Jacqueline Trumbull and Kibby McMahon
Dr. Kibby McMahon
Holiday Survival Roadmap For Dealing with Your Dysfunctional Family
Holiday Survival Roadmap For Dealing with Your Dysfunctional Family
Holiday Survival Roadmap For Dealing with Your Dysfunctional Family
Thursday 11th December 2025
Learn how to handle holiday stress with dysfunctional families using DBT skills and realistic expectations.
59 minutes
Informative
Inspiring
Supportive
Honest
Encouraging
About this podcast
Author:
Jacqueline Trumbull and Kibby McMahon
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery from Trauma
Sobriety Toolkit
Healing Relationships
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Relationships & Community
Links:
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Episodes:
169 (View all)
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Episode Overview
- Identify and accept your healing fantasy.
- Use DBT skills to create a cope-ahead plan.
- Set realistic expectations for family interactions.
- Recognise and grieve unmet childhood needs.
- Focus on how you want to show up during holidays.
"The holidays, like Christmas or Hanukkah, are stressful under normal circumstances when you have a happy family."
This episode sheds light on the often-dreaded holiday season, particularly when dealing with a dysfunctional family. Dr. Kibby McMahon takes listeners on a journey through the emotional rollercoaster that is family gatherings during the holidays. If you've ever felt the sting of a sibling rivalry or the pressure to keep the peace amidst chaos, you're not alone. This year seems to be the most stressful holiday season in recent memory, with anxiety and grief at an all-time high. Dr.
McMahon introduces the concept of the 'healing fantasy'—the deep-seated wish that family relationships will magically improve. She explores how this fantasy can lead to disappointment and suggests ways to cope using dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills. The episode is packed with practical advice, like creating a 'cope-ahead' plan to manage triggers and setting realistic expectations for family interactions. Listeners will appreciate Dr.
McMahon's candid sharing of personal anecdotes, like her own family's holiday dynamics, which add a relatable touch to the conversation. Whether you're facing a narcissistic relative or just trying to survive the season without losing your cool, this episode offers valuable insights and tools to help you emerge from the holidays with your sanity intact. So, are you ready to let go of the perfect family fantasy and embrace a more realistic approach?
This episode might just be the survival guide you need for a peaceful holiday season.