In this conversation, I’m joined by my dear friend and fellow therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to explore the tender, complex space between partnership and extended family...where love, loyalty, and old patterns can collide.

We talk about why these dynamics feel especially charged for so many of us right now, what it means to navigate guilt and control in family systems, and how we can stay connected to our partners (and ourselves) when generational patterns start to resurface.

Dr. Tracy shares insights from her new book You, Your Husband, and His Mother - a compassionate guide to understanding in-law dynamics, communicating as a united front, and finding your footing as a couple when family expectations run high.

We also talk about:

The cultural shifts that are reshaping how couples and families relate across generations
Common patterns like guilt-tripping, control, and codependency
Why boundaries rooted in core needs (not blame) lead to deeper connection
How aging, identity, and relevance show up in these transitions
And the hope in becoming the kind of mother-in-law or grandparent we want to be someday

This episode is for anyone standing in that middle place...between the family you came from and the one you’re creating while trying to honor both love and autonomy along the way.

Learn more about Tracy’s work and her book at drtracyd.com.

Connect with Tracy on Instagram @drtracyd.

Connect with me on Instagram @drcassidy and learn more about my private practice at www.drcassidymft.com

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