41 - Setting boundaries with Toxic Family with Dr. Sherrie Campbell

Family relationships can be some of the most supportive parts of our lives, but can be incredibly challenging when they are toxic. In this episode, we dive into what toxic family members really look like, and what to do about it. If you ever wanted to find a way forward when your relationships have become draining or unsafe, or learn how to set boundaries with family, including your parents, this is the episode for you. We cover the steps to protect our personal well-being and heal from trauma.

Our guest today is Dr Sherrie Campbell, a licensed clinical psychologist and author known for her work on toxic family dynamics, where she specialises in helping healthy people cut ties with the toxic people in their lives. She is a nationally recognised expert on family estrangement, a best selling author, TEDx Speaker, top 1% Podcast host of the “Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties”, a well-known social media influencer and a regularly featured media expert. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.

00:00 - Intro
2:05 - How Sherrie became an expert in toxic families.
3:10 - Defining a healthy vs toxic family.
4:30 - Why it is easier to recognise you are in a toxic family in your 40s.
7:45 - What can you do to recognise this earlier?
10:00 - Where can you go to learn more about a toxic family?
12:25 - What are the 5 types of estrangement?
16:40 - When to use no contact as a coping strategy?
18:40 - How do you set and maintain your boundaries?
20:45 - Clinical example of boundary testing.
23:50 - Dealing with the guilt of setting boundaries.
26:00 - What support is available outside of therapy?
27:20 - Why do some people get stuck in a victim mindset?
28:40 - Why the "gray rock" method is a safer form of boundary setting for children.
30:20 - How does the level of contact evolve in the healing journey?
33:15 - How taking responsibility for your wellbeing is the first step to healing.
36:00 - What can you do to not perpetuate the cycle of trauma?
37:40 - Why providing validation is key in the role of a support person?
39:35 - How to maintain boundaries during the holiday season?
40:30 - Why self-love is an important part of healing?
41:40 - How to respond when the legal system gets involve?
43:30 - What is Sherrie’s one wellbeing practice?

Learn more about Sherrie https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-ewing-7865712a/
Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/