Unfollowing Mum : Break Unhealthy habits and be the parent you wish you'd had is available for preorder NOW!
A therapist recommended podcast for cycle breakers by someone who has lived the experience. Host Harriet Shearsmith knows first hand how challenging it can be to navigate estrangement, toxic family and dysfunctional dynamics in a digital age where setting boundaries and protecting your peace is harder than ever.
In 2023 we’re unfollowing mum. We’re breaking the cycle, unsubscribing from the drama by healing generational trauma and putting ourselves and our mental health first.
Each week I will answer your anonymous questions, discuss experiences and tackle the issues surrounding estrangement, generational trauma and navigating toxic families. Sometimes I’ll speak to experts, people with lived experience and other cycle breakers to share their point of view.
You’re not alone, there is a community of people navigating parenthood without solid role models, learning to love themselves after emotional abuse whilst breaking the cycle for the future generations 💜
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Publisher
Harriet Shearsmith
Category
health & fitness · kids & family · society & culture
On this episode host Harriet Shearsmith speaks with trauma expert Shelley Bradley-Scholey. Shelley is the founder of Fortitude Psychological Therapy an independent therapy practice, She is an accredited EMDR Consultant & Training Facilitator, Accredited CBT Therapist, Supervisor & Lecturer at the University of Oxford, Registered Mental Health Nurse.
You can find her on Socials @fortitudepsychologicaltherapy or visit www.fortitudepsychologicaltherapy.co.uk (http://www.fortitudepsychologicaltherapy.co.uk)
For free resources from The Trauma Toolbox visit www.fortitudepsychologicaltherapy.co.uk/freeresources (http://www.fortitudepsychologicaltherapy.co.uk/freeresources)
Harriet’s books:
Unfollowing Mum: Break unhealthy patterns and be the parent you wish you’d had is available here: https://amzn.to/3FKHqde (https://amzn.to/3FKHqde)
Cycle Breakers: Free yourself from emotionally immature parents and be the parent you wish you’d had (US edition): https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/ (https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/)
Visit harrietshearsmith.com (http://harrietshearsmith.com/) for resources on estrangement and navigating family dysfunction or to submit a letter to the podcast. You can also book a session with Harriet here: https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith (https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Sept 2025
Ep91 Parentification, young parents & moving into helping professions
On this episode host Harriet Shearsmith chats with Chantelle about her experiences of growing up with a teen mum, parentification and how she used her experiences to inspire her work as a child protection social worker.
Harriet’s books:
Unfollowing Mum: Break unhealthy patterns and be the parent you wish you’d had is available here: https://amzn.to/3FKHqde (https://amzn.to/3FKHqde)
Cycle Breakers: Free yourself from emotionally immature parents and be the parent you wish you’d had (US edition): https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/ (https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/)
Visit harrietshearsmith.com (http://harrietshearsmith.com/) for resources on estrangement and navigating family dysfunction or to submit a letter to the podcast. You can also book a session with Harriet here: https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith (https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
On this episode Harriet Shearsmith speaks with Hazel about her experiences of enmeshment with her father and subsequent estrangement, only for her to witness similar patterns of dysfunction with her husband and his mother, leaving her with the experience on both sides.
Harriet’s books:
Unfollowing Mum: Break unhealthy patterns and be the parent you wish you’d had is available here: https://amzn.to/3FKHqde (https://amzn.to/3FKHqde)
Cycle Breakers: Free yourself from emotionally immature parents and be the parent you wish you’d had (US edition): https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/ (https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Breakers-Yourself-Emotionally-Immature/dp/B0F1ZY9G8K/)
Visit harrietshearsmith.com (http://harrietshearsmith.com/) for resources on estrangement and navigating family dysfunction or to submit a letter to the podcast. You can also book a session with Harriet here: https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith (https://app.simplymeet.me/harrietshearsmith)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
23 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
111 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
53
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
93
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