What to Do When You Lose Custody in Court: Answering Your Fan Mail

This week’s Fan Mail brings us two powerful questions: • From Syracuse, New York: “The family referee took my custody and handed it over to the father who was absent for years. My children have been separated from their siblings, and I’m only allowed one hour a week of visitation. The court won’t let me present my evidence, and I feel silenced and helpless. What can I do?” From Wichita, KansasAnd from Kansas City, Missouri, a listener asks: “How do I get access to the Podcast Extr…

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Podcast Trailer: Welcome to Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Join Dr. Kerry McAvoy on Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse for real talk about toxic relationships and recovery. Mondays feature expert interviews, Thursdays bring our new Fan Mail Q&A. Get clarity, validation, and tools to heal. Stay in Touch with Dr. Kerry! YoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebookMore About Dr. Kerry Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamam…

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When Men Say They’ve Been Abused: A Conversation with Josh from The Derelict Podcast

Disclaimer: This interview features perspectives from a male divorce coach navigating toxic dynamics. While some views expressed differ from those of trauma-informed psychology, I found it valuable to explore these tensions in real time. Please listen with care, and note that I challenge certain assumptions as we go. This week, I sit down with Josh Tomeoni, a divorce coach who shares his story of what he describes as abuse within his long-term marriage. Josh opens up about the male expe…

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When Your Therapist is the Narcissist! + Answering Your Fan Mail

What happens when a narcissistic therapist uses their professional training against you? This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Seattle who writes: “I dated a narcissist who was also a licensed clinical social worker. Can you talk about the weaponization of therapeutic training by narcissists?” In this episode, Dr. Kerry unpacks how narcissistic mental health professionals can use psychology to pathologize your emotions and silence your voice, how the imbalance of power could …

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How the Victim’s Personality & Attachment Styles Shape Healing and Recovery – Featuring Chelli Pumphrey

Do you know what one of the most dangerous traps you can fall for? Believing that you can “fix” a narcissist’s early attachment wounds. In this exclusive episode, therapist and author Chelli Pumphrey explains why narcissists rarely have secure attachments. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Find it here for the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA What’s the attachment style of a narcissist? In this powerful bonus conversation, Chell…

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Can You Really Heal a Trauma Bond? + Why Do Narcissists Cheat? Answering Your Fan Mail

Can you really heal a trauma bond—or is the damage permanent? This week’s Fan Mail features two powerful questions. The first comes from a YouTube listener who asks: “Is it really possible to break a trauma bond? Even Dr. Ramani says she still struggles daily—so what’s the point of fighting, especially if kids are involved?” The second comes from a listener in New York, New York who wants to know: “Why do narcissists cheat—and how can you tell if it’s happening to you?” In t…

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When Your Mother Hurts Instead of Loves You: Understanding The Controlling Mom

Can you ever be “good enough” for a difficult mother? In this episode, psychotherapist Katherine Fabrizio, author of The Good Daughter Syndrome, reveals why empathic daughters feel trapped in cycles of guilt, exhaustion, and approval-seeking—and how to reclaim your power and identity finally. Tronick’s Still (Blank) Face Experiment PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Find it here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse for the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter.&nb…

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Why Do We REALLY Stay? Answering Your Fan Mail

This week’s fan mail dives into two powerful questions about surviving emotional abuse. First, Dr. Kerry explores what it means when you stop crying—and why emotional shutdown can be a survival mechanism in toxic relationships. Then she tackles whether the sunk cost fallacy is really what keeps us stuck with a narcissist, or if something deeper is at play. Submit Your Question! If you would like your question addressed on air, please respond here! Submit your question to be answered on air …

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How to Outsmart a Narcissist in Court: Family Law Secrets from Michele Locke

Going through a custody battle or divorce with a narcissist? The you know the legal system can feel stacked against you. This week, former family law judge and attorney Michele Locke reveals exactly how narcissists twist the truth, exploit legal loopholes, and weaponize the court process — and what you can do to outsmart them. Podcast Extra Exclusive Interview Find it here the exclusive interview and weekly newsletter. More About the Podcast Extra Interview Choosing the wrong attorney in a …

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Practical Steps to Stopping the Crazy Confusion: Answering Your Fan Mail

What do you do when you can’t just cut off a toxic person? This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener who asks: “How do I stop the cognitive dissonance and self-doubt when I can’t go no-contact with a toxic person?” In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why cognitive dissonance is such a powerful trap in emotionally abusive relationships—especially when you’re forced to maintain contact. Submit Your Question If you would like your question addressed on air, please respond here!…

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