Interviews

Five Ways the Sibling Dynamic Reappears in Adult Relationships

Sibling therapist Karen Gail Lewis, Ph.D. explains how the sibling dynamic can appear in partner relationships, friendships, even co-worker interactions. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202309/5-ways-the-sibling-dynamic-reappears-in-adult-relationships  

Can family members reconcile without discussing their issues?

There are no hard and fast rules on how to reconcile after estrangement. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202308/can-family-members-reconcile-without-discussing-their-issues

How to reconcile with an estranged family member

Last month, I examined the idea of going no contact. This month's post explores what it takes to reconcile with a family member: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202307/how-to-reconcile-with-an-estranged-family-member?fbclid=IwAR3dpCxvI4pETq2nb0ItKYfw8ckZ194dU8dOtiZ9HUDNQdbuKDYhvTutIE4

How to Explain Family Estrangement to Your Children

New psychologytoday.com blog post: When relatives cut ties, children suffer. Here's how to help them understand. KEY POINTS One in four Americans are estranged from a close family member, according to a national survey. Children, who have no control over family relations, can be devastated by family losses due to estrangements. When children witness a cutoff, they often fear their parents might abandon them; they may need reassurance.

A bribe and a card game save a life!

Last month, I went to my cousin’s house to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Our mothers are sisters who came to the United States from Nazi Germany as unaccompanied minors, a year apart, via a little-known American program, The One Thousand Children. Aunt Betty married another Holocaust refugee, Uncle Walter, who brought us his own amazing family story. When I entered my cousin’s living room, he pointed out an eye-popping painting ...

FSC featured on “They’re Driving Me Nuts” podcast

Dr. Linda Austin discusses sibling estrangement with FSC:   https://www.theyredrivingmenuts.com/sibling-estrangement/

How Photos and Social Media Posts Wound Distanced Family Members

What to do with old photos and social media accounts when there's no contact. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202306/how-photos-and-social-media-posts-wound-distanced-family?fbclid=IwAR2X6XEB653TchDCm_fA-9Vwrp4Liu-S5ShjBbsATvV1Yzkj0gSMWNZHZXo

Choosing No Contact With a Toxic Family Member?

Going no contact is a decisive step taken to end physical, psychological, or emotional suffering at the hands of an abusive sibling or other family member. As a tactic to protect oneself from continual hurt, it is generally the last resort. Photo credit: Alex Green/Pexels  

Found in my 98-year-old mother’s apartment!

This is the earliest photo I've seen of my mother, Edith Schumer nee Westerfeld. Taken in 1925 in Stockstadt am Rhein, Germany, Edith is pictured here when she was only months old. The second woman from the right is holding her, and that's her older sister, Betty, standing in front of their mother. Edith and Betty survived the Holocaust, as my grandparents had the foresight to send both of them ...

A Hidden Cause of Troubled Family Relationships

Researchers have identified many root causes of estrangement, but undiagnosed autism is not on that list. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202305/a-hidden-cause-of-troubled-family-relationships