Michael and Louie get real about boundaries, control, and what it takes to accept people — especially family — as they are.

This week, Louie opens up about deciding to accept his mom for who she is, letting go of the hope for a deeper emotional connection, and navigating the grief that comes with a more shallow relationship. Michael shares how childhood neglect, acts of service, and the loss of key family support have shaped the way he gives and receives love. Together, they unpack emotional walls (“the bricks”), codependency, the need for validation, and how old wounds show up in adult relationships. And then we get into a fight over communication. Autism vs ADHD: the Showdown.

It’s raw, unfiltered, and sometimes hilarious — a deep dive into family dynamics, attachment, emotional boundaries, and why some conversations feel like battles.

BetterHelp:

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy..

If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/

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Topics discussed: therapy podcast, mental health podcast, family boundaries, mother-son relationship, emotional boundaries, letting go of control, accepting family, childhood neglect, acts of service love language, codependency recovery, inner critic, family dynamics, grief and loss, personal growth, unlicensed therapy

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