When abuse shrinks you, how do you take up space again? In this episode of Marriage Rehab: Exposing Narcissistic and Emotional Abuse, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. David B. Hawkins sits down with Kathy Young, a trauma-informed coach and survivor of a 35-year emotionally abusive marriage. Together, they unpack the survival strategy of “playing small,” the nuances of fawning, when gray rocking helps (and when it harms), and the trauma science (nervous system, polyvagal, complex trauma) behind exhaustion, hypervigilance, and losing your voice.

You’ll learn:

• What “playing small” looks like and how it forms under power & control
• Why fawning and gray rocking emerge as short-term survival tools
• Big-T vs. little-t trauma and how chronic micro-traumas “stack” neurologically
• The body cost of abuse (fight/flight/freeze/fawn/collapse) and first steps to reclaim choice & voice
• Practical, low-risk ways to take up space again

Guest: Kathy Young — trauma-informed coach & educator
Website: kathymcateeyoung.com

Programs & Support:
Marriage Recovery Center – Women’s Core & more: marriagerecoverycenter.com

If this episode resonates, you’re not alone. Healing is possible—one clear choice, one safe step, one reclaimed word at a time.

For more on Kathy’s work, visit her website at www.kathymcateeyoung.com or follow her on Instagram @kathyyoungcoaching. This episode offers invaluable insights and encouragement for anyone seeking hope and transformation.

Founded by Dr. David Hawkins, the Marriage Recovery Center is the leading authority on the treatment of narcissistic and emotional abuse. To schedule your in-person or video session, call our team at (206) 219-0145 or email [email protected]

***Please note that Mad.In.Love welcomes guests with diverse viewpoints. Their beliefs do not necessarily reflect our mission at the Marriage Recovery Center and the Emotional Abuse Institute, but we value open dialogue and exploration.***