Letters to Myself Volume 5: LGBTQIA+, Parental Estrangement, & Parental Alienation

In Volume 5 of the Letters to Myself series, Jen Taylor, LCSW, takes her 24+ years of experience as a New York City-based spiritual psychotherapist to turn the focus on LGBTQIA+ stories, parental alienation & estrangement. Jen believes in celebrating the authenticity of each person. If being gay, lesbian, queer, or transgender allows one to feel more truly themselves, the author believes we should not only accept this but embrace it! There was a time when young people, coming out to their families, experienced parental estrangement. That is less so now, but trans kids and young people often experience similar rejection.

Parental estrangement can happen on both sides: either the parent(s) distancing from their child(ren) or children cutting ties with their parents(s). There are many reasons for this, and abuse/neglect are a couple of them.

Parental alienation is " a situation in which one parent uses strategies - sometimes referred to as brainwashing, alienating, or programming - to distance a child from the other parent." - Healthline

Jen brings her expertise to the table with valuable resources and a collection of letters from those who have struggled in these areas and offers their stories in the hope of helping others. It is Jen's wish that this book provides hope and alternatives to young people who are struggling with these issues.

Please call 988 (USA) if you are struggling with suicidal urges.

Life can be challenging. Cling to the hope.

Contributing Authors Include: Meredith Linden, M. LaRae M.Sc., Elizabeth Myers, Jason Fieldings, Sr., and others.