Estranged Adult Child Resources
This list is a work in progress. It’s provided as a resource, not necessarily an endorsement of the services or ideas. Links to books are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase. There is no additional charge for you. Unless otherwise noted, the estranged adult child resources and services are based in the U.S.
Family Estrangement Support Organizations
Together Estranged (U.S. based)
Stand Alone (U.K. based)
Books for Estranged Adult Children
Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members by Sherrie Campbell
Cutting Ties with Your Parents by Sharon Martin
Toxic Parents by Susan Forward
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents and Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
If You Had Controlling Parents by Dan Neurharth
But It’s Your Family: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath by Sherrie Campbell
Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed: Help and Hope for Adults in the Family Scapegoat Role by Rebecca Mandeville
Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People by Lindsay Gibson
Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect by Jonice Webb
The Emotionally Absent Mother by Jasmin Lee Cori
Adult Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers by Stephanie Kriesberg
Perfect Daughters by Robert Ackerman
Silent Sons by Robert Ackerman
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
The Disease to Please by Harriet Braiker
Adult Children of Alcoholics by Janet Woititz
The Better Boundaries Workbook by Sharon Martin
Podcasts for Adult Children
Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties (Sherrie Campbell)
Adult Child Podcast (Andrea Ashely)
Our Whole Childhood (host: Patrick Teahan)
Unfollowing Mum (Harriet Shearsmith)
Podcast Episodes about Cutting Ties with Family (featuring Dr. Martin)
Therapy Chat (episode 511): Family Estrangement–A New Trend?
The Sensitivity Doctor (episode 121): Cutting Ties with Toxic Family: What It Is and Why You Might Need To
Awaken Your Wise Woman (episode 17, season 5): Managing Toxic Relationships & Cutting Family Ties
Sensitive Stories (episode 42): Cutting Ties as an HSP
Therapy Chat (episode 450): Cutting Ties with Your Parents
Close the Chapter (episode 291): When to Cut Ties or Set Boundaries with Your Parents
Adult Child hosted by Andrea Ashley. Episode 213: The Truth about Estrangement, Boundaries, No Contact, and Grief.
Evidence-Based: A New Harbinger Psychology Podcast: Cutting Ties with Your Parents with Sharon Martin
Therapist Directories
Therapists in the U.S. are licensed independently by each state. So, you need to find a therapist who is licensed to practice in the state where you reside (even if you are using telehealth). You can also ask your physician, clergy, or a trusted friend for a referral. If you want to use your health insurance to pay for therapy, you can also find a provider in your insurance plan’s directory (please ask the person responsible for benefits in your HR department for help, if needed).
For lower-cost counseling, try Open Path Collective or look for a non-profit counseling center in your area.
Gaylesta (Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity): https://gaylesta.org/
Inclusive Therapists: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/
Institute for Muslim Mental Health: https://muslimmentalhealth.com/findtherapist/
Latinx Therapy: https://latinxtherapy.com/
Melanin & Mental Health: https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com/
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: https://nqttcn.com/en/
Neurodivergent Therapists: https://ndtherapists.com/
Open Path Collective (lower cost counseling): https://openpathcollective.org/
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/
Therapy Den: https://www.therapyden.com/
Therapy for Black Girls: https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/
Therapy for Latinx: https://www.therapyforlatinx.com/
Therapy in Color: https://www.therapyincolor.org/
Trauma Therapist Network: https://traumatherapistnetwork.com/therapists/
​Hotlines
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call 988 or 1-800-273-8255, or visit https://988lifeline.org/
Blackline, support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQ+ affirming: call 1-800-604-5841 or visit https://www.callblackline.com/
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 or visit https://www.crisistextline.org/
Love Is Respect support for intimate partner violence: call 1-866-331-9474, text LOVEIS to 22522, or visit https://www.loveisrespect.org/
Trans Lifeline: call 1-877-565-8860 or visit https://translifeline.org/
Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ+ young people: call 1-866-488-7386 or visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
Warm Lines state-by-state directory: https://screening.mhanational.org/content/need-talk-someone-warmlines/
Your Life Counts, international suicide prevention resources: https://yourlifecounts.org/find-help/
12-Step Groups
Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families