Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Are narcissists born or made? And why does this question matter, considering the terrible toll of narcissistic abuse? This week, psychotherapist Dr. Peter Salerno joins me to discuss the root causes of narcissism along with the common misunderstandings about Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  Learn the importance of understanding the underpinning of this character makeup when it comes to healing...

What is the impact of childhood abuse on adult relationships? Can children overcome early trauma? Nia Renee joins me this week to discuss the lasting legacy of abuse. She describes the impact of chronic gaslighting and neglect on her later relationships. Learn what role resiliency and determination played in helping break the abuse cycle. To learn more about Nia Renee: https://howtoloveabatteredwo...

Are you speaking up less? Fawning more? There’s a high cost to living with a narcissist, and it could be your identity. This week, Lynn Strathdee, psychodynamic therapist, joins me to discuss echoism, the true opposite personality style to narcissism. She shares how fawning could result in a loss of our very self. To learn more about Lynn’s work: Website:  https://www.echoismrecovery.com TikTok: h...

Dangerous relationships rarely begin physically abusive. Initially, you think you’ve met a fantastic partner, but slowly, the toxicity turns into something more insidious and lethal. Trigger warning: this week, Lisa Sonni and I share vulnerable details of how we missed the early signs of danger in our narcissistic relationships. IF YOU ARE A RISK of immediate danger or abuse, please get in touch w...

When there’s trouble in a relationship, most couples are urged to seek couples counseling. In today’s episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why this suggestion is a terrible idea if your partner is a narcissist. Too many couples therapists lack the education to identify narcissistic abuse, and narcissistic and toxic partners are highly sophisticated at manipulating the therapeutic process. Fo...

What’s the connection between attachment styles and narcissism? This week, Dr. Erin Leonard, a practicing psychotherapist, joins me to discuss the common problems narcissists have with emotional intelligence and creating secure connections with others. She’s recently authored How to Outsmart a Narcissist, where she describes the best ways to protect ourselves from narcissists’ efforts to manipulat...

Have you wondered what a narcissist was thinking? Why would they do what they do? Do they intentionally know they were being cruel? This week, I’m going to re-release an interview I did with Dr. Carter in 2023. In it, he gave a unique perspective on the narcissist’s mindset and explained their worldview and defensiveness. Learn how they so effectively turn the tables on us, making us think we’re t...

Have you noticed that too off family court becomes just another battle ground for the narcissist? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss post-separation of abuse. Most of us passionately want to protect our children from our toxic ex only to experience more helplessness in the mediation and courtrooms. Resources Referenced: Emotionally Bulletproof Kids https://strongerthanbefore.ca/webinar-bulle...

Are you being abused and don’t know it? Not only is society blind to narcissistic abuse, but so are most victims. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why narcissistic abuse is so difficult to spot, even to the victims, and the role this plays in the difficulty of getting help. Resources Mentioned: More on Hannah Neeleman & the Ballerina Farms controversy How He Gets Into Her Head by...

Every person who has dealt with a narcissist has been bullied. This week, expert and author Bill Eddy joins me to discuss what we get wrong about bullying behavior and the practical steps we all should take to better protect ourselves from antagonistic and vindictive people. To learn more about Bill Eddy and his work, visit: https://highconflictinstitute.com And be sure to check out his latest boo...

Leaving is a moral choice. Often, breaking up or divorce is viewed as a personal choice, but it has ramifications and is character-defining. Rossana Faye joins me this week to discuss why sometimes it becomes a moral dilemma to leave our narcissistic partner. Deciding to divorce is often not as clear-cut for many of us. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Ke...

These days, it seems like everyone is a narcissist. Is the label of narcissist or narcissistic harmful or helpful? This week, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the importance and impact of identifying narcissistic abuse and dysfunctional relationship dynamics. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app The Complete Recovery Collection :...

Divorcing a narcissist often ends up a contentious battle. Victims come into court shaken up and traumatized, whereas their toxic ex appears poised and confident. Today, two Toronto legal mediators, Amanda Silver and Alex Howard, are joining me. They are also the co-hosts of the Dirty Laundry Podcast. They are going to share how to protect your interests better when leaving a narcissist. To learn...

What if you're not going to leave a narcissist? What if leaving isn't possible? Is there a way to survive a toxic relationship?  Sometimes, leaving a toxic relationship isn't possible due to complex reasons. Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss why some victims find themselves trapped in a bad partnership and what to do if this describes your situation.  Resources Referenced: Should I Stay or...

Have you heard of trauma dumping? It’s become a new way to attack victims for talking about their narcissistic abuse experiences. Rossana Faye joins me as this week’s special guest to explore the importance of sharing your trauma and the role it plays in helping you heal from abuse. And you don’t want to miss this week’s Podcast Extra where Ro and I discuss the differences between trauma reprocess...

In celebration of the upcoming holiday, this episode features three of our listeners’ favorites. Listen in as Tara Blair Ball and I discuss: 1. How narcissistic abuse is different from emotional abuse 2. Why covert narcissists are difficult to spot 3. If it's true that narcissists make good lovers Listen to the full episodes here: S2 EP 102: Were you emotionally abused or narcissistically abused?...

The mind of a narcissist is wildly self-absorbed and oblivious to those around them. They are excessively focused on me, me, me. Dr. Les Carter joins me to discuss what victims get wrong about the mind of a narcissist. He shares how our assumptions and misunderstandings create false hope, causing us to stay too long and to give too many chances. To learn more about Dr. Carter: Visit Website & his...

Could you be trauma-bonded to a narcissist? Are you battling a strange mix of love and fear? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss trauma bonds--an intense connection to another person that is very difficult to break. We think we feel love when it' s based on fear .  Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app The Complete Recovery...

Have you asked yourself, "Why can't I leave?" You know you should. You've even started hiding the ugly truth of what's really going on behind closed doors.  In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss late-stage cognitive dissonance. Learn the underlying cause of the agonizing confusion that paralyzes the victim from acting in their own best interest. Find out what it took for us to break free...

Have you left a relationship feeling duped? Not just betrayed, but conned? You’ve likely met a covert narcissist. In this episode, Elena Sagredos, author of But They’re So Nice, joins me to talk about the deceptiveness of covert abuse. We often miss the signs we’ve met a covert narcissism behind their guise of niceness, only later to discover their extreme duplicity. To learn more about Eleni, you...

Relationships with narcissists can be confounding, confusing, and incredibly frustrating. Join Dr. Kerry for this holiday episode when she revisits the highlights of her three favorite interviews. Hear Dr. Les Carter’s explanation of why narcissists are so tricky, Lisa Sonni’s three steps to breaking a trauma bond, and Dr. Robin Stern’s disturbing description of gaslighting’s power. To listen to t...

Are you battling toxic in-law drama? Is your mother-in-law or father-in-law intruding into your relationship or family? This week, Rossana Faye joins us to discuss common toxic in-law drama, particularly when it involves a narcissistic mother- or father-in-law. This week's self-help tip is the importance of strengthening your couple's boundaries over time. Submit your question to be answered on ai...

Do you find yourself exasperated or angry at your partner, but you aren’t sure why? Do they put you into no-win binds? Covert narcissists love to play subtle, often hidden mind games. They are masterful at twisting the truth, hiding exploitative agendas, and playing the victim, enraging their partners and families while keeping them in the dark.  In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins to discuss the co...

Have you noticed managing boundaries with narcissists always fails? That they find some tricky way to evade limit setting?  Suddenly, you’re being accused of being too controlling or sensitive, or they can’t understand what you're asking.  In this podcast, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the problems of managing boundaries with narcissists. We'll explore this issue from a narcissist's perspective:...

(Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of abuse.) This week, Jessica Kent, a wildly popular social media figure, joins me to share her story of escaping abuse. Jessica reveals how covert narcissistic abuse can go from subtle to violent, especially when victims leave the relationship. Jessica Kent is best known for prison reform advocacy. To learn more about her and her work:...