5 Questions to Ask Before Cutting Ties With Family |
There has been a lot of press given lately to the topic of cutting off family members who treat us badly or do not respect our boundaries. It seems to resurface each year around the holidays, most likely because that’s a time when we see family members who offend us, mistreat us, or refuse to respect us. Many therapists have even advised their clients to cut ties with family members they consider toxic. On the other hand, popular podcaster Mel Robbins recently wrote about this topic for The New York Times, and her opinion was that we should not cut people out of our lives entirely.
Over the more than 18 years I've been a clinical psychologist, many clients have asked me for advice about whether they should cut off family members who were abusive toward them, disrespected their personal boundaries, or caused them pain in other ways. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no simple answer. If you are considering cutting someone off, whether it's a parent, sibling, or extended family member, the process should be thoughtful and intentional.
Ask these five questions to determine whether........