E24:Behind the Perfect Family: Estrangement, Sibling Abuse & Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns

In this episode of Illuminate Recovery, I sit down with trauma therapist Cassie Krajewski, to explore the root causes and the layered grief of estrangement  as well as sibling abuse — a dynamic often minimized or overlooked. We discuss the often invisible traumas of omission — what wasn’t protected, acknowledged, or repaired — and how emotional neglect shapes our identity and  our self-perception.We unpack the protective survival strategies many of us developed just to cope, and how those patterns can follow us into adulthood. We also examine how these same dysfunctional dynamics don’t stay confined to families — they show up in our systems of power, revealing parallels between authoritarian parenting and authoritarian leadership.If you’re an adult child of a dysfunctional or emotionally immature parent who is beginning to question your family narrative, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and language for experiences that often go unnamed.Show notes:Cassie Krajewski, LCSWhttps://www.inneratlastherapy.com/On Instagram: @inneratlastherapyYou can find Lisa on Instagram @illuminatedrecoverypodcastOr by email: ⁠[email protected]