Relationship Power Dynamics

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 ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching …

What’s wrong with me? The Power of Gaslighting to Confuse and Control: Interview with Dr. Robin Stern

Have you wondered what’s wrong with me? This could be a sign of gaslighting. Dr. Robin Stern, psychoanalyst, author, and expert on gaslighting, joins me to discuss the underlying dynamics of a toxic or narcissistic relationship. She delves into the hidden motivations of both the gaslighter as well as the gaslightee. •Learn more about Dr. Stern •The Gaslight Effect Podcast •My Interview with Dr. Stern on The Gaslight Effect Podcast •The Gaslight Effect book Submit your question to be a…

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…

Don’t Trust Yourself? How Self-Doubt Keeps Us Stuck in a Bad Relationship

Are you stuck in a bad relationship? Are you wondering if you have good enough reasons enough to leave? In this podcast episode, Rossana Faye, Rollercoaster of Love, joins to me to discuss how self-doubt can trap us in a bad relationship. How we can get stuck in our own heads, which only adds to the confusion we already feel in narcissistic relationships. And the self-help tip is the power of finding forgiveness for ourselves through acceptance and love. Submit your question to be answere…

Are you arguing a lot? Here’s why you should not try to win a fight with a narcissist

Are you fighting a lot? Maybe it’s better to learn how not to win an argument with a narcissist. In this podcast, Dr. Kerry and Tara delve into the problem of arguing with a narcissist. Why these discussions often go sideways with the end result of hurt feelings and being defeated. And the self-help tip is practical things to remember the next time a narcissist tries to bait you into a heated discussion. How to stay cool and in control of yourself. Links: Nameless Narcissist Video: htt…

Suddenly on your own? How narcissists use isolation to cut you off from others

Are you suddenly alone? Learn how a narcissist isolates you as a way to gain control over you. How they cut you off from your closest friends and family, making you more vulnerable to abuse. Are you looking for an understanding community? Join Dr. Kerry’s Toxic-Free Relationship Club with weekly live group video office hours. https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/toxic-free-relationship-club/ Books mentioned: BIFF by Bill Eddy: https://amzn.to/3FFqm4D Coparenting with a Toxic Ex by Amy J L Baker: h…

Why am I so confused? The Making & Breaking of a Trauma Bond with Lisa Sonni

Send us a text In this episode, Tara and Kerry interview Lisa Sonni, author and trauma bond expert, on the development of powerful psychological attachments. Lisa shares how to recognize if we’re  trauma bonded and how to know if we are breaking this toxic interpersonal connection. This episode demystifies the intense attachment so many of … Read more

How to find joy and renewed power after surviving abuse: An interview with Tara

In this episode, we get a behind-the-scenes look into our co-host, Tara’s life. She shares how she has learned to find joy and where her real source of power is after surviving abuse. Links: Tara’s WebsiteGrit: The Power of Passion and PerseveranceSubmit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resourcesFirst Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital courseToxic-Free Relatio…

Am I still trauma bonded? Top Signs That You’ve Broken That Toxic Connection

In this episode, Kerry and Tara share the initial signs they had broken the trauma bond with their exes. Intense connections get formed with toxic partners and family members that can be very controlling. Breaking them is an essential part of healing. And today’s self-help tip is using your observational power to recall possible consequences of any potential action as a personal boundary. Links: Betrayal Bonds: Breaking Free of Exploitative Relationships by Patrick CarnesBreaking Free…

Waking up to a Stranger: What Happens Once Love Bombing is Over

Have you noticed how narcissists and toxic people morph into someone new once love-bombing is over? In this episode, Kerry and Tara examine the chameleon-like nature of personality disorders and how this creates confusion and self-doubt for victims. And the self-help tip is a helpful exercise to expose if this dynamic is happening in your current relationship. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry’s AI-powered coaching appThe Complete Recovery …