For many of us, being a "good girl" wasn't just a personality trait—it was a survival strategy. But what happens when the relationship that is supposed to be our safest foundation becomes a source of enmeshment, codependency, and lost identity?
In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Yelna Alrahman, a former "good girl" turned unapologetic woman, certified psychotherapist, and coach. Yna shares her powerful journey of growing up in a multicultural household where questioning parents was taboo, and how she became her mother’s primary emotional caregiver and "soulmate" by the age of ten.
We dive deep into the Mother Wound—the developmental rupture that occurs when a mother cannot provide the emotional attunement a child needs. Whether your mother is still in your life or has passed away, the effects of this wound follow us into adulthood, showing up in our careers, our body image, and the partners we choose.
In this episode, we explore:
- The Enmeshment Trap: Understanding the difference between a "deep friendship" and unhealthy codependency with a parent.
- Complex Grief: Navigating the confusing mix of devastation and relief when a toxic or heavy relationship ends.
- The "Good Girl" Identity: How attuning to your mother’s nervous system as a child leads to a lack of self-confidence and chronic indecision as an adult.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS): Why your "inner critic" is actually trying to protect your "inner child"—and how to get them to stop fighting.
- Professional Blocks: The surprising way the mother wound manifests as a fear of being seen or judged in your career and business.
Healing isn't about blaming; it's about reparenting. It’s about learning to sit with your own sadness without needing to "clean the house" or "fix a project" to escape it. Tune in to learn how to stop abandoning yourself and finally start belonging to you.
Connect with Yelna
Work with Yelna: Join the Self-Love Mastery group container
Grab Yelna’s My Dear Self journal to begin your own inner child visualization journey.
Connect with Megan
Follow Megan on IG
Learn more about how to work with Megan here!
Download Megan's FREE 8 episode private podcast "Healing Starts Here"