On Writing

Therapist Whitney Goodman praises Brothers, Sisters, Strangers on Tik Tok, and identifies her favorite quote from the book. https://www.tiktok.com/@whitneygoodmanlmft/video/7228216188944567598

My mother, Edith Schumer, was a Holocaust refugee who fled Nazi Germany as a 12-year-old unaccompanied minor. She never said a word about her past – even though the anguish and abandonment she felt in fleeing her village alone had defined her life. She lost everything in 1938: her home, her family, her language, her loyalties, her identity. The way she coped was to never speak of her early life, ...

Many abandon their true selves to hold onto relationships, even toxic ones.   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202305/choosing-between-authenticity-and-attachment

The illness or death of an estranged family member can present one of the most vexing moments for those cut off from that person and/or others in the family. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202304/grieving-the-death-of-an-estranged-family-member?error_code=1349037&error_message=User+opted+out+of+platform%3A+The+action+attempted+is+disallowed%2C+because+the+user+has+opted+out+of+Facebook+platform.#_=_

A guide to exploring your troubled sibling relationship through writing. Link to order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLLTT6SJ#SalesRank  

I have worked with many clients as they navigate the range of emotions of sibling estrangement – from anger to sadness to rumination. Often, those who are shunned are struggling with ongoing grief, as they mourn the living. I offer private, one-on-one sessions to discuss estrangement, reconciliation, and family relations in general. I draw upon my research for the books I’ve written on this topic, as well as my lived experience ...

Amazon is offering BROTHERS, SISTERS, STRANGERS at a 32% discount right now. The hardcover is only $18.99 -- $9 off the regular price.     https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sisters-Strangers-Estrangement-Reconciliation/dp/0525561692/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=tYeS5&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_p=bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_r=G74GB0FRCEPN6S45C1EP&pd_rd_wg=CWv9l&pd_rd_r=4cc3a036-cfdf-430f-b98b-85ae5588cef6&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m

  “The influence brothers and sisters have on each other’s lives goes far beyond their own interactions,” Dr. Lewis writes. “Understanding the quality and emotional tone of the childhood relationship provides a rich source of information about and explanations for who siblings are today.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202303/sibling-connections-in-childhood-can-define-adult

Grateful to EstrangedSib for this five star review on Amazon of THE SIBLING ESTRANGEMENT JOURNAL:   5.0 out of 5 stars Costs less than a glass of wine & much more effective Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023 Verified Purchase This is the best money I've spent on coping with the emotions of my sibling totally estranging me more than two years ago now. I highly recommend ...

After I gave a presentation about my mother’s Holocaust history at a senior residence in Chicago a few years ago, a man in his late 80s came up to me and whispered, “I want to tell you something.” He grabbed my elbow and ushered me into a private corner of the room. “I’ve never told anyone this before.” Tears streaked his face, and he bit his lip as he worked ...