Family estrangement and infidelity: Esther Perel answers your questionsFamily estrangement and infidelity: Esther Perel answers your questions
All In The Mind
How do you grieve a dying parent you're estranged from? Do cheaters ever change? People say love should feel 'easy', is that true? Psychotherapist Esther Perel is back on All in the Mind, answering your questions about heartbreak, loss, and love in this extra special mailbag episode. We've got questions on how to reconnect with estranged siblings, what to do when global conflicts impact personal relationships, and whether a first love can still feel special, even if it happens later in life. And if you missed part one of our chat with Esther Perel, you can listen to our episode titled "Couples therapy with an AI partner? Esther Perel's just done it" here. Esther also featured on our first episode of Mind Hacks! Guest: Esther Perel Psychotherapist and couples therapist Author, The State of Affairs and Mating in Captivity Host, Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More information: If you want to hear more from Esther Perel, she chatted to Lisa Leong on This Working Life. The episode is called Esther Perel on conflict and power struggles at work. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
30:06•14 Mar 2026
Heartache, Healing, and Hope: Esther Perel's Mailbag Special
Episode Overview
- Transforming shame into responsibility can be liberating.
- Love should feel alive and dynamic, not always easy.
- Reaching out to estranged family can provide closure.
- Infidelity doesn't define future honesty; change is possible.
- Understanding personal trauma helps in maintaining intimacy.
“"Love is not a permanent state of enthusiasm; it's a verb you have to conjugate in all tenses."”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of heartache, healing, and hope as psychotherapist Esther Perel takes the stage in this special mailbag edition of All In The Mind. Listeners' questions flood in, tackling everything from the thorny issues of family estrangement and infidelity to the emotional impact of global events on personal relationships. Esther, with her trademark wisdom and compassion, dives into these complex topics, offering advice that is both profound and practical.
Have you ever wondered if cheaters can truly change? Esther shares her belief in the possibility of personal growth, urging those burdened by past mistakes to transform shame into responsibility. She also explores the challenging dynamics of family estrangement, offering guidance on finding closure and peace when relationships remain strained. The episode doesn't shy away from tough questions. Whether it's grappling with love's complexities or maintaining intimacy amid external turmoil, Esther's insights are both eye-opening and comforting.
Her approach to love as an active, ever-evolving verb challenges the notion that it should always be 'easy.' Instead, she paints a picture of love that is alive, dynamic, and sometimes contradictory. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone facing relationship challenges or seeking to understand the intricate dance of human connections. So, how do you turn past regrets into future resilience? Tune in to find out.
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