REBT and the Treatment of Emotional Disturbance Related to Estrangement from Adult Children

It is not uncommon for parents to experience estrangement from their adult children. While therapeutic techniques exist to assist in the reunification of these strained relationships, many parent-child relationships will, unfortunately, never reconcile. REBT is an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of individuals experiencing emotional disturbance (often feelings of guilt, shame, and anger) related to their adult children’s decision to sever contact. The teaching of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional acceptance of the family member who has decided to sever contact, and the disputation of rigid and extreme attitudes related to their estrangement make it a practical therapeutic approach for individuals experiencing the loss of desired contact with their family members.