How Do I Interact with My Emotionally Unavailable Mother? (with Melissa) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 28, 2025 · 34 MIN

How Do I Interact with My Emotionally Unavailable Mother? (with Melissa)

from Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast

Today I'm joined by DFCN counselor Melissa, as we take an on-air call from Adrienne from Florida who asks: How should I navigate a relationship with my mom who doesn't invest/participate in a relationship with me and my sisters and hasn't in a long time. The only time she reaches out is when she needs something. She's not emotionally available with us and if we didn't reach out, we probably wouldn't hear from her at all. I've distanced myself from people who don't meet me halfway. But can I do that with my mom?  What do you do when the very person that isn't showing up in a relationship is your own mother? Does setting boundaries mean cutting her out of your life, or is there a better way? We dig deep in this on-air session and help Adrienne understand how to move forward in a complicated relationship with her mother. Don't miss this conversation! Book a session with Melissa Crutchfield, M.A., LPC today! You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch the full episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast Extras: The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY!  DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. She is the bestselling author of eight books including ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choosing Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are You Really OK?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soul Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talk To Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DebraFileta.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm joined by DFCN counselor Melissa, as we take an on-air call from Adrienne from Florida who asks: How should I navigate a relationship with my mom who doesn't invest/participate in a relationship with me and my sisters and hasn't in a long time. The only time she reaches out is when she needs something. She's not emotionally available with us and if we didn't reach out, we probably wouldn't hear from her at all. I've distanced myself from people who don't meet me halfway. But can I do that with my mom?  What do you do when the very person that isn't showing up in a relationship is your own mother? Does setting boundaries mean cutting her out of your life, or is there a better way? We dig deep in this on-air session and help Adrienne understand how to move forward in a complicated relationship with her mother. Don't miss this conversation! Book a session with Melissa Crutchfield, M.A., LPC today! You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch the full episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast Extras: The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY!  DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. She is the bestselling author of eight books including ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choosing Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are You Really OK?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soul Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talk To Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DebraFileta.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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How Do I Interact with My Emotionally Unavailable Mother? (with Melissa)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast?

This episode is 34 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 28, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Today I'm joined by DFCN counselor Melissa, as we take an on-air call from Adrienne from Florida who asks: How should I navigate a relationship with my mom who doesn't invest/participate in a relationship with me and my sisters and hasn't in a long...

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