When Family Won’t Say “I’m Sorry”: Boundaries, Forgiveness, and What to Do Next

Dear Dr. Tracy

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9d ago 9:52

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In this short, impactful episode, Clinical Psychologist and Relationship Expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish answers one of the most common questions she hears: Should I hold out for an apology from a parent or in-law?

When you share your hurt and they respond with defensiveness, justification, or minimization, it often triggers shame and escalation—leaving you feeling unseen and even more frustrated. Dr. Tracy explains why some family members simply cannot apologize due to long-standing patterns, emotional immaturity, or generational dynamics, even when they care about you.

Instead of staying stuck waiting for repair that may never come, this episode helps you shift toward what you can control. You’ll learn why cutting people off isn’t always the answer, and how all-or-nothing estrangement can become another form of avoidance.

You’ll leave with an understanding of forgiveness—not as excusing behavior, but as releasing the emotional hold the situation has on you and redefining the relationship on your terms.

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