Q&A: Empathy, Boundaries, and Healing

Supporting a partner who has issues with their parents requires empathy, patience, and understanding. It's not just understanding their feelings but also actively putting yourself in their shoes and acknowledging their emotional experience. That is listening attentively, validating their feelings, and reassuring them that their emotions are legitimate. It's not about offering solutions or fixing the problem but showing that you care and are there to support them through their struggles. By creating a safe and non-judgmental space and encouraging them to express their needs and boundaries, you are helping them feel less alone on their journey, prepare to uphold their boundaries, and build a stronger connection between you both.

In this episode, we discuss strategies and insights for supporting a partner facing challenges with their parents. Listen and learn how to be a supportive partner, maintain healthy boundaries, and build a fulfilling and joyous relationship.

Tune in!

What You Will Learn:

• [00:01] Intro and what in for you in today’s show
• [00:59] How to support a partner who has a difficult relationship with parents
• [01:37] Be supportive, not judgemental
• [02:57] Seek understanding and clarity of the situation
• [03:39] Support your partner in a way that is helpful to them
• [04:28] Set boundaries with your in-laws
• [05:11] Keep your wounds in check
• [06:34] Listen and validate your partner's experience
• [08:23] Respect your partner's boundaries
• [09:28] Practice patience and understanding
• [10:21] Celebrate your partner's progress
• [10:59] Create a safe space for continuous sharing
• [11:20] Wrap up and end of the show

Standout Quotes:

• “It is way easier for an outsider to recognize what is happening and label the problem; try to put yourself in your partner's shoes and understand their perspective.” [01:44]
• “Sometimes we get so caught up in supporting people how we think they should be supported rather than listening to them.” [03:44]
• “Ask your partner how they would like to be supported, listen to their suggestions, and allow them to be experts on their experience.” [04:01]
• “Sometimes we respond in a certain way to our partner's issues because we're being triggered; make sure you're working through your own stuff so you don't over or under react.”[29:59]

Let’s Connect

Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466.

Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram.

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The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice, or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service.

Mixing, editing and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast.

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