Untangling the Ties That Bind: Heal Enmeshment Trauma and Break Dysfunctional Patterns with Family Members

When love feels inseparable from guilt and obligation.

Did you grow up feeling more like a caretaker than a child? Did your parent or family member's mood seem to depend on you? Do you still struggle to make personal decisions without guilt as an adult? If so, what you learned as love may be enmeshment. This subtle but powerful pattern blurs the line between care and control, leaving you anxious, exhausted, and unsure where your family ends and you begin. So how can you trust your inner voice, set healthy boundaries, and make choices that are truly yours?

Untangling the Ties That Bind offers a unique path toward healing by redefining what family closeness means. Drawing on cutting-edge research and internal family systems (IFS), psychotherapist Jordan Pickell helps you recognize how enmeshment forms, how it affects your relationships, and how to build a sturdy sense of self.

Through guided practices and compassionate insights, you'll learn to:

• Identify and understand enmeshment patterns in your family
• Release guilt and anxiety around setting boundaries
• Reconnect with your own needs, beliefs, and values
• Cultivate interdependence and authentic connection

Whether you're considering low contact, no contact, or simply seeking more emotional balance between yourself and your family members, Untangling the Ties That Bind helps you choose authenticity over obligation, so you can finally live on your own terms.

For readers of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, But It's Your Family, and Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members.

Jordan Pickell, MCP, is a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. She specializes in relational trauma, boundary setting, and complex family dynamics; and works extensively with eldest daughters, adult children of immigrants, and individuals breaking the cycle of intergenerational dysfunction. Jordan has spoken at conferences, contributed to panels, and facilitated workshops such as Build Better Boundaries and Navigating Fractured Relationships with Difficult Parents. Drawing from personal experience and professional expertise, she also brings a compassionate, practical approach to her work, making her uniquely qualified to guide individuals on their journey from enmeshment to healing and wholeness.

Foreword writer Sherrie Campbell, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who specializes in supporting healthy people who have set boundaries with toxic people in their lives. She is a nationally recognized expert on family estrangement, an inspirational speaker, a social media influencer, and a regularly featured media expert. She is host of the podcast, Sherapy Sessions, and author of many books, including Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members.