Disentangling Enmeshed Family Dynamics, with Mary Beth Somich
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
Release Date: 02/05/2024
When High Functioning Becomes Self-Abandonment
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
In this deeply personal continuation of the June theme Burnout & Boundaries, I open up about how I’ve come face-to-face with high-functioning codependency—something I didn’t even know I was still living in until recently. Even after decades of therapy, self-awareness, and teaching mindfulness-based tools, I found myself burned out again. Why? Because I was still unconsciously operating from trauma-driven patterns: over-functioning, anticipating others’ needs, people-pleasing, and believing my worth was tied to how much I could do for everyone else. In this episode, I share: The...
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When Doing it All Stops Working
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
In this raw and revealing episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something many of us silently endure: burnout. After years of over-functioning—building two businesses, being a full-time therapist and mom, content creator, partner, and more—I hit a wall. Again. This time, I couldn't ignore the signs. So I’m sharing what led me here, what I’ve learned about myself in the process, and how I’m courageously choosing to do less in order to live more authentically and sustainably. We’ll explore: The hidden cost of being “high-functioning? Why even values-aligned work can lead...
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Don't Delay Living with Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
In this heart-opening episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat, psychologist and MBSR teacher, for a conversation that beautifully bridges science, presence, and the art of being human. Together, we explore what it really means to slow down, befriend our challenges, and stop waiting for life to begin "once things get better." We reflect on our shared mindfulness journey—including how we met at a retreat with Jon Kabat-Zinn 13 years ago—and dive into the difference between living on autopilot and choosing awareness, even in the midst of suffering. From personal stories of healing...
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Get the “F” Out of Your Head
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
In this raw and expansive episode of Journey Forward with Joree Rose, we’re diving deep into what it actually means to get out of your head and into alignment with your truest self. If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected, overwhelmed by your thoughts, or unsure of how to trust your intuition—this episode is for you. Joree explores why mindfulness and meditation are not just wellness buzzwords, but essential practices for healing, growth, and transformation. She breaks down the neuroscience behind why we get stuck in emotional reactivity, how our thoughts are not our truth, and why...
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Mind Full or Mindful?
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
This episode is an invitation to pause—and get honest about what you’ve been carrying that’s no longer serving you. Whether it’s old beliefs, unprocessed emotions, habitual overthinking, or that constant striving for the next thing… it’s time to ask: Is this helping me, or is this holding me back? We’re diving deep into the heart of mindfulness—what it really means to be present, to notice without judgment, and to stop outsourcing your happiness to things outside your control. I share one of my favorite Zen stories (you’ll love it) and explore why disconnection, distraction,...
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Happiness Is an Inside Job
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
This week, I’m inviting you into one of the most important conversations we can have: What truly makes you happy? Not the fleeting kind of happiness that comes from vacations, new shoes, or a great dinner out (though those are wonderful too!)—but the kind of happiness that’s sustainable, grounded, and internal. In this episode, I break down: Why we often look outside ourselves to feel good—and why it doesn’t last How disconnection from ourselves keeps us stuck in autopilot The difference between joy, contentment, and fulfillment What the Buddha can teach us about real peace...
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When I Thought Slowing Down Might Kill Me
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
This episode kicks off our May theme: “Slow Down, You Move Too Fast.” And wow… this one is personal. I’m sharing the story of my very first meditation — and how, even though it was only 10 minutes, it felt like torture. (Yes, I genuinely thought I might die… and no, I’m not being dramatic.) For most of my life, I didn’t know how to slow down. I was always in motion, chasing the next thing, hoping I’d eventually land in a place of peace, contentment, or security. But what I didn’t realize is that what I was searching for could only be found in the present moment — and I...
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Your Growth Might Disrupt Everything…and That’s Okay
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
Have you ever had the thought: “Something has to change… but I don’t know where to begin?” In this raw and real episode of Journey Forward with Joree Rose, we explore why change can feel so hard — even when we know we need it. From staying busy to avoid our pain, to fearing how growth might shift our relationships, to clinging to the stories we've told ourselves for years… it all makes sense. And yet, it’s costing us the peace, connection, and authenticity we truly long for. Joree will walk you through the real barriers to transformation and offer a mindful roadmap to help you...
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What if Being Stuck is Actually an Invitation?
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
In this episode of Journey Forward with Joree Rose, Joree shares a deeply personal reflection on what it means to come back to ourselves—again and again—through the practice of mindfulness. After noticing how easy it is to slip into autopilot and feel disconnected, she made a conscious decision to slow down and return to my foundational tools for presence, awareness, and healing. A central theme in this episode is the cycle of reactivity—those familiar patterns we find ourselves caught in when we’re triggered, overwhelmed, or emotionally hijacked. Joree talks about how mindfulness...
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Finding Peace Through the Path of Mindfulness
Journey Forward with Joree Rose
To join the Journey Forward podcast membership: To download a free guide to begin a mediation practice: In this episode, Joree explores the beautiful symbolism of the Unalome—a Thai mindfulness symbol that represents the winding, imperfect, and ultimately enlightening journey of life. Just like the spirals of the Unalome, we all have moments where we feel stuck in patterns, overwhelmed by emotion, or disconnected from our true selves. Joree shares how mindfulness can become a powerful tool to increase awareness of these stuck places, and how simply naming where you are is...
info_outlineAs a therapist, Mary Beth is passionate about guiding millennials in modern mental health, which she defines as support that is accessible and relatable so that there is an increase in healing. A main focus of her practice is helping teens and young adults understand how to navigate boundaries and individuation if they are in an enmeshed family system. Enmeshment occurs when there is a lack of boundaries, often rooted in a parent (often the mother) getting her emotional needs met by her children, rather than from a partner or friends. This dynamic prevents young adults from easily voicing their own needs, wants or desires because the expectation puts the parent’s needs above theirs. Mary Beth shares strategies, tools and insights on how to shift out of these unhealthy patterns so that they can develop healthy relational dynamics in their future. If you are someone who has been affected by an enmeshed family system or would like to support someone who you know is, then this episode is for you!
About Mary Beth: Mary Beth Somich is a licensed therapist with a group private practice located in North Carolina called Your Journey Through. She completed her graduate training at Columbia University and specializes in family dynamic work with teens and adults. Mary Beth is passionate about promoting modern mental health and making therapy accessible and relatable. She offers courses and business coaching to therapists to help them expand their reach on social media, build thriving private practices, and generate passive income streams.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourjourneythrough/
Therapy Website: https://www.yourjourneythrough.com/
Website for Therapists: https://www.instagrowthfortherapists.com/home
Podcast: https://www.mytherapistthinks.com/
Enmeshment Quiz: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f16de5959b56b0026662110?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fstan.store%2Fyourjourneythrough
Family Enmeshment Exploration Prompts: https://stan.store/yourjourneythrough/p/say-hello-to-healthy-family-boundaries
Boundary-Setting Blueprint: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ef271ba6f58290026109eeb?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fl.instagram.com%2F