We’ve all heard the phrase: “Just move on.”

Society loves to tell us that the past is in the past and that healing is about letting go and looking forward. And while there’s some truth to that, let’s be real—how can you move forward when something is still pulling you back?

This is exactly why integrative therapies often focus on understanding the root cause of behaviour. But is it really necessary? Can’t we just “fix” the issue without digging up the past? Let’s talk about it.

For most women their mothers are sacred, safe, untouchable givers of love and praise, who they can trust more than anyone else, to have their best interests at heart. This is the mother and daughter relationship we’re sold from sit coms to rom coms, in Disney movies and beyond. But what happens if your maternal bond doesn’t fit this mould? What if the relationship is strained and prickly? What if you were the parent to your parent? What if you had to parent yourself?