Replies to '05/12 Toxic Relationships'

Like I said, of course she's not a kid, but the fact remains that she was so wounded growing up that, in too many ways, she's not functioning well as an adult today.  Yet Dr Phil is in her face about her inability to function ... when, if he's going to be in anyone's fact, he should be in her parents' faces about all the damage they did to her!

Last I heard, kicking people when they are down doesn't help anyone, ever!

Yes, sometimes we all need a good talking to, but more often than not, we just need to be *listened* to, and to feel like we really *matter*!  That seem to be what Summer is really looking for from her parents ... but they don't seem to be able to give her the deep and abiding sense of worth, of knowing that she matters to them.  Instead, they seem to see her as a failure as a daughter and you know what?  She is living DOWN to their very low expectations of her ... so why are they still whining about it?  And why didn't Dr Phil point that out to them?

Summer just wants to feel like her own parents finally accept her for whoever she is ... but she can't get that from them so she will have to get it in counseling at first and from herself eventually.  imho, Dr Phil needs to acknowledge this in his sessions w/ any of the addicts he deals with on his show... he needs to totally acknowledge their original wounding instead of heaping more shame on people who already believe they *are* ALL the bad things that have been done to them... by their own "loving" parents worst of all.