Healing Emotional Neglect & Parental Immaturity

What it is. Emotional neglect happens when parents meet material needs yet dismiss feelings, as outlined in Running on Empty (Jonice Webb) and Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents (Lindsay Gibson). Externalizer parents blame; internalizers over-function and self-criticize.

What the research says. Long-term neglect predicts alexithymia, people-pleasing, and anxious or avoidant attachment. Effective treatments combine emotion-labeling practice, parts work for exiles, and mindful self-compassion to rebuild an internal "good parent."

How I help. We start with an emotional vocabulary workbook, use IFS to befriend neglected inner children, and introduce somatic exercises (The Body Keeps the Score) to release stored tension. Clients learn to express needs without guilt and tolerate the discomfort of genuine intimacy.