Healing from Parentification: When the “Gifted Child” Grows Up

Podcast: Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson · Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Opublikowano: 2026-07-20

Some kids learn early on that the way to be loved is to be useful. They take on the emotional or practical care of their parents in a process known as parentification, and today Dr. Rick and Forrest explore the costs of being a “gifted child.” They discuss the “bargain” these kids make: suppressing their authentic self in order to fulfill a role and earn love. Over time, this bargain can harden into a false self that makes it difficult for the person to connect with their true wants and needs. They then walk through...