Going No Contact, Low Contact, and The Truth About LOW EFFORT FAMILIES with Dr. Sherrie Campbell
WANTcast: The Women Against Negative Talk Podcast
Release Date: 12/18/2025
WANTcast: The Women Against Negative Talk Podcast
When family dynamics are painful, confusing, and chronically one-sided, the usual advice (“but it’s your parent” / “family is everything” / “just forgive and move on”) can make you feel even more trapped. In the season finale of the WANTcast, Dr. Sherrie Campbell — clinical psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker — breaks down what actually separates everyday conflict from emotionally abusive family systems, why “no contact” is often misunderstood, and how to protect your peace without getting sucked back into the old roles. We talk about: What emotional abuse looks like...
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How do you make friends as an adult — REAL-DEAL friends — and how do you nurture these valued connections? Today's guest is journalist, MODERN FRIENDSHIP author, and friendship researcher Anna Goldfarb, who has been called the "New York Times Friendship Correspondent." She's here with us to dig into the nuances of the #1 most-asked question throughout all of WANT's 10+ year history: how do I find my people? IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT... The main reasons why friendships naturally shift after 30 (why that’s more normal than you think, and what you can do to address it) ...
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Author, creative consultant, and horticultural therapy practitioner Jessica Murnane (a WANTcast favorite!) joins us today on the WANTcast to talk about discovering horticultural therapy, building an offline-first business, and the very real mental, physical, social, and emotional benefits of getting your hands in the dirt. In this episode, we dig into (pun intended) community vs. solo practices, rethinking social media for your values (and sanity), how nature rituals can rewire scarcity mindset, and so much more. WE TALK ABOUT: What horticultural therapy actually is — and why...
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Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) affects an estimated 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S. — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Too often portrayed as a “quirk” or a preference for cleanliness, OCD is actually a complex and often debilitating disorder rooted in anxiety and doubt. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, for a candid, deeply practical conversation about what OCD really is, how it shows up (far beyond stereotypes), and what actually helps. We dig into the...
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What if you had a guidebook for the next big hormonal transition...The Care and Keeping of You for grownup women? In today's episode, we’re talking about the next ~period~ of your life (literally and figuratively :)) with therapist and women’s health advocate Lauren Tetenbaum. Her new book MILLENNIAL MENOPAUSE is part education, part empowerment, and full of real-talk about prepping for perimenopause. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: What makes this generation uniquely suited to talk about menopause and perimenopause Common early signs of perimenopause How to self-advocate with...
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When was the last time you received a compliment without brushing it off? How about GAVE a compliment that you really, really meant...without prefacing it with "I hope this isn't weird, but..." ?? In this episode of the WANTcast, we’re talking about something that seems simple on the surface but can have a huge impact on your self-talk, relationships, and confidence: COMPLIMENTS. Whether you're great at giving them, awkward at receiving them, or somewhere in between, this episode breaks down WHY compliments actually matter a lot — and how to make compliments feel natural and...
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Today on the WANTcast, we're sitting down with sustainability expert, bestselling author, and award-winning changemaker Ashlee Piper to explore her latest movement and book: No New Things. Ashlee — whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, CNN, and Good Morning America — breaks down how a personal challenge to stop buying new stuff became a lifestyle shift, viral movement, and 30-day guide to help you save money, reduce overwhelm, and create meaningful impact. This isn’t a no-buy challenge or a guilt trip: it's an invitation to investigate how your stuff makes you feel,...
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We ALL hit moments where motivation feels completely out of reach. Sometimes, it just...disappears. Whether you're struggling to start something new, feeling stuck in a rut, or just can’t seem to get going, this episode is for you. In this episode, we're doing a no-bs deep dive into not just how to spark motivation when it’s barely there, but what to do when your drive to keep going is nowhere to be found (and nothing you see, hear, read, or think seems to change that). We'll discuss: Why motivation isn’t always necessary to make progress How to spark motivation when you feel stuck The...
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Big news: after nearly a decade of podcasting, we're finally taking the leap into video — and it’s TERRIFYING. In this solo episode, Katie gets real about what’s held her back, why exactly comparison and (ironically) experience have been her biggest roadblocks, and how she's embracing beginner mode *publicly* to break free from perfectionism. If you’ve ever felt stuck because you don’t have it all figured out, this episode is for you. We talk about: The hidden fears that keep us from starting something new Why “manageable” can sometimes stunt our growth How comparison sneaks in...
info_outlineWhen family dynamics are painful, confusing, and chronically one-sided, the usual advice (“but it’s your parent” / “family is everything” / “just forgive and move on”) can make you feel even more trapped.
In the season finale of the WANTcast, Dr. Sherrie Campbell — clinical psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker — breaks down what actually separates everyday conflict from emotionally abusive family systems, why “no contact” is often misunderstood, and how to protect your peace without getting sucked back into the old roles.
We talk about:
- What emotional abuse looks like (and what it’s not)
- No contact vs. low contact vs. “cordial contact”
- What actually qualifies someone as a "toxic family member"
- The cost of going no contact (and how to prepare for that reality)
- Boundary-setting tools, plus how to stay present while giving toxic people nothing to hook into
- How smear campaigns work, and why going no contact can mean losing more relationships than you expected
- Parenting with toxic grandparents in the mix
- Rebuilding trust after experiencing family trauma
- and so, so much more.
***CW: Discuss both of physical and emotional abuse, deep trauma, and sensitive subject matter that might hit close to home if you’re a survivor of abuse. If you need to bookmark this episode to come back to later, Dr Sherrie and I will be HERE for you when this conversation is something that feels supportive <3
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SHOW NOTES:
Dr. Sherrie Campbell's website: drsherriecampbell.com
Dr. Sherrie’s TEDx talk: youtube.com/watch?v=deyHwDkG7oc
Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties podcast: drsherriecampbell.com/cutting-toxic-family-ties-podcast/
Instagram: instagram.com/dr.sherrie/
Facebook: facebook.com/SherrieCampbellPhD
TikTok: tiktok.com/@dr.sherrie
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Join WANT on Substack: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.substack.com
Follow Katie on Instagram: http://instagram.com/katiehorwitch
Get WANT YOUR SELF!: http://wantyourself.com
Learn more about Katie: http://katiehorwitch.com
Learn more about WANT: http://womenagainstnegativetalk.com
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