The Rising Beyond Podcast

Everyone talks about the escape from domestic violence or a narcissistic relationship.  The resources and support are for those trying to escape the abuse. But what if you were not trying to escape?  What if the reason you are now separated from your abuser is that you were discarded? In this episode, we look at the differences in support, perception, and reactions after separation from an abusive...

You can never have too many tools as you heal from relationship abuse. I want to offer you the power of journaling. Okay, okay...before you roll your eyes and think nope, journaling is not for me, please stay open to the possibility. Because I have seen the power that telling and writing our stories can have on healing from abuse, I called in an expert.  Amanda Stern is a journaling coach helping...

Have you been able to find the support you needed after leaving an abusive relationship?  There is often support right after leaving or as you try to escape, but what about as you try to get your life back on track? My guest, A. Garcia shares her story of leaving her abuser after an attempted murder of her and her unborn child and having to advocate for herself in a place where she had no connecti...

Do abusive parents try to use children against a protective parent?  Yes. But is it really parental alienation? In this episode I discuss the origin of the term parental alienation, how it is used as a false narrative by abusers in family court, and what is really happening if you are experiencing a parent trying to turn your children against you. It is really called domestic violence by proxy. If...

You dream of the day when you can find freedom and safety for yourself and your children.  You escape your abusive partner and are ready to start healing.  But years later, you are still dealing with the onslaught of abuse; not only from your abuser but from their family as well. This is what my guest, Aimee has been dealing with for the last 13 years.  Aimee shares her story of her abusive relati...

If you are like many of The Rising Beyond Community members, then your WHY is around keeping your children safe, physically and emotionally.  Getting your children the support they need after leaving an abusive relationship with their other parent can feel extremely overwhelming, especially if they have to continue to see that parent without having you as a buffer. Based on my training as a play t...

What questions do you have about post separation abuse?  I received many many questions before, during, and after a webinar I did for domesticshelters.org and know that many of you have the same questions.  In this episode I will be answering five of the questions received. If you have not left your abuser yet, how can you prepare for post separation abuse?  What should we make sure we do? What sh...

Did you ever feel the nagging voice of your intuition telling you to get out or to stop a wedding and then ignore it?  You had dreams of a happy marriage and children and you were trying to will that into existence even when there were red flags waving in your face? My guest, Amanda Lee knows this all too well.  In this week’s episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast, Amanda shares her experience of f...

If you have just separated from your abusive ex and are facing family court for the first time or if you have been doing this for a while, it is important to have realistic expectations and tangible skills to use as you go through this process. In this episode, you will learn what to expect and how to mitigate the challenges of family court with a high-conflict personality ex-partner before you go...

Even at your lowest, after experiencing trauma and domestic violence, it is possible to heal and find your purpose.   This week’s guest, Misty Chaviers shares her story of abuse and how she was able years later to heal and find her purpose as an advocate and podcaster helping other victims.  She is vulnerable and shares how she used drugs and alcohol and eating disorder behaviors as a way to cope...

Does witnessing domestic violence in your family of origin have effects on your relationships in adulthood?  My guest, Lovern Gordon shares her experiences of witnessing her father abuse her mother during her childhood and how this affected her self-worth and identity and led her into becoming a victim of domestic violence later in life.   We discuss the misconception that we could pick out an abu...

 “Why can’t I just get over this and move on?” There are many reasons why you may feel stuck in your healing process after domestic violence or narcissistic abuse.  Grief is one of these reasons.  And grief and loss happen when most relationships end, but it looks different for survivors. You are likely grieving the loss of the dream of what could have been, the loss of the fictitious person your...

Will mediation work when you are divorcing a narcissist? This is the million dollar question.  My guest today, Liz Merrill is a mediator and divorce and transitions coach with a specialization in narcissistic relationships and high-conflict personalities.  In this episode, Liz shares her experience in a high-conflict marriage and litigious divorce and how that led her to start helping others in th...

If you thought that the abuse would end after you left your abusive partner, you may be stunned and extremely overwhelmed by the continued abuse.  Post-separation abuse can look different from the abuse when living with your abuser, but it can be just as harmful if not more.   So, how is it possible for you to maintain a sense of hope while you are still being abused? What is hope? Wikipedia says...

You get to that point in your relationship where you know you can no longer live with the control and abuse.  You separate from your abuser and are left to pick up the pieces. Now what?  How do I recover from this?  Where do I even start the healing process? In this episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast, I have a conversation with Leanne Kanzler, a psychologist and coach on how she helps women and...

It is not a question of if your abusive ex will share a false narrative about you but when , to whom, and what will it be about.  After working for over a decade with victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse I have seen false narratives and lies cause so much distress and have legal implications.  So, how can you survive these false narratives? First, we need to understand...

If you are a survivor of domestic violence or narcissistic abuse and will be participating in family court, your relationship with your attorney is paramount to your success.  Many attorneys shy away from domestic violence litigation because it is so difficult.  Ms. Dane, on the other hand, has dedicated her career to helping survivors of violence pursue safety through the court system. She has co...

Communicating with your narcissistic and abusive ex can be excruciating.  And if you share children with them, you are stuck having to maintain contact with them for as long as you have to coparent.  What is the best strategy to protect yourself from negative outcomes in family court and stay sane during the process? One important step you can take is by communicating with your ex solely through a...

There is this belief that once a woman leaves an abusive relationship that they are finally safe.  This could not be further from the truth.  And this is especially true if you share children with your abuser.  When there is domestic violence or narcissistic abuse, the year after leaving can be the most dangerous time for a survivor.   Domestic violence is all about one partner gaining and maintai...

All over the world, women experience domestic violence and other forms of abuse.  And while we may see these issues on the news for a few days when there is a “news-worthy” story, the stories fade into the background and everyone seems to forget.  This is exactly what is happening in Iran today. In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Naz Meknat, a woman who escaped from an abusive...

98% of all victims of domestic violence experience financial abuse.  This type of abuse is one of the most significant barriers keeping women from leaving an abusive relationship and one of the many reasons women return to their abusers. In this week’s episode, I interview Claudia Porter, a survivor who has experienced financial abuse and now assists in supporting financial education and independe...

Domestic Violence is all about having power and control over their partner.  When an abusive partner or an abusive ex-partner feels like they are losing that control over their victim one way they can get that back is by tracking their movements and online activities.   In this episode, I am going to share a brief overview of some tips and tricks that you can use to protect yourself and your famil...

Does it feel impossible that you will ever be able to let your guard down after you have experienced an abusive relationship? The aftermath of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse, especially if you continue to experience post-separation abuse can leave you feeling hopeless.  And, I am here to tell you that there are some ways to slowly start taking some breaks so that you are not always feeli...

It is absolutely possible to heal and overcome domestic violence.  This is even true for those who have experienced extreme physical violence including gun violence. In this episode of The Rising Beyond Podcast, I have a conversation with Chantelle Mitchell, a woman who has overcome childhood abuse, sexual abuse, and was stalked and shot by an abusive ex-partner 8 months after the relationship end...

There are so many ways in which victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse are silenced.  And this silence is one of the barriers for true change in our world to happen. In this episode, we look at the different ways in which victims of domestic violence are silenced within their abusive relationship and by the myths and misconceptions that are still promoted by our media an...