Dealing with Difficult Parents
Let go of guilt and inadequacy, start feeling good enough as you are
Through in-depth therapy, I help individuals who have difficult relationships with their parents feel worthy, independent, and whole—without constantly feeling responsible for their parent’s feelings and expectations.
Despite doing everything you can to make your parents happy, it feels like you’re never enough.
One or both your parents somehow manage to find a way to be disappointed or angry with you, leaving you feeling inadequate, guilty, or lonely.
It is strange to feel like your parents are at once a looming presence, yet also feel like they are entirely absent and emotionally unavailable.
Growing up, and even now as an adult, you feel like you have to fend for yourself in life because you can’t rely on your parents.
Love from your parents feels conditional.
Love feels dependent on what you do, not who you are.
You feel like love and attention from your mom or dad must be “earned,” rather than it being unconditional.
Despite the pain, you know in your heart that you love and appreciate your parents—but when you try to express it, things never go as planned.
Doing what they say they want doesn’t seem to help—there always seems to be more to which you’re not measuring up.
And if you don’t try to satisfy their demands, you have to deal with punishment or rejection for not being good enough.
Blame.
Angry outbursts.
Guilt trips.
Cold shoulders.
Silent treatment.
Their constant dissatisfaction is beyond hurtful and suffocating.
You feel manipulated and trapped—any form of connection with your parents is weaponized against you.
All of this is familiar from your parents, but it might also show up in other parts of life.
Friendships.
Romance.
Siblings.
The workplace.
Or even your kids.
You struggle with guilt for having feelings and needs.
When there’s conflict, your first impulse is to see yourself as the problem.
You deserve to give and receive unconditional love in your life.
You deserve to stop living your life for your parents, at the expense of yourself.
If you want to start feeling more assertive, clear, and confident about your needs, wants, and goals, I’d love to help you get there.
Book an Appointment ⟶
Together, we can work in therapy to support you as you face issues such as ⟶
Low self-esteem
Depression
Anxiety
Difficulties knowing what you feel or think
Excessively taking blame
Loneliness
Difficulties setting boundaries
Self doubt
“Tiger” parents
Helicopter parents
Immigrant parents
Highly successful or wealthy parents
Growing up with divorced parents
Codependency
I maintain my licenses in California and Texas and also participate in PSYPACT, meaning that through online therapy, I am able to see clients based anywhere in California, Texas, or any of the following PSYPACT participating states:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
