“End-of-life doulas are mostly lay people who want to make a difference”
Thank you, Sarah Chana Radcliffe, for your important insights on how damaging cutting off from family is. I believe that as the next years unfold, we may witness countless individuals suffering from this new and troubling phenomenon, victims of well-meaning therapists who were encouraged to sever ties with parents deemed “controlling,” “obsessive,” or emotionally challenging.
I’m a victim of such advice. Through immense siyata d’Shmaya, heartfelt tefillah, and significant inner work, I was able to recover from the painful months when I was counseled to distance myself from my parents and refrain from going to them for Shabbos. While I have recovered from the intensity of brainwashing and know and believe my parents are imperfect people (as am I and every other person on this planet!) who are my loving parents first and for all, I don’t know whether my parents themselves will ever fully heal from the heartache of that period. Heartache is an understatement.
Today, as I watch my mother bake with my daughter or see my father beam with pride at my son’s Chumash party, I am filled with gratitude to Hashem for these precious moments that were nearly taken away from me and my family.
Thank you again for bringing this crucial awareness.
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