The Pain of Family Estrangement
If you have been cut off from someone in your family, you are not alone. Parents are cut off from their children, and children from one or both parents. Grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren. Brothers and sisters stop speaking to each other. It happens with other relatives and longtime friends as well. For untold numbers of people, this kind of break is traumatic. Here is how some of them have described it online:I have been quite depressed lately over my estrangement with my son. I stopped sleeping well. I cry. I feel that huge hole within myself. I've been getting sick. I have reached out to my son via email saying I love him; that my husband and I want our son back. But no matter what I do and how hard I try, nothing has worked.
Being estranged from your children and grandchildren... It's like experiencing a funeral, but they are not dead.
The loss gets even heavier when you watch friends enjoy their own families, something you once took for granted.
Many of my friends are excitedly anticipating visits from their relatives. They are shopping for them, planning meals and activities. I am truly happy for them. I want the same for myself, but I can't have it....
There Is Hope
What if an expert in resolving conflict could help you and your loved one start talking again? With a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis & Resolution and 25 years in the field, I help people across the country reconnect with a son, daughter, parent, sibling, or close friend, using a structured process most therapists don’t offer.How the Process Works
1. Call
Call me, Dr. Ken Newberger, at 561-490-4991 for a free consultation to briefly discuss your situation.
2. Meet
Meet with me by secure video, phone, or in person at my Boca Raton, FL office to share your perspective in detail. If you decide to move forward, I will send you ground rules to sign and a questionnaire to complete so our time together is focused on what matters most.
3. Reach
Reach your loved one through me. I will contact them by email or phone. I come as a neutral party, not as anyone's advocate. If they respond, I will explain who I am and how the process works. If they are open to it, I will send them the same ground rules to sign and questionnaire to answer. I will then follow up with them in person, by video, or by phone to understand their perspective and what they need to restore the relationship. I will keep you updated on where I am in the process.
If your loved one isn't ready to talk, I will respect that and won't keep contacting them. Sometimes a door that is closed today opens later, and I can stay available if that happens.
4. Reconcile
Reconcile with your loved one through a guided mediation process. With both of you engaged, I help prepare the way for the two of you to talk meaningfully again, with reconciliation as the goal.
Confidentiality
What is shared during this mediation process is confidential. Both of you agree in writing to keep it that way and not to use what is said against each other in court. You also agree that Florida's mediation confidentiality law governs this process, wherever you live. That law allows a few limited exceptions, such as a threat of harm.Is This Right for You?
Reconciliation usually means hearing things that are hard to hear, and that is true for both of you. It helps to come ready to listen. This process works best when both people can talk safely. If there has been abuse, threats, or violence in the relationship, please tell me during our first call so we can talk about whether this approach makes sense for you.Payment
Your first call with me is free. After that, my fee for this work is $200 per hour (with ¼ hour billing). This includes time spent with you and with your loved one, time spent reading and analyzing each of your questionnaire answers, and significant email or phone communication between sessions. Time spent preparing for and reaching out to your loved one is charged whether or not they agree to take part. If you're ready to begin, call me at 561-490-4991. Dr. Ken Newberger