07/24/2026
This headline refers to a recent survey and a broader debate within psychology and family therapy. The claim is provocative, but the evidence is more nuanced than the headline suggests.
Here are the key points:
A survey of about 7,000 estranged parents found that roughly one-third believed their adult child's therapist influenced the estrangement. Importantly, this reflects parents' beliefs, not independent evidence that therapists actually advised cutting off contact.
Family therapist William Doherty and psychologist Joshua Coleman have argued that some therapists and social media communities may too quickly interpret family conflict through the language of trauma or encourage "no contact" before less drastic options have been exhausted.
On the other hand, many clinicians counter that ethical therapy does not tell clients what decisions to make. Instead, therapists help clients clarify their values, assess risks, establish boundaries, and make their own decisions. In some cases, those decisions include reconciliation; in others, temporary or permanent distance.
Is society becoming "obsessed with trauma"?
There has unquestionably been a cultural shift over the past 15–20 years:
Greater recognition of childhood emotional abuse, neglect, and adverse childhood experiences.
Increased public discussion of trauma through therapy, books, podcasts, TikTok, and Instagram.
More willingness to establish boundaries with family members.
Many mental health professionals view these developments as positive because emotional abuse was historically minimized. Others worry that terms such as "trauma," "toxic," "narcissist," and "gaslighting" are sometimes used too broadly, potentially encouraging people to see ordinary family conflict through a pathological lens.
As a psychotherapist, this raises an important ethical question
Most professional ethics emphasize that therapists should:
Avoid taking a client's account as the complete story without curiosity or reflection.
Help clients distinguish between abuse, chronic dysfunction, and ordinary relational conflict.
Explore multiple options—including improved boundaries, structured conversations, limited contact, family therapy, or reconciliation when appropriate.
Reserve recommendations for permanent estrangement primarily for situations involving ongoing abuse, serious safety concerns, or repeated failures of healthier alternatives.
The therapeutic goal is generally greater differentiation, autonomy, and healthier relationships—not estrangement itself.
What does the research say?
Research on family estrangement suggests:
Estrangement is relatively common and has become more visible.
Reasons are diverse, including abuse, neglect, addiction, personality disorders, value conflicts, political differences, mental illness, and unresolved family patterns.
Many estrangements are not permanent; some families reconcile after time apart.
Both adult children and parents often experience significant grief and emotional distress.
So the headline captures a real controversy but should not be read as evidence that therapy is causing widespread family estrangement. The survey documents what estranged parents believe, while the broader research suggests family estrangement usually arises from multiple interacting factors rather than a therapist's advice alone. Reffering article below.
