The Badass Counseling Show

In this recorded Lightning Round, Sven goes live on his online sites and provides direct and helpful guidance on issues of relationships, controlling parents, misguided anger, and much more. He never knows what questions will come up, so join us for the surprises and the badass wisdom! Explicit content. Send us Fan Mail

In childhood, Derek learned to never be a burden. And so at 35 he finds himself on the short end of a 100% power imbalance with his wife, and now in the middle of a divorce. She wanted to be polyamorous (read: cheat in the open) and he reluctantly agreed. Ultimately feeling betrayed and concerned that his soon-to-be ex is poisoning their teenage children against him, he turns to Sven for help in m...

In this recorded Lightning Round, Sven fields questions including: Why do women confuse masculine men with narcissists? How do I put myself first? How do I find my authentic self when I'm always told I'm wrong? My wife left me, how do I get her back? And - How do I deal with the grief due to the death of a child? For insight, direct advice, compassion, and even a few laughs, come on in a...

Michael believes he's unwantable, but why? With an unrealistic view of himself and now divorced, he married only because it was "the right thing to do" and wonders how to feel love. As a child, his parents would have him make gift lists for his birthday and Christmas, but they never read them. His father was a source of constant disapproval. So he gave up hope. "I'll go th...

Sven again handles rapid-fire questions from his followers on social media. You never know what might come up, but in this Lightning Round, tons of questions about narcissists. Sven even details the genesis of the term from Greek mythology and what it really means. Other topics include the value of rituals, side quests, and trauma bonds. Keen insight and helpful advice here in Lightning Round LIX!...

At 35, Athena doesn't believe she deserves a meaningful relationship, feels disconnected from herself, and is involved in a 3-year affair. Brian suffers with fears his ex will spread toxic stories about him in a tightly-knit community, and has become withdrawn. Sven goes to work, finding common threads in their challenges, and helps both to resolve to do the soul work and aim for genuine, hea...

Q&A with Sven again, recorded live as he takes unpredictable questions and comments from his followers on social media. In this Lightning Round: Tons of relationship advice; how to deal with abusive and narcissistic parents, partners, and co-workers; finding the right kind of therapy; breaking trauma bonds, and much much more. Please listen in to Lightning Round LVIII! Explicit content. Send u...

Cassidy's small children don't fully trust her, and she knows why. A victim of an abusive childhood herself, she admits to abusing her 5 children (and there's one more on the way), feeling suicidal, and having large gaps in her memory. She's overwhelmed with parenting, therapy hasn't helped, and so Cassidy turns to Sven for finding a path to healing. She knows she needs to...

Listen in to Sven tackling tough questions and getting into some back-and-forth with his online followers in this recorded session. Advice on dating, dealing with narcs in bad marriages, navigating heavy relationship issues, recognizing red flags, in-depth tips on journaling, and much more - right here for you in Lightning Round LVII. Come on in! Explicit content.  Send us Fan Mail

Lydia has filed for divorce from an alcoholic, violent husband, who has blamed her for all their problems. Conditioned to accept the abuse, Lydia attempted to be peacemaker, but was told she'd always be one-upped. So she left with her daughter, and feels pain about leaving the marriage. What's wrong? And what's right? Sven helps Lydia unpack this difficult situation and accept that...

In this Lightning Round, Sven gets into a back-and-forth with an online listener whose husband, an admitted cheater who says he wants to save the marriage, is away for the weekend in the same location as the woman he cheated with. How does he know? And what could go wrong? Other topics include getting over an Ex, conflict avoidance, the meaning of discipline, extreme takers, ghosting, forgiveness,...

Madi is a person of faith, and in pain over family pressure to maintain a relationship with her father, who she describes as a "shit person." Hearing her heartbreaking story, Sven guides her to understand that what she considered as simply being a low priority was actually serious abuse. Madi feels pressure to forgive, but her father's cruelty and overwhelming hypocrisy make it diff...

Join Sven for unrehearsed responses to incoming online questions! Is there life after a 35-year marriage to a narcissist? Feeling like you don't deserve to live? Is there a difference between hate and rage? And hear Sven's emotional response to a follower who just became a quadriplegic. It's Lightning Round LV. Come on in! Explicit content. Send us Fan Mail

In Emily's story, the abuse went both ways. After suffering a miscarriage, her husband severely beat her...after she threw a broken glass at him when he called her crazy in public. They later had a son, but the two-way abuse continued until they divorced. Now co-parenting, Emily wonders why she still loves her ex-husband even though she knows she deserves better. Sven asks, "Can feelings...

More spontaneous Q&A with Sven, recorded as he checks in with his followers on multiple platforms. Need some new strategies to deal with your worries? Wondering how to succeed at a long-distance relationship?  How do you know when it's over? Having trouble co-parenting with an uncooperative ex?  Join us for Lightning Round LIV for all this, and much more! Explicit content. Send us Fan Mai...

Britt's sad history includes rape, beatings, and attempted suicide. She understands that she was taught to be unlovable and is making progress, but she's scared to let go of all the trauma that has defined her life. She wonders: What is her substance without it? Sven helps her though the final stages of embracing her authentic self in this ultimately uplifting counseling session. Explici...

In Lightning Round LIII, Sven again takes to multiple social media platforms to take live, unpredictable questions. Topics include fear of traveling, difficulties with journaling, conflict avoidance, forgiveness, distant spouses, and more. Sven never knows what's coming, and his answers are always insightful and illuminating. Please listen in! Explicit content. Send us Fan Mail

Meet Lynn, whose memories of hating herself begin at age 8. Sexually abused as a child by a string of her mother's partners, Lynn struggles with crippling depression and suicidal thoughts. Compounding her misery - her mother knew about the abuse and did nothing except eventually blame her for it. And the manipulation and cruelty continue to this day. Lynn can only refer to her mother as &quot...

In Sven's 52nd Lightning Round, he offers great insight about repairing relationships between parents and children, and vice-versa. Feel like you're giving too much? Afraid that your trauma defines you? Wondering how to finally get your needs met? Worried that your partner is dumping adult problems on your children? Sven tackles all these issues and more in this recorded session of incom...

Jennifer's life has been filled with "99% self hate." As a child, she never felt protected and had to protect her mother from her father's abuse. Although Jennifer would never allow her mother to parent her own daughter in the same way her mother did to her, she still unquestionably loves her mother. Sven works Jennifer through her painful life story of handed-down abusive beha...

In Sven's 51st Lightning Round, he takes on his followers' toughest questions on dealing with grief, handling difficult parenting (and parent) issues, getting past abusive relationships, understanding guilt, loving life like you used to, and so much more. The questions come live and unscripted, and the answers are always enlightening. Come on in and join us for Lightning Round LI! Explic...

Sarah believes her hate and rage are behind her, but she says she has no functional relationships. Sven helps her discover the connection between her severely troubled childhood and her true feelings as an adult. Molestation at the hands of her older sister and cousin was ignored by her parents and led her to a violently abusive relationship at age 15 with a 21 year old man. She's now taking...

Wondering if narcissists ever feel guilt? How to stop feeling invisible to your family? How to get through your sibling's wedding? Afraid you'll become a narcissist after living with one? Are you failing to get your emotional needs met? Join Sven and his online followers for our 50th Lightning Round! The questions are unpredictable, the answers always provocative and illuminating. Come o...

Meet Lance and Rebecca, whose deep wounds from their lost childhoods haunt their adulthood. As a child, Lance was forced to care for his bipolar, suicidal mother. Rebecca suffered an early life filled with emotional and sexual abuse of the highest order. Did they become self-critical? "Only 100%."  Listen in to this gripping session as Sven counsels these two remarkable individuals who a...

Recorded live and unrehearsed for the 49th time, Sven takes on tough questions from his online followers. Tons of useful insight and advice here, with questions including: What's the best way to unlock blocked memories? Where did my teen learn to say "You're triggering me?" How can I stop lashing out when I'm stressed? Who is Sven for Sven? And: Why does my girlfriend keep...