Why the Strong One Is Always Tired

In Part 2 of this series on The Group Sessions Podcast, we continue the conversation on the trauma of parentification—focusing on what happens when a child internalizes adult responsibilities before their brain even finishes developing.

We explore how early emotional labor shapes identity, blurs boundaries, and teaches children to earn love through over-functioning. From chronic burnout to strained sibling bonds, this episode unpacks the deeper psychological scars that come from being “the responsible one” too soon—and how many of us are still carrying those scars into our adult relationships.

We also confront the harder truths: how forced maturity can lead to distorted views of intimacy, vulnerability to grooming, and even the quiet reenactment of trauma with others—all because no one taught us how to safely receive care.

This episode offers reflection, affirmation, and an invitation to finally put the role down.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

🔗 Check out the advice column, book a free mental health consultation, or explore other resources at robertsaintmichael.com

📲 Follow @robertsaintmichael on Instagram for more insights, live updates, and community healing.

📥 Like. Comment. Subscribe. Share!

Referenced in this episode:

– U.S. Department of Justice: Data on child sexual abuse by known perpetrators

– Chase, N.D., & Deming, M.P. (2015). Parental role reversal and long-term relational patterns

– APA: Effects of premature responsibility and emotional parentification

– Journal of Child and Family Studies: Impacts of adultified roles on intimacy development

What happens when your older sibling becomes your parent?

In Episode 1 of The Group Sessions Podcast, we uncover the hidden cost of growing up too fast—and the lifelong trauma of being forced to cosplay adulthood in dysfunctional homes. This conversation dives deep into the psychology of emotional parentification, exploring how it warps childhood development and traps us in caregiving roles that follow us into adulthood—leaving us exhausted, underloved, and unheard.

We also unpack how parentification increases vulnerability to abuse—especially when children are conditioned to identify as “equals” to adults and taught to prioritize others’ needs above their own safety.

This is a powerful, triggering, and healing reflection on silence, survival, and the families we’re still learning to heal from.

—

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

🔗 Check out the advice column, book a free mental health consultation, or explore other resources at robertsaintmichael.com

📲 Follow @robertsaintmichael on Instagram for more insights, live updates, and community healing.

📥 Like. Comment. Subscribe. Share!

Referenced in this episode:

– National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Impacts of emotional neglect and family role reversal

– Hooper, L.M. (2007). The Psychological Impact of Parentification in Childhood

– U.S. Department of Justice: Statistics on child sexual abuse and familial offenders

– Afifi, T.D. et al. (2016). Childhood caregiving and adult mental health outcomes

What if every episode felt like a real session?

Welcome to The Group Sessions — a healing space for the strong ones, the silent ones, and the ones still learning how to rest.

Hosted by Robert Saint Michael, Certified Mental Health Life Coach and Master NLP Practitioner, this podcast helps us unpack the trauma, identity, survival patterns, and emotional exhaustion we carry — especially when we were never allowed to fall apart.

Here, healing isn’t performative. It’s personal. Each episode blends research-backed insight with lived experience, drawing from psychology, behavioral health, public health disparities, sociology, culture, and resilience.

You’ll find myth-busting, truth-telling, and soul-tending conversations that reconnect you to yourself — piece by piece.

And if there’s something you want covered, you can reach out directly. Your story matters, and I’ll create an episode around your experience — anonymously, with care.

New episodes drop every week. Subscribe and start your sessions now.

You don’t have to heal alone.

Robert Saint Michael, NLP

Certified Mental Health Life Coach

Master NLP Practitioner

🔗 Visit robertsaintmichael.com to explore the advice column, book a free consultation, or access more healing tools.

📲 Follow @robertsaintmichael on Instagram for updates, live events, and support.

📥 Like, comment, subscribe, and share.