Beyond Survival - The Therapy Podcast with Katie McKenna

Exploring the Fear beneath Perfectionism and High Achievement In this deep dive, Podcast Host & Mindset Coach Claire Fealy joins me to unpack the fear that hides beneath high achievement and perfectionism, and how we can begin to heal what's really driving it.  We identify the inner critc and discuss the hidden beliefs driving our anxiety, how fear often masks deeper emotional wounds, and...

If you grew up in a narcissistic or emotionally chaotic household, chances are you were taught to feel for others, but not for yourself.  In this episode, we’re unpacking what empathy actually is, why it often gets distorted in dysfunctional families, and how to reclaim it as something healthy, mutual, and safe. We explore the three different types of empathy, how it becomes weaponised or used aga...

In this solo episode, I'm exploring the invisible wounds that form in childhood when you're raised in dysfunctional or narcissistic family systems — ranging from hyper-dependence to hyper-independence — and how these patterns follow us into adulthood.  I’ll also talk about the roots of these behaviours, including parentification and unhealthy parental dynamics, and offer ways to begin ch...

Control is everywhere, often disguised as protection, tradition or morality!  This is part 2 with Adele Martelle, where we're unpacking the subtle and not-so-subtle way control operates with society and religion. From rigid belief systems to social expectations that suppress individuality, we explore how control can disconnect us from our inner knowing, limit personal freedom and keep entire...

How do we lose touch with who we really are? This week I am delighted to be joined by Adele Martelle, who specialises in treating complex CPTSD and Religious Trauma. In part one, we dive into how early attachment dynamics can lead us to disconnect from our needs, our instincts and our inner knowing. We'll explore how survival often meant adapting, people-pleasing, or self-abandoning, and what...

In this powerful episode I’m joined by Ann Larkin, CEO from Women's Aid Dundalk, to explore the insidious nature of coercive control in romantic relationships.  We discuss how coercive control can look in everyday life, the emotional and psychological tactics abusers use to maintain power, and why it’s so often misunderstood or overlooked. Whether you're looking to understand your own ex...

In this first episode, I’m introducing Beyond Survival – The Therapy Podcast and sharing more about who this space is for and what you can expect from future episodes. I’ll tell you a little bit about myself, my work as a psychotherapist, and the common patterns I’ve seen in people who grew up in emotionally immature, narcissistic parents & dysfunctional families — many of whom don’t realise h...