Becoming a Sacred Ancestor: Breaking Free From Toxic Family Systems with Brigitte (Bonus Episode 36)
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sherrie sits down with Bridgette to explore what it means to transform toxic family patterns and step into the role of a sacred ancestor. Drawing from Bowen’s Family Systems theory, genograms, attachment work, and experiential psychotherapy, Bridgette offers a path toward breaking cycles, healing shame, and creating freedom for future generations.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🍏 What it means to become a sacred ancestor and why mapping family systems can uncover hidden generational traumas and roles
🍏 How to separate the “survival self” you had to be in your family from the authentic self you’re becoming
🍏 Why the gilded cage metaphor explains how family systems can look good on the outside while keeping you trapped inside
🍏 Practical ways to begin reparenting your inner child and healing deep attachment wounds
🍏 How reparenting creates safety and reduces shame for survivors of toxic families
🍏 Why grieving childhood and parental relationships is essential for healing, and how corrective emotional experiences make space for authentic living
🍏 The first step you can take today to set yourself free and begin breaking generational cycles
Brigitte Marquette is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor. In her private practice, Gilded Cage Counselling, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Brigitte supports her clients to gain insights into the family system they grew up in, heal attachment wounding, and show up in the world in a way that is authentic and meaningful to them. When exploring unhealthy family systems through a family systems and transpersonal psychological lens, we can discover embracing being a sacred ancestor as opposed to a dutiful descendant.
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Episode Sponsors:
Betterhelp
Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started:
https://betterhelp.com/drsherrie
BetterHelp, founded in 2013, is the world’s largest online therapy platform, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized mental health care.
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MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
📌 [Book] I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - https://www.amazon.com/Know-Why-Caged-Bird-Sings/dp/0345514408
CONNECT WITH BRIGITTE:
📌 Website: https://gildedcagecounselling.com/
📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gildedcagecounselling/
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MY LATEST BOOK!!!
Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents: How to Heal, Cultivate Emotional Resilience, and Build the Life and Love You Deserve - https://amzn.to/3UhURWI
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MY TEDx TALK:
📌 TEDx Talk Not All Parents Are Good by Dr. Sherrie Campbell - https://youtu.be/deyHwDkG7oc
BOOKS BY DR. SHERRIE:
⚉ Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members: Tools to Maintain Boundaries, Deal with Criticism, and Heal from Shame After Ties Have Been Cut. - https://amzn.to/3L3sMuA
⚉ But It’s Your Family…: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath - https://amzn.to/3tuNQEn
⚉ Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for
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