My 62-year-old narcissistic brother moved in with my 86-year-old mother “temporarily” after his divorce six years ago. Now she’s suffocating, the rest of the family stays away, and she won’t let anyone intervene. In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why some mothers choose guilt over peace — and what to do when someone refuses to … Read more
Why do loving parents sometimes push away the very children they’d do anything for? This week, Catherine Hickem joins Dr. Kerry to unpack one of the most painful dynamics in modern families—parental estrangement. We explore how unspoken expectations create invisible walls, why parents mistake control for connection, and how grief work (yes, grief work) is … Read more
A listener pushes back and asks, “How do we know the parent claiming alienation isn’t actually the abuser manipulating the narrative?” When a child rejects contact with a parent after separation, is it parental alienation or justified estrangement? In this week’s fan mail, a listener pushes back with a challenge about a previous episode that … Read more
Ever wonder why your in-laws rallied around your abusive partner instead of protecting you? This episode explores one of the most painful dynamics in narcissistic abuse: when families choose to protect the abuser and paint YOU as the problem. We revisit a past interview with Rossana where she shares her firsthand experience of this dynamic … Read more
Ever felt like you’re the problem in your family—even when you’re the one being hurt? This week, Ágatha Peters joins Dr. Kerry to explore how cultural expectations and family loyalty create the perfect conditions for narcissistic abuse to thrive undetected. We discuss why narcissism often goes unnamed in non-Western cultures, how the scapegoat role becomes … Read more
This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a Spotify listener: “Can you please do an episode on scapegoat children?” Why do some people get scapegoated, especially in families? Dr. Kerry explains the role of the scapegoat and how families use this person to address systemic stress and dysfunctional. Submit Your Question If you’d like your … Read more
“My son’s in a toxic marriage—how do we help without making it worse?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Raleigh, North Carolina: “My adult son is in a toxic marriage with a likely narcissist. He’s miserable, says he wants out, but stays—partly because of their three young kids. How can we … Read more
Has your adult child gone no contact? Cut off all communication with you? Are you struggling to figure out how to repair things with them? There’s an alarming trend of adult children walking away from family connections called parental estrangement. Why is going no contact becoming the go-to way of handling strained relationships? And what … Read more
“How can someone seem loving for years—then suddenly turn cruel?” This week’s Fan Mail revisits a letter that struck a nerve with listeners. A woman wrote about her daughter-in-law, who had seemed like a wonderful addition to the family for seven years—until she “suddenly turned into a monster.” But after the episode aired, Dr. Kerry … Read more
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 finally reclaim your power and identity. Tronick’s Still (Blank) Face Experiment Podcast Extra Exclusive Segment Find it here: … Read more