Who Exactly is my book “Navigating Family Estrangement” for?

As some who follow my work will know, my book “Navigating Family Estrangement” was released in June (available here) and I will continue to promote across as many channels as I can. However, one question I have been asked several times, predominately from estranged people, is: “Is this book for me or just academics and professionals? The short answer is…100% YES, and throughout the writing … Continue reading Who Exactly is my book “Navigating Family Estrangement” for?

My Book has arrived

Unboxing video of my new book “Navigating Family Estrangement”. The book launch is in Hodges and Figgis (Dublin) on Wednesday July 3rd from 6pm…pop in an say hello if you are in the area. Links to purchase here: Amazon (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Family-Estrangement-Karl-Melvin/dp/1032423064 Amazon (Ireland/UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Navigating-Family-Estrangement-Understand-Challenges/dp/1032423064 Amazon (Canada) – https://www.amazon.ca/Navigating-Family-Estrangement-Understand-Challenges/dp/1032423064 Amazon (Spain) – https://www.amazon.es/Navigating-Family-Estrangement-Understand-Challenges/dp/1032423064 Amazon (France) – https://www.amazon.fr/Navigating-Family-Estrangement-Karl-Melvin/dp/1032423064 Amazon (Germany) – https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Karl-Melvin/dp/1032423064 Continue reading My Book has arrived

Are you afraid to share your family situation and estrangement with friends?

It is understandable for estranged adults to not want to share their family issues with friends for a range of reasons. This includes feeling like they are betraying their family or burdening their friends. This video explores why having this difficult conversation is so hard but might be necessary to get the support estranged adults both need and deserve. Continue reading Are you afraid to share your family situation and estrangement with friends?

Difficult Family Questions over Christmas

As Christmas is so synonymous with family time, those who have a difficult (or no) relationship with their family may also have to deal with uncomfortable questions around if they will be spend time with family during this period. My latest video discusses why these questions are so hard and how scripting basic responses can help deflect the situation and quickly move onto a different … Continue reading Difficult Family Questions over Christmas

Common Challenges of Family Conflict and Estrangement over Christmas

Christmas can be fraught with challenges when living with ongoing family conflict and estrangement. The video below discusses the 5 the most common challenges, which include Guilt and Shame, Chronic Indecision, managing difficult family visits, etc. Finding practical solutions to these can very helpful in creating a sense of autonomy for my clients. Continue reading Common Challenges of Family Conflict and Estrangement over Christmas

Difficult Family Questions over Christmas

As Christmas is so synonymous with family time, those who have a difficult (or no) relationship with their family may also have to deal with uncomfortable questions around if they will be spend time with family during this period. My latest video discusses why these questions are so hard and how scripting basic responses can help deflect the situation and quickly move onto a different … Continue reading Difficult Family Questions over Christmas

Why Parking Family Struggles is Important

Many of my clients have reached out to me because they are at a point where they genuinely don’t know how to move forward. In some cases, they have no desire to reconnect or reconcile with estranged kin, but due to the bonds of family, there is a strong chance they will cross paths again at some point. In other cases, they desperately desire to … Continue reading Why Parking Family Struggles is Important

Learning how to PARK Family Struggles – January Estrangement Clinic

January can be a symbolic time for some to reflect on where they are now and where they would like to be in 12 months. However, for those struggling with family issues, such is the scale and impact of these that it can keep them feeling stuck in their heads and hearts, irrespective of the time of year. And this can then contaminate other areas … Continue reading Learning how to PARK Family Struggles – January Estrangement Clinic

My Journey to Estrangement Publishing

Research, Publishing, and the Importance of Rejections My name is Karl Melvin, and I’m accredited with the IACP. As a therapist, early in my career, I came to specialize in working adults who were struggling with their family in various ways, to the point where the relationship had completely broken down. In 2016, I returned to college to do a Master’s in Counselling and Psychotherapy, … Continue reading My Journey to Estrangement Publishing

Estrangement, Bias and Terrible Advice

I recently posted about the types of therapy biases experienced by the many estranged people I have spoken to, and this is demontrated in this recent agony-aunt style article a frustrated client shared with me. The person writing and her husband are struggling with her husband’s family, using the word ‘abusive’ twice to describe them, as well as other potential terms suggesting abuse, such ‘controlling’ … Continue reading Estrangement, Bias and Terrible Advice