Rules of Estrangement — Joshua Coleman
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2026 5:16 pm
Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict
Joshua Coleman, PhD — 2021
Psychologist Joshua Coleman writes specifically for parents who are estranged from adult children.
Drawing on his clinical work and his own experience of estrangement and reconciliation with his daughter, Coleman looks at why parent–adult child relationships break down, how expectations of family relationships have changed, how parents can respond to criticism, and what may help when reconciliation is possible.
He also addresses the harder question of how parents can continue with their own lives when reconciliation does not happen.
Why we’ve included it:
This is one of the most directly relevant serious books we have found for estranged parents. It is sympathetic to parental grief without simply assuming that the parent’s interpretation of events must be correct, and it encourages parents to consider the adult child’s perspective as part of understanding what has happened.
Buy the book
Rules of Estrangement — Bookshop.org
Affiliate link: if you buy through this link, Estranged Parents may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Bookshop.org also supports independent bookshops.
Inclusion in our library means we believe this item may be useful or thought-provoking. It does not mean Estranged Parents endorses every opinion or conclusion expressed.
Joshua Coleman, PhD — 2021
Psychologist Joshua Coleman writes specifically for parents who are estranged from adult children.
Drawing on his clinical work and his own experience of estrangement and reconciliation with his daughter, Coleman looks at why parent–adult child relationships break down, how expectations of family relationships have changed, how parents can respond to criticism, and what may help when reconciliation is possible.
He also addresses the harder question of how parents can continue with their own lives when reconciliation does not happen.
Why we’ve included it:
This is one of the most directly relevant serious books we have found for estranged parents. It is sympathetic to parental grief without simply assuming that the parent’s interpretation of events must be correct, and it encourages parents to consider the adult child’s perspective as part of understanding what has happened.
Buy the book
Rules of Estrangement — Bookshop.org
Affiliate link: if you buy through this link, Estranged Parents may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Bookshop.org also supports independent bookshops.
Inclusion in our library means we believe this item may be useful or thought-provoking. It does not mean Estranged Parents endorses every opinion or conclusion expressed.