About this episode

Kristin Cavallari discusses family dynamics and their impact on relationships with therapist Vienna Pharaon.

I'm joined by Vienna Pharaon, one of the most sought-after family therapists, to dive into how our family dynamics shape all of our relationships, starting in childhood and echoing into adulthood. We explore the five core origin wounds—worthiness, belonging, prioritization, trust, and safety—and how they show up in parenting, romantic relationships, and even conflict with an ex. We talk honestly about the impact of divorce on kids, navigating co-parenting with a narcissistic ex (especially when they trash you to the kids), and how to help children process emotions when they don’t yet have the words. From teens who won’t open up, to kids struggling with step-families, to the emotional whiplash of moving house-to-house—nothing is off-limits. You’ll learn practical ways to support kids through transitions, ease them back into routine after a tense time at the other parent’s house, and show up for them even when they’re pulling away. We also zoom out to remind ourselves: we’re all going to mess up our kids one way or another—but accountability, repair, and nervous-system regulation go a long way. Along the way, we unpack what a healthy romantic relationship actually looks like, how…

People in this episode

Host: Kristin Cavallari

Guest: Vienna Pharaon

Topics covered

• family dynamics
• parenting
• emotional processing
• co-parenting
• relationship healing

Keywords

• family therapy
• core origin wounds
• divorce impact
• co-parenting
• emotional support

Sponsors

Armra

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FX

Books & works: Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

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