Healing Tools & Recovery Skills

I desperately love and fear them: The Terrifying Power of a Trauma Bond

Could you be trauma-bonded to a narcissist? Are you battling a strange mix of love and fear? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss trauma bonds–an intense connection to another person that is very difficult to break. We think we feel love when it’s based on fear. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coachin…

“We’re just trying to help!” How to Manage Toxic In-Law Drama

Are you battling toxic in-law drama? Is your mother-in-law or father-in-law intruding into your relationship or family? This week, Rossana Faye joins us to discuss common toxic in-law drama, particularly when it involves a narcissistic mother- or father-in-law. This week’s self-help tip is the importance of strengthening your couple’s boundaries over time. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps t…

“How mad can I make you?” The Toxic Games Covert Narcissists Play

Do you find yourself exasperated or angry at your partner, but you aren’t sure why? Do they put you into no-win binds? Covert narcissists love to play subtle, often hidden mind games. They are masterful at twisting the truth, hiding exploitative agendas, and playing the victim, enraging their partners and families while keeping them in the dark. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins to discuss the common mind games covert narcissists use. This week’s self-help tip is how to use your emoti…

Am I The Narcissist? When Toxic People Accuse You of Being The Problem

Have you ever wondered, “Am I the narcissist?” Have you been accused of being the problem? In this podcast episode, Rossana Faye joins me to discuss how to know who’s creating the chaos. Narcissists are notorious for never seeing themselves as the root cause, but how do we know that the issue isn’t us? And the self-help tip is how to use your history to identify dysfunctional relationship patterns. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complete …

Is It Really Abuse If I Can’t Do What I Want? What is Coercive Control?

Is being overly controlling a form of abuse? In this podcast episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the subtleties of coercive control. Learn how to recognize the common control tactic of this insidious form of abuse. And this week’s self-help tip is to assess how your partner’s feelings and demands affect you. Are you doing less and becoming increasingly isolated to please them? Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissist…

When Stonewalling Is Used Against You: How to Disarm Toxic Interactions

Stonewalling or giving someone the silent treatment is one of the nastiest forms of unfair fighting. When we ignore or reject another person’s bid for a connection more than thirty percent of the time, the likelihood the relationship won’t make it dramatically increases. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss why stonewalling is such a popular toxic behavior and what to do if it’s happening to you. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complet…

When Fear of Change Keeps You from Leaving: How to Say Goodbye to a Toxic Life

Leaving often brings along with it a fear of change. We might dread how change will affect our kids or our friendships. Maybe we’re concerned about how leaving could disrupt life as we know it. In this podcast episode, Tara and Dr. Kerry discuss the fears of change they faced and how they overcame them to leave. Tara also is leaving the show and shares about her future plans. The self-help tip is the power of letter writing to find closure after leaving a toxic relationship.&nbs…

Time to Leave? Top Dos and Don’ts When Divorcing a Narcissist: Interview with Kate Anthony

Are you considering divorcing a narcissist? Wondering how to do it safely? In today’s podcast, Kate Anthony, a High-Conflict Divorce Coach and author of The D Word, joins me to discuss how to become our own best advocate when leaving a narcissist. She covers the top dos and don’ts to exiting these challenging and even dangerous relationships. Kate Anthony: https://kateanthony.com The D Word: Making the Ultimate Decision About Your Marriage: https://amzn.to/3HDbTHh Submit your questi…

Men can’t be victims, right? Common myths about men and narcissistic abuse: An Interview with Brent MacLerie

One of many harmful stereotypes men face is that they can’t be victims of narcissistic abuse, yet the rates of narcissism are nearly equal between men and women. In this episode, Brent MacLerie, social media activist and advocate for gender issues, joins Tara and me to discuss his experience of narcissistic abuse along with the common challenges many male victims face in abusive relationships. To follow Brent: https://www.tiktok.com/@expatriarch Resource: Couple Skills: Making Your Relati…

How to manage runaway triggers in new situations and at family celebrations

Are you managing trauma triggers in new situations or at family holiday celebrations? Are you struggling with sudden fears, rushes of emotions, or disturbing flashbacks? In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Tara discuss coping with trauma triggers after narcissistic abuse. Learn helpful strategies for managing these challenging and unexpected triggers. Links: FX’s The Bear Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesF…