Ever thought you’d never fall for a cult? You might have more in common with survivors than you think. This post unpacks how people-pleasing, trauma, and identity struggles make us vulnerable to coercive systems—and how to heal from them.

Many people who struggle with people-pleasing grew up with emotionally immature parents, where love and safety often felt conditional. Understanding where these patterns come from isn’t about blaming parents or staying stuck in the past—it’s about recognizing how your early experiences shaped you so you can reclaim your own needs, wants, and voice in adulthood.

Persistent invalidation can disrupt self-trust and reinforce people pleasing behavior. Good news: what is learned can be unlearned! Read on for more on the power of self-validation.

If you've ever found yourself putting others' needs before your own, constantly seeking approval, or feeling unable to express your true thoughts and feelings, you might be dealing with people-pleasing tendencies. Let’s delve into the definition of people-pleasing, its potential impact on your life, and how therapy can help you navigate this complex pattern.

Many clients seek out therapy when people-pleasing habits are getting in the way of their peace and fulfillment. But for most of us, people-pleasing was an effective survival strategy in our formative years. So how did this way of coping shift so dramatically from helpful to harmful? Let's start at the beginning.