How do you know if you were raised in an unhealthy family system, or if the issues your family faces are just normal problems that arise when a bunch of people try to combine their lives?

This week, I’m talking with my guest Lauren Penner about:

1. What makes a family dynamic healthy vs unhealthy.
2. Why we care so much about what our families think of us.
3. What happens when we don’t get the love we need from our families.
4. Why shame is an automatic defense mechanism our brains use to protect us.
5. How to know if you’re an empath or you’re hypervigilant because of trauma.
6. How to maintain healthy boundaries within difficult family situations.

About Lauren:

Lauren Penner is a Licensed Professional Counselor providing trauma therapy to children and adults in Dallas, Texas. She holds a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Tarleton State University and has experience working with all ages. Lauren is the owner of Lauren Penner Therapy, PLLC and her areas of practice include childhood trauma, religious trauma, grief and loss, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Lauren loves coffee, tackling her to-be-read pile, and playing with her golden-doodle Atticus.
IG: @laurenpennertherapy
Twitter: @laurenpennerlpc
Facebook: Lauren Penner Therapy
Therapist Bio: Lauren Penner Therapy

Content Warning: Family abuse and neglect

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