Reconnecting with Your Estranged Adult Child

Practical Tips and Tools to Heal Your Relationship

By: Tina Gilbertson

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Parents whose adult children have cut off contact wonder: How did this happen? Where did I go wrong? What happened to my loving child? Over time, holidays, birthdays, and even the birth of grandchildren may pass in silence. Anguish may turn into anger.

While time, in and of itself, does not necessarily heal, actions do, and while every estrangement includes situation-specific variables, there are practical, effective, and universal techniques for understanding and healing these not-uncommon breaches. Tina Gilbertson has developed these techniques and tools over years of face-to-face and online work with parents who have found her strategies transformative and even life changing.

Gilbertson cuts through the blame, shame, and guilt on both sides of the broken relationship. Parents will feel heard and understood but also challenged-and guided-to reclaim their role as "tone setter" and grow psychologically. Exercises, examples, and even sample scripts empower parents who have felt powerless. Gilbertson shows that reconciliation is a step-by-step process, but the effort is well worth it. It is never too late to renew relations and experience better-than-ever bonds.

©2020 Tina Gilbertson (P)2020 Tantor

Lifeline academic and experience-formed wisdom

I recommend this book to parents whose adult children hesitate to or do not have contact with them, but also to all parents and to all adult children. Rarely have I read a more helpful introduction to parent and child roles, every humans psychological needs and struggles, plus practical steps one can take to better both one's own well-being and that of one's relationships. What an important contribution the author makes, with the book and with her YouTube channel too.

quite good overall.

I reserve 5 stars for outstanding books. This is very good to excellent in parts.

Will save you from major mistakes

Before I comment on the book I want to mention the narrator. Colleen Marlo is beyond praise. Her voicing adds a lot to the book and nobody could have done it better. The book also teaches how to be more mature with more courage. I was of the school of "Maybe I was a bit too harsh but he knows I love him.." Wrong and Tina explains why. The book is very well written, covers everything and is very down too earth. If you have a friend lamenting an estrangement this could make a much valued gift. But as Tina would say, first query your friend to get permission for the gift. Superb. I will listen again.

Strength, Hope and Awareness found here!

After a 10 year separation from my two children as a result of parental alienation, I struggled with fear, anxiety and worry about how to best reconnect and begin to repair the relationships. This book was a very good start! I highly recommend.

excellent book

such great advice whether you're in the situation for one reason or another he goes through different scenarios and gives the greatest advice. great for estranged families for many situations.

Very good advise

This book is very helpful although it doesn't completely apply to my daughter and my estrangement.
Because there are mental health issues involved, my daughter has dibilitating anxiety and depression. In these situations you are advised to get help. Overhaul it has many great suggestions and is well written. It is a bit bias to the Adult child but it makes sense it would have to be if reconnection is the goal. You must take ownership of your own mistakes or family history first. Helps to know so many other parents experience this too.

Excellent resource

Great guidance. A book of hope for reconnection and healthier relationships. I also appreciate the suggested resources and potential next steps offered at the end.

Very helpful book if you are struggling with this

Some great advice and things to consider if you are in emotional turmoil right now with this. Helpful ideas and a different way of looking at the why behind this.

Thank you

From the bottom of my heart and soul, thank you. This book has changed my life for the better. I was both broken hearted and baffled by my adult child's behavior. I felt lost and clueless. Your book has given me answers, things I can change in myself to be who she needs me to be as her parent, understanding and the ability to hear where I went wrong from her, without being defensive. After a toxic divorce this book has given me hope and healing. Thank you.

Chock full of insights!

I’m so glad I found this book. It is helping me in innumerable ways. Thank you so much. I highly recommend it.