The Emotionally Absent Mother by Jasmin Lee Cori Summary

The Emotionally Absent Mother explores how inadequate maternal emotional support impacts childhood development and adult relationships. Psychotherapist Jasmin Lee Cori provides strategies to heal from this "mother gap," addressing self-worth, attachment issues, and practical steps for self-reparenting. It blends psychological theory with exercises to help readers rebuild emotional resilience.

This book is ideal for adults who felt emotionally neglected as children, individuals struggling with relationships or self-esteem, and mental health professionals. It’s also valuable for parents seeking to break generational cycles of emotional detachment.

Yes, it offers actionable insights for healing childhood emotional neglect, backed by the author’s clinical expertise. Readers praise its compassionate tone and practical tools for addressing unmet emotional needs.

Key lessons include:

• Secure attachment in childhood is critical for emotional health.
• Emotional absence creates lasting impacts on self-image and relationships.
• Re-mothering techniques (e.g., self-care, inner nurturing) can fill developmental gaps.

A pivotal quote: "The mother gap is not just empty space; it’s a wound that needs tending." This underscores the book’s focus on actively addressing emotional neglect rather than ignoring its effects.

She describes it as a caregiver physically present but emotionally unavailable, failing to provide validation, comfort, or attunement. This absence stems from factors like trauma, depression, or generational patterns.

• Self-reparenting: Developing an inner voice to meet unmet childhood needs.
• Boundary-setting: Managing relationships with emotionally unavailable parents.
• Therapeutic exercises: Journaling and reflection to process neglect.

Both books by Cori address childhood wounds, but The Emotionally Absent Mother specializes in maternal neglect, while Healing From Trauma covers broader trauma recovery. They complement each other for holistic healing.

Some readers note its heavy focus on mothers, leaving paternal neglect less explored. Others find the exercises challenging for those in early healing stages, requiring additional therapeutic support.

As awareness of childhood emotional neglect grows, the book remains a vital resource for addressing mental health trends like attachment disorders and intergenerational trauma. Its strategies align with modern therapeutic approaches.

Cori’s 20+ years as a psychotherapist specializing in childhood trauma ensure clinically grounded advice. Her academic and teaching experience adds depth to the psychological frameworks presented.

Re-mothering involves consciously providing oneself the nurturing missed in childhood, such as self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and seeking supportive relationships. It’s a core strategy for healing the mother gap.