Ep. 31 Parentification: The Childhood You Didn’t Get

Were you the “mature one” growing up? The old soul. The responsible one. The mediator. The easy child who never needed anything. In this episode of Sessions for the Soul, we’re diving into parentification — what it is, how it happens, and how it quietly shapes anxiety, codependency, over-functioning, and relationship patterns in adulthood. We explore: Emotional vs. instrumental parentification Being the family mediator or caretaker The “old soul” identity and why it might not be a compliment How childhood survival roles show up in adult relationships Attracting emotionally unavailable partners Difficulty resting or receiving support Healing, re-parenting, and grieving the childhood you didn’t fully get to have We also open up about real-life experiences, sibling dynamics, generational patterns, and what it means to consciously break cycles. If you grew up too fast, felt responsible for your parents’ emotions, or struggle with feeling needed to feel safe — this conversation is for you. It’s nuanced. It’s tender. And it might change how you see your childhood. ✨ You deserved to be a child. Keywords: parentification, childhood trauma, emotional maturity, codependency, anxious attachment, over-functioning, reparenting, generational trauma, emotionally unavailable partners, healing childhood wounds. Want your question to be featured in a future episode? Complete the anonymous form here: https://bit.ly/3UtjiiO Stay In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sessionsforthesoul.podcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SessionsfortheSoul.podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sessionsforthesoul.pod Email: [email protected] Connect with Alicia: Website: https://www.wandernweave.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thetrustyone/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_thetrustyone Connect with Kayla: Website: https://www.pnwellbeing.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pnwellbeing/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_pnwellbeing Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PNWellbeing