From as far back as I can remember, I have had a fascination with human relationships. As a child, seeing my parents separate drove a deep desire to make sense of family life and what makes it function…as well as fall apart.

Growing up in Dublin in the 80s, life experience was my first (sometimes wise, sometimes harsh) teacher. However, it was not until 2009, after experiencing years of family struggles and eventual estrangement, that I formally trained as Psychotherapist. I would eventually become accredited with the IACP (Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and gain a Master’s Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

From day one of my clinical practise as a therapist, family struggles became a recurring theme…although I did not recognise it as estrangement until I eventually wrote my dissertation, entitled “The Experiences of Familial Estranged”.

This was then published as the paper “The Changing Impact and Challenges of Familial Estrangement”, which offered a unique Irish perspective of the impact of Family Estrangement.

I have since worked with countless estranged adults, including parents, adult sons and daughters, siblings, grandparents, etc., helping them connect with the deep sense of loss and rejection they carry as a result of their family situation. I focus on each individual’s strengths, both intrinsic and learned, and address how they can manage the many Psychological, Social and Relational challenges of being an estranged adult in this complex world, where estrangement is often misunderstood and stigmatised.

In 2020, I began offering comprehensive training programs addressing various aspects of family conflict and estrangement, including An Introduction to Family Estrangement, Exploring the Stigma Surrounding Family Rifts and How to Manage Stressful Events with Estranged Family Members, to name just three.

In 2022, after 11 years of working clinically, I was offered a deal with the publisher Routledge, to write the book “Navigating Family Estrangement”.

Published in June 2024, I wanted this to be an accessible resource for both estranged adults in need of help to manage the many challenges they face but also professionals who regularly cross paths with estrangement in their own work, such as therapists, counsellors, psychologists, mediators, and social workers.

I have also worked extensively with various media outlets, including Virgin Media Television, The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, The Telegraph (UK), and Good Housekeeping Magazine (US), educating readers on the complexity of family issues and how to navigate them.

Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures:
Karl Melvin, MIACP, is the creator and presenter of this course and receives financial compensation from the sale of this continuing education program. There are no known non-financial relationships to disclose.