Working with family estrangement is an area I have both professional and personal experience in. I understand how complex and isolating this kind of loss can feel. When a family member is no longer part of our lives, it can bring up many mixed and confusing emotions, such as grief, guilt, anger, relief, and longing. Unlike bereavement through death, estrangement is often less recognised or understood by others, which can leave people feeling alone in their experience.

Estrangement can carry a particular kind of grief. The person is no longer present in your life, yet they are still alive. This can lead to a lack of closure, unanswered questions, and ongoing emotional tension. Well-intentioned comments from others may encourage reconciliation or minimisation, but often make it harder to trust your own needs and boundaries. Estrangement itself can take many forms. It may be a boundary you have chosen to protect yourself, a decision made by someone else, or a mutual distancing that developed over time.

Talking about estrangement is important, but it is not an expectation or outcome of our work together. I recognise the wide range of experiences and possibilities within family relationships. Some people come to therapy when they begin to notice unhelpful dynamics and want support in understanding their options. While I will support and empower clients who choose or need to create distance, I also work with those who are not ready for this or who are navigating the pain of another person’s decision to step away.

I have supported many clients across this spectrum. For some, therapy becomes a space to work toward resolution or a redefined relationship. For others, it is about learning how to live alongside estrangement and finding greater steadiness within themselves. Wherever you find yourself, we will focus on what you need now and support you in building clarity, self-trust, and emotional stability. I would welcome you to get in touch to explore how I might support you.

Here you can find some of the blog posts I have written on Family estrangement, relationships and other related topics.