When you’ve been parentified, you grow up fast. Your needs get buried. Your inner child gets quiet. And protector parts take over — keeping everything together, at a cost. In IFS, we see these protector parts clearly: They developed for …
Tag: attachmenttrauma
When We Have Emotionally Immature Parents
When we’re raised by emotionally immature parents, we often grow up in one of two ways: We either struggle to regulate our emotions — reacting, withdrawing, or feeling overwhelmed… Or we become parentified early — the “responsible one,” always managing …
It’s Our Choice: Punish Ourselves or Be the Parent We Never Had
“When we talk to ourselves, we have the opportunity to punish ourselves or be the parent we never had. It’s our choice.”— Jennifer Nurick This was a hard one for me. For years, my inner voice was harsh. I didn’t …
Family Secrets: How Carrying a Secret That Wasn’t Yours Can Shape Your Childhood
Did you grow up carrying a secret that wasn’t yours? When a child is asked to hold an adult’s secret — like an affair or a family betrayal — it can fracture their sense of safety, belonging, and play. In …