Therapy for Adult Children
Therapy specifically for children from dysfunctional families in Maryland and Washington DC
Therapy to Build a New Relationship with Your Parents
These clients desperately want a relationship with their parents that feels mature, fair, and connected. Adult children describe struggling to connect with parents who offer unsolicited advice, disapprove of their choices, use guilt to get their way, and struggle to respect their boundaries. Some enter therapy to cope with their emotionally immature parent(s) who simply cannot meet their needs.
For some, these family issues are new and frustrating. For most, these relationship issues date back years, even decades.
This type of therapy involves helping adult children
Identify their own needs in the relationship
Identify triggers for conflict and pain in the relationship
Manage conflict with parents
Trace origins and gain insight into family dynamics
Finding new ways to engage with parents
Building new communication skills
Boundary setting
Therapy for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families in Maryland and Washington, DC
Therapy for managing guilt, conflict, and the lasting effects of family dysfunction.
Themes that arise in therapy include:
Identifying their own needs
Managing conflict with parents
Undoing Generational Patterns (“I want to learn new ways to handle X”)
Tracing origins and gaining insight into family dynamics
Finding new ways to engage with parents
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families
What does “therapy for adult children of dysfunctional families” mean?
It means therapy designed for adults who grew up in controlling, critical, or emotionally immature families. The focus is on untangling long-held patterns like people-pleasing, guilt, or conflict avoidance so you can feel calmer, more confident, and more connected in your adult relationships.
How do I know if my family was dysfunctional?
Many people realize it only after seeing patterns repeat in adulthood. Some don’t see it at all until a partner enters the family and points out things that always felt normal to you. You might feel responsible for everyone’s emotions, dread family gatherings, or keep replaying arguments long after they end. Therapy helps you recognize these patterns without judgment and begin to build a new sense of emotional freedom.
What kinds of issues can therapy help with?
Therapy can help you:
Set and maintain boundaries with parents or siblings
Make decisions about distance and estrangement
Reduce guilt and anxiety around family interactions
Heal from emotional neglect or manipulation
Break cycles of people-pleasing or codependency
Find ways to build relationships that work, even with difficult family members
I’m a parent—can therapy help me repair or improve my relationship with my adult child?
Absolutely. Many caring parents want to reconnect after years of tension or miscommunication. Therapy can help you understand your adult child’s perspective, communicate with empathy, and rebuild trust. Together, we can explore new ways of relating that respect both your needs and your child’s autonomy.
What if I’m caught between difficult parents and challenging adult children?
That “sandwich generation” stress is real. You may be managing aging parents who still trigger old pain while also trying to parent grown children with their own struggles. Therapy offers tools to stay grounded, set realistic limits, and avoid repeating painful family patterns across generations.
How long does therapy for family dysfunction usually take?
The pace depends on your goals and how deeply rooted the patterns are. Remember, these issues have been happening for years. They aren’t going to change overnight. Some clients notice relief in a few months; others benefit from steady, longer-term work. We’ll regularly review progress and adjust as needed to ensure therapy supports real, lasting change.
Can therapy help if I’m estranged from my family?
Yes. Many clients are in limited or no contact with family members. Therapy can help you process grief, guilt, or doubt, while learning how to build supportive chosen relationships that reflect your values.
What if I still love my family and don’t want to cut ties?
Most people feel that way. The goal isn’t to sever relationships—it’s to create healthier ones. Therapy helps you stay connected without losing yourself, communicate boundaries clearly, and respond rather than react to old dynamics.
Is online therapy available?
Yes. I offer secure online therapy for clients across Maryland, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Many clients find that virtual sessions make it easier to attend consistently and feel comfortable sharing deeply. I conduct in-person therapy in Silver Spring, Maryland for those who are close by and prefer the in-person experience.
Will insurance cover therapy?
Coverage depends on your plan. I can help you determine whether I’m in-network or if you can receive out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients also choose to pay privately for the flexibility and privacy that offers.
Read Sarah’s articles on therapy in Psychology Today:
The discourse around family relationships has become all or nothing. Either we need to accept family members exactly as they are, or we have to cut them off entirely. Either they need to be met with gratitude, or they need to be held accountable.