parents can make use of them while estranged. This soothing episode will help listeners treat the time they have as truly precious, encouraging them not to lose opportunities by helplessly longing for change. For evidence-based information and tools to repair your relationship with your estranged adult child(ren), read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child (Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2ZhetMe ) Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club at https://reconnectionclub.com/community/forum/general. Not a member yet? Learn more and join at https://reconnectionclub.com. Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack: https://tinagilbertson.substack.com. EPISODE LINKS: Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 155: Good Grief - https://reconnectionclub.com/155  

In this fascinating 2-part episode (see link below for Part 1), host Tina Gilbertson explores the impact on siblings of adult child estrangement. If your estranged adult child has a brother, sister, or multiple siblings, you'll want to listen to this series carefully. You'll discover how to support the ones left behind; whether your other adult children will become estranged too; and what to do if an estranged adult child actively recruits their sibling(s) into estrangement. Whether your estranged adult child has siblings or not, you'll find evidence-based information and tools to repair your relationship in 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 at https://reconnectionclub.com. Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack: https://tinagilbertson.substack.com   EPISODE LINKS: Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 219: Siblings and Estrangement, Part 1 - https://reconnectionclub.com/219 Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 149: From Enmeshment to Estrangement, Part 1 - https://reconnectionclub.com/149 Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 150: From Enmeshment to Estrangement, Part 2 - https://reconnectionclub.com/150 Reconnection Club Podcast Episode 60: Same House, Different Childhoods - https://reconnectionclub.com/60 General Discussion forum (login required)

In this fascinating 2-part episode (Part 2 comes out on March 23, 2026), host Tina Gilbertson explores the impact on siblings of adult child estrangement.  If your estranged adult child has a brother, sister, or multiple siblings, you'll want to listen to this series carefully. Find out how to support the ones left behind; whether your other adult children will become estranged too; and what to do if an estranged adult child actively recruits their sibling(s) into estrangement. Whether your estranged adult child has siblings or not, you'll find evidence-based information and tools to repair your relationship in 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. Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack EPISODE LINKS: RC Podcast Episode 198: Validation (Or Lack Thereof) Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 117: Heroes & Villains

From an interview with Anne Dickson, Ph.D. In this insightful episode, you'll learn about the critical interplay between assertiveness, boundaries, and emotions. Reconnection Club Podcast host Tina Gilbertson shares an excerpt from her interview with assertiveness expert and author Anne Dickson, who explains how early experiences shape our understanding of anger. Key insights about the emotional lessons learned during childhood are discussed, offering valuable perspectives for anyone grappling with boundaries, children and anger today. The thought-provoking ideas you'll hear may challenge your view of boundaries. They'll certainly prompt reflection on personal experiences, and encourage an ongoing commitment to healthy relationships – especially establishing limits. For evidence-based 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. Follow Tina Gilbertson on Substack  EPISODE LINKS: RC Podcast Episode 174: "How to set boundaries without making them mad?" RC Podcast Episode 198: Validation (Or Lack Thereof) Full Interview with Anne Dickson (login required) A Woman In Your Own Right by Anne Dickson Anne Dickson - Official website