When to Go No Contact: Boundaries vs. Cutting Someone Off

When to Go No Contact: Boundaries vs. Cutting Someone Off

From ShrinkChicks by Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

April 27, 2026 · 37 min · Season 8 · Episode 17

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of estrangement and the decision to go no contact in relationships.

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen talk about estrangement and going no contact, a topic that’s more common than we think but still carries a lot of stigma. They unpack why people choose cutoff, the difference between setting boundaries and full estrangement, and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. They explore when hard conversations should come first, how to decide between taking space versus cutting someone off, and how to make these decisions from a grounded place. Listener questions cover navigating different timelines with a partner, deciding whether to reconnect, and handling outsiders who take sides. The conversation also touches on guilt, grief, and resentment, and why you don’t owe anyone an explanation for the boundaries you choose. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠ Get Matched With One of Our Therapists ⁠ at The Therapy Group! ⁠ShrinkChicks on Instagram⁠ Our ⁠Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal⁠ !! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! ⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg⁠ A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Skims: Shop…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jennifer Chaiken, Emmalee Bierly

Topics covered

  • estrangement
  • boundaries
  • no contact
  • relationships
  • mental health
  • self improvement

Keywords

  • estrangement
  • boundaries
  • no contact
  • relationships
  • mental health
  • guilt
  • grief
  • resentment

Sponsors

Skims, Air Doctor, Shopify

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Therapy Group, ShrinkChicks, Perelel

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