Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

The podcast that helps you spot the subtle signs of toxic relationships and reclaim your life.

Join Dr. Kerry McAvoy — author, educator with a 25-year background in psychology, and survivor — for expert interviews and deeply validating insight into why these relationships are so confusing, and how to find your way forward.

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Most Recent Episode

Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse
Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse
Why Narcissists Need Ongoing Drama: It's All About Keeping You Exhausted & Under Control
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Past Episodes

Why Narcissists Need Ongoing Drama: It's All About Keeping You Exhausted & Under Control

Why Narcissists Need Ongoing Drama: It's All About Keeping You Exhausted & Under Control

The Ugly Truth About Narcissistic Abuse Recovery: Why Your Kids and Friends Don't Know How to Help You.

The Ugly Truth About Narcissistic Abuse Recovery: Why Your Kids and Friends Don't Know How to Help You.

What Happens Inside a Narcissist the Moment You Confront Them & Why It Will Never Lead to Change

What Happens Inside a Narcissist the Moment You Confront Them & Why It Will Never Lead to Change

The 7-Stage Trauma Bond That Makes Leaving Feel Impossible

The 7-Stage Trauma Bond That Makes Leaving Feel Impossible

They Told You Who They Were on the First Date: The Narcissist Red Flags No One Taught You to Hear

They Told You Who They Were on the First Date: The Narcissist Red Flags No One Taught You to Hear

Reactive Abuse: 4 Questions That Reveal Who Was Really the Dangerous One in the Room

Reactive Abuse: 4 Questions That Reveal Who Was Really the Dangerous One in the Room

Dr. Les Carter: Stop Trying to Make a Narcissist Understand You — Do This Instead

Dr. Les Carter: Stop Trying to Make a Narcissist Understand You — Do This Instead

Are You Feeling Stuck? Take my FREE “Toxic or Troubled?” survey to discover your relationship type and get instant access to a complete, private mini-course—educational overviews, reflective questions, grounding techniques, and new strategies tailored to your situation. ▶ Start here: https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/toxic-troubled-survey —— What if every explanation you offer becomes ammunition? Have you noticed how a narcissist stays one-up without ever having to raise their voice In this...

They Didn't Miss You, They Ran Out of Money: How Hoovering Actually Works

They Didn't Miss You, They Ran Out of Money: How Hoovering Actually Works

Future faking hoovering isn't a change of heart. It's a second round of grooming, aimed at exactly what the first round wanted. In this highlight from Kerry's weekly live Q&A, she takes on what's actually happening when someone shows up with flowers, apologies and a raked pile of leaves after months of silence — and why the answer has almost nothing to do with you. In this episode: • Why not being hoovered is a read on what you had left to give • Hoovering is a role vacancy, not a longi...

Narcissist, Psychopath, or Sadist? Does Naming Your Abuser's Personality Type Actually Help?

Narcissist, Psychopath, or Sadist? Does Naming Your Abuser's Personality Type Actually Help?

What if naming the disorder never actually got you out? And what if the thing you've been calling proof was really just a way to feel in control? In this episode, Kerry and co-host Lynn Strathdee take on the debate splitting the recovery world right now — one universal predator type, or many distinct subtypes. You can know exactly what someone is and stay anyway. You can't choose your neighbor, your coworker, or the parent sitting next to you at the PTA meeting. Understanding the diagnosis ...

Podcast for Next Week

kerry mcavoy & Lynn Strathdee

UK psychotherapist, expert in echoism, and fellow survivor

episode for November 9th:

Why Narcissists Need You to Be the Villain

  • Why do some of the narcissist’s put-downs wreck me while others just bounce off

  • Why do they walk away from a fight feeling fine while I’m left shaken for days

  • Does it matter whether they knew what they were doing?

Fan Mail Thursdays

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

Why am I getting duped by covert narcissists?

YouTube Q&A

Wondering if your relationship is healthy?

Take the Toxic or Troubled Quiz and get a personalized healing roadmap.

meet dr. kerry mcavoy

About the Host

Dr. Kerry McAvoy is an author, educator, and narcissistic abuse expert with a 25-year background in psychology.

She combines research-informed frameworks with personal insight to help people navigate toxic dynamics, break free from cognitive dissonance, and reclaim their lives.

meet lynn Strathdee

About the Co-Host

“Lynn Strathdee is a UK-based Psychodynamic Therapist and relationship abuse recovery specialist with years of clinical and lived experience.

She combines deep psychological insight with personal understanding to help survivors make sense of what happened — and find their way back to safety and themselves.

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