LibraryScenariosWhen parents and teens try to protect each other during family crisis
Scenario

When parents and teens try to protect each other during family crisis

My teenage daughter and I are both dealing with my divorce from her father and we keep trying to protect each other from our own grief but it's creating this weird distance where we're both pretending to be okay. I can see she's struggling but when I try to talk about it she shuts down, and I think she's doing the same protective thing with me that I'm doing with her.

Patan
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

Two people are creating isolation through misguided attempts at mutual protection, preventing the very connection that could heal them both.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Apprenticeship across traditions?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.