Ep 18: Dear Therapists: Boundaries, Beliefs & Family Struggles | Listener Dilemmas

In the second Dear Therapists episode of Relational Lives, Ali and Ros respond to two powerful listener letters, offering comfort, validation, and gentle reflections for those navigating emotionally complex relationships. Letter 1: This dilemma from a listener explores the painful question of whether it's okay to end a friendship over racist and anti-immigrant comments. Letter 2: This letter shares the emotional weight of living in a home overshadowed by trauma, silence, and a father’s unpredictable anger. If you've ever struggled with loyalty versus boundaries, or found yourself stuck in a difficult home environment, this episode is for you. Shownotes: Episode: Dear Therapists: Boundaries, Beliefs & Family Struggles | Listener Dilemmas In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:43 – Letter 1: Is it okay to end a friendship over politics? 03:00 – Politics vs. personal identity 06:00 – Boundaries, beliefs & losing a friend 10:00 – Changing friendships in early adulthood 13:14 – Letter 2: Walking on eggshells at home 15:23 – Trauma, silence & cultural complexity 18:15 – Surviving a difficult home environment 22:00 – Finding support outside the home 25:30 – Final words to our letter writers Resources mentioned: 📍 Domestic violence and family trauma support (check local services or charities) Previous episodes on: Understanding Anxiety: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ghvvi-1852bb6 Understanding Gen Z - A Cross-Generational Chat: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-qpewe-18a1acc Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relational_lives Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relationallives/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relational_lives YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Relational_Lives LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tempo-psychotherapy-services-33a00318/ Want to share your story or come on the show to discuss your dilemma? Write to us and we might cover it in a future episode. Drop us a message at [e-mail] or you can anonymously complete our form here: https://forms.office.com/e/qcrCkbhPiT. We’d also love to hear updates if you’ve written in before. Subscribe for future episodes on OCD, trauma, attachment and more mental health topics. If you found this episode helpful, please like this video or share it with a friend. Disclaimer: Please remember, this is not meant to be a replacement for personal therapy and is for information and self-reflection only. Please reach out to an appropriate professional in your area if you feel you need individualised help. Credits: Music by: Stile Tree Studio Produced by: Synergy Podcast Studio