Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse
Are you in a relationship that confuses you? One that leaves you feeling attacked or walking on eggshells? Maybe you've left but aren't sure what to do next; you're in the right place.
Join Dr. Kerry McAvoy, a mental health clinician and author of Love You More, as she tackles toxic relationship dynamics.
Listen as Dr. McAvoy describes destructive personalities, typical partner profiles, progressive stages of abuse, and common manipulation tactics. Find out why these relationships are complex to avoid, what makes them tough to leave, and how to recover and rediscover healthy self-compassion and self-respect again.
Episodes
157 episodes
Why is My Partner a Narcissist? Which is it—A Nature or Nurture Problem?
Are narcissists born or made? And why does this question matter, considering the terrible toll of narcissistic abuse?This week, psychotherapist Dr. Peter Salerno joins me to discuss the root causes of narcissism along with the common mi...
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Season 3
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Episode 86
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24:35
Does Childhood Abuse Leave a Lasting Legacy in Adult Relationships: An Interview with Nia Renee
What is the impact of childhood abuse on adult relationships? Can children overcome early trauma?Nia Renee joins me this week to discuss the lasting legacy of abuse. She describes the impact of chronic gaslighting and neglect on her lat...
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Season 3
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Episode 85
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23:44
How Narcissistic Abuse Could Cost You Your Identity: The Dangers of Echoism
Are you speaking up less? Fawning more? There’s a high cost to living with a narcissist, and it could be your identity.This week, Lynn Strathdee, psychodynamic therapist, joins me to discuss echoism, the true opposite personality style ...
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Season 3
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Episode 84
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24:41
How Relationships Become Dangerous: The Slow Shift from Toxic to Deadly
Dangerous relationships rarely begin physically abusive. Initially, you think you’ve met a fantastic partner, but slowly, the toxicity turns into something more insidious and lethal.Trigger warning: this week, Lisa Sonni and I share vul...
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Season 3
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Episode 83
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24:46
If You're in a Narcissistic Relationship, Why Couples Therapy is a Bad Idea
When there’s trouble in a relationship, most couples are urged to seek couples counseling.In today’s episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why this suggestion is a terrible idea if your partner is a narcissist. Too many couples the...
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Season 3
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Episode 82
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25:07
Why Narcissists Have Problems with Being Securely Attached to You
What’s the connection between attachment styles and narcissism? This week, Dr. Erin Leonard, a practicing psychotherapist, joins me to discuss the common problems narcissists have with emotional intelligence and creating secure connections with...
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Season 3
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Episode 81
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25:14
Dr. Carter's Best Advice About Narcissists That Every Survivor Needs to Know
Have you wondered what a narcissist was thinking? Why would they do what they do? Do they intentionally know they were being cruel?This week, I’m going to re-release an interview I did with Dr. Carter in 2023. In it, he gave a unique pe...
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Season 3
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Episode 80
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29:09
Why Family Court Too Often Takes the Side of the Narcissistic Abuser
Have you noticed that too off family court becomes just another battle ground for the narcissist? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss post-separation of abuse. Most of us passionately want to protect our children from our toxic ex ...
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Season 3
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Episode 79
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24:12
Why Most People, Including the Victim, Fail to Recognize Narcissistic Abuse
Are you being abused and don’t know it? Not only is society blind to narcissistic abuse, but so are most victims. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to talk about why narcissistic abuse is so difficult to spot, even to the victims, an...
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Season 3
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Episode 78
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29:11
Bill Eddy's Best Advice For Dealing with Narcissistic Bullies
Every person who has dealt with a narcissist has been bullied. This week, expert and author Bill Eddy joins me to discuss what we get wrong about bullying behavior and the practical steps we all should take to better protect ourselves f...
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Season 3
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Episode 77
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28:00
Why Sometimes It Feels Wrong or Immoral to Leave a Narcissist
Leaving is a moral choice. Often, breaking up or divorce is viewed as a personal choice, but it has ramifications and is character-defining. Rossana Faye joins me this week to discuss why sometimes it becomes a moral dilemma to lea...
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Season 3
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Episode 76
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23:19
When Your Partner is a Narcissist, Why the Term "Narcissistic" Matters
These days, it seems like everyone is a narcissist. Is the label of narcissist or narcissistic harmful or helpful? This week, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the importance and impact of identifying narcissistic abuse and dysfunctio...
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Season 3
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Episode 75
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25:52
Best Advice for Divorcing a Narcissist Without Losing Your Sh*t: Interview with The Dirty Laundry Podcast
Divorcing a narcissist often ends up a contentious battle. Victims come into court shaken up and traumatized, whereas their toxic ex appears poised and confident. Today, two Toronto legal mediators, Amanda Silver and Alex Howard, are jo...
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Season 3
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Episode 74
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27:13
When You Can't Leave: How to Survive a Narcissistic Relationship
What if you're not going to leave a narcissist? What if leaving isn't possible? Is there a way to survive a toxic relationship? Sometimes, leaving a toxic relationship isn't possible due to complex reasons. Lisa Sonni joins me this week...
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Season 3
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Episode 73
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25:13
Stop trauma dumping on me! How to know if you're trauma dumping vs. trauma reprocessing
Have you heard of trauma dumping? It’s become a new way to attack victims for talking about their narcissistic abuse experiences. Rossana Faye joins me as this week’s special guest to explore the importance of sharing your trauma and th...
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Season 3
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Episode 72
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28:32
Aren't all relationships tough? Why We Struggle to Spot Narcissistic Abuse
In celebration of the upcoming holiday, this episode features three of our listeners’ favorites. Listen in as Tara Blair Ball and I discuss:1. How narcissistic abuse is different from emotional abuse2. Why covert narcissists are...
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Season 3
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Episode 71
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25:44
Only Me & Never You: Inside the Bizarre Mind of a Narcissist - Interview with Dr. Les Carter
The mind of a narcissist is wildly self-absorbed and oblivious to those around them. They are excessively focused on me, me, me. Dr. Les Carter joins me to discuss what victims get wrong about the mind of a narcissist. He shares how our...
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Season 3
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Episode 70
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21:10
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 fee...
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Season 3
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Episode 69
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29:37
Why Can't I Leave? The Crazy Confusion from Late-Stage Cognitive Dissonance
Have you asked yourself, "Why can't I leave?" You know you should. You've even started hiding the ugly truth of what's really going on behind closed doors. In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss late-stage cognitive dissonance....
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Season 3
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Episode 68
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25:52
Feeling duped and conned? Why We Miss the Signs of a Covert Narcissist: An Interview with Eleni Sagredos
Have you left a relationship feeling duped? Not just betrayed, but conned? You’ve likely met a covert narcissist.In this episode, Elena Sagredos, author of But They’re So Nice, joins me to talk about the deceptiveness of covert abuse. W...
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Season 3
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Episode 67
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24:10
Is my partner a narcissist? Highlights from Dr. Kerry's 3 Favorite Interviews
Relationships with narcissists can be confounding, confusing, and incredibly frustrating. Join Dr. Kerry for this holiday episode when she revisits the highlights of her three favorite interviews. Hear Dr. Les Carter’s explanation of wh...
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Season 3
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Episode 66
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24:55
"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 m...
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Season 3
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Episode 65
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27:30
"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 expl...
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Season 3
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Episode 64
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26:47
"You're trying to control me!" Why Managing Boundaries with Narcissists Fails
Have you noticed managing boundaries with narcissists always fails? That they find some tricky way to evade limit setting? Suddenly, you’re being accused of being too controlling or sensitive, or they can’t understand what you're asking...
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Season 3
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Episode 63
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27:10
"You’re not taking my babies from me!" How Jessica Kent Escaped Abuse
(Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of abuse.)This week, Jessica Kent, a wildly popular social media figure, joins me to share her story of escaping abuse. Jessica reveals how covert narcissistic abuse can go fr...
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Season 3
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Episode 62
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28:13