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Is your relationship displaying signs that it’s over? Maybe it’s on its last legs, and you wonder if it can be saved?

In this episode, Dr. Becky Whetstone delves into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the challenges faced during marriage crises. She shares her experiences and insights as a marriage therapist, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and recognizing the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

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🔹 What do you know that your relationship is no longer salvageable? Dr. Whetstone shares practical indicators of a dying relationship. Subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter to hear the extended interview.   Get immediate access to the interview with Dr. Becky Whetstone, along with expert tools and support to help you reclaim your peace.

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Learn more about Dr. Whetstone:

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Dr. Becky's Blog

Book: I (Think) I Want Out: What to Do When One of You Want to End Your Marriage

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Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

Join Dr. Kerry’s Summer Relationship Reset—a 6-week small group coaching experience to help you get clear, set boundaries, and reclaim your peace.
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Are you living with a narcissist or a stressfully demanding person? These types of relationships often require us to step up with extra emotional labor without us even realizing it. 

This week, psychotherapist and author Terri Cole joins us to explore the hidden costs of high-functioning codependency. Learn why over-helping is often a trauma response, not a personality trait—and what to do if you're living with a boundary bully.

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🔹What should you do if you can’t leave a toxic relationship yet? Terri shares practical boundary strategies for surviving emotionally while you’re still in it. Subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter to hear the extended interview.  

Get immediate access to the interview with Terri Cole along with expert tools and support to help you reclaim your peace.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

Learn more about Terri:

Website: https://www.terricole.com

Books:  Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency - https://amzn.to/4jeqIRH

Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free - https://amzn.to/4i2yvB6

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More About Dr. Kerry

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

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Are female friendships just as damaging as pathological love relationships?

This week, Sabrina Kirberg, author of We Used to be Best Friends, joins us to discuss the harmful consequences of toxic women friendships. Learn why we often miss spotting toxic female relationships and their common harmful dynamics.

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🔹Does your best friend fit one of the toxic female stereotypes? Learn the most common toxic women relationships when you subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter.  Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights designed to help you move forward.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

To Learn More About Sabrina:

Website: The3rdSide

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Book: We Used to Be Best Friends: A Friendship Breakup Workbook

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More About Dr. Kerry

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

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Living with a narcissistic or emotionally toxic person will wreak havoc on your personality or sense of self.  

This week, Lynn Strathdee, mental health therapist and expert, joins us today to discuss the effects of chronic exposure to narcissistic abuse. Learn how dysfunctional relationship shapes your personality, giving “echoistic” tendencies.  

Looking for the Podcast Extra Interview with Lynn Strathdee?    

🔹Can the psychological damage done to our personality be repaired? Learn the practical steps Lynn recommends we take to heal from narcissistic abuse when you subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter.  

Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights designed to help you move forward.     

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

More About Lynn: 

Website

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🌿 Ready to Break Free from Toxic Relationships? 🌿

When you join Dr. Kerry's membership, you'll get the support, guidance, and community you need to heal and thrive!

💬 What’s Inside?
✅ Live Group Coaching – Five sessions per week for real-time support.
📚 Book Club Discussions – Dive deep into transformative reads.
🎥 Extensive Video Library – Access powerful recovery tools anytime.
💡 Direct Access to Dr. Kerry – Get expert insights & answers.

🔗 Start your healing journey today! 

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More About Dr. Kerry

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

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Are you trying to heal from a betrayal? 

If you have survived a narcissistic relationship then you have experienced betrayal. Often repetitive, devastating breaches of trust.

This week, Dr. Debi Silber joins us to discuss how to rebuild renewed confidence after betrayal. She outlines the five stages of betrayal recovery as well the common pitfalls that keep survivors stalled from fully healing after abuse.   

Looking for the Podcast Extra Interview with Dr. Silber?

🔹Is your healing at risk of being stalled after surviving betrayal? Learn which betrayal recovery stage is the most challenging and how to overcome it when you subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter. Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights designed to help you move forward.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

To learn more about Dr. Silber:

Website - https://thepbtinstitute.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/debisilber/?hl=en

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/debisilber

More About Dr. Silber

Dr. Debi Silber, Founder of the PBT (Post Betrayal Transformation) Institute and National Forgiveness Day (celebrated annually on September 1st), is an award-winning speaker, and a 2-time #1 International bestselling author. Her podcast: From Betrayal to Breakthrough is also globally ranked within the top 1.5% of podcasts. Her recent PhD study on how we experience betrayal made 3 groundbreaking discoveries that changed how long it takes to heal. In addition to being on FOX, CBS, The Dr. Oz Show, TEDx (twice), and more, she’s dedicated to helping people move past their betrayals as well as any other blocks preventing them from the health, work, relationships, confidence, and happiness they want most.

🌿 Ready to Break Free from Toxic Relationships? 🌿

When you join Dr. Kerry's membership, you'll get the support, guidance, and community you need to heal and thrive!

💬 What’s Inside?
✅ Live Group Coaching – Five sessions per week for real-time support.
📚 Book Club Discussions – Dive deep into transformative reads.
🎥 Extensive Video Library – Access powerful recovery tools anytime.
💡 Direct Access to Dr. Kerry – Get expert insights & answers.

🔗 Start your healing journey today! 

Stay in Touch with Dr. Kerry!

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More About Dr. Kerry

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

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Toxic relationships tremendously impact our emotional selves, but what about our sexual selves? 

Dr. Lisha Antiqua, an expert in sexual intimacy and soul psychology, joins us to discuss how common toxic dynamics in narcissistic relationships, such as objectification and transactional relationships, diminish our intimate connection with one another. She also defines the importance of healthy interpersonal and sexual boundaries.  

Looking for the Podcast Interview with Dr. Lisha Antiqua?

🔹Is it ever abusive to say no to sex? Learn in this week's exclusive Podcast Extra interview when saying no to sex is abusive when you subscribe to the Breaking Free from Narc Abuse newsletter. Get access to over 45 video expert interviews designed to help you move forward.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

To learn more about Dr. Lisha Antiqua 

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Dr. Antiqua's Book

My Amazing You Journal: 12 weeks to unstoppable confidence, clarity and personal empowerment

Stay in Touch with Dr. Kerry!

Kerry McAvoy, PhD

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More About Dr. Kerry

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

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Is it autism or narcissism? It’s become trendy lately to excuse toxic/abusive behavior as neurodivergence.

Today, Erica Little-Herron, an expert/advocate on autism, joins us to discuss the key differences between narcissism and autism.

Looking for the Podcast Interview with Erica Little-Herron?

🔹Learn in this week's exclusive Podcast Extra interview why Erica Little-Herron thinks the autistic community is frequently targeted by narcissists when you subscribe to the Breaking Free from Narc Abuse newsletter. Gain immediate access to over 45 video expert interviews designed to help you move forward.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

To learn more about Erica: 

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Kerry McAvoy, PhD

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Lisa Sonni

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More About Us!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kerry, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

Lisa Sonni

Lisa Sonni is a certified Life & Relationship Coach, specializing in trauma bond recovery and abuse education, who helps clients from all walks of life overcome challenges stemming from traumatic partnerships. She has published an online self-guided course, The Trauma Bond Recovery Course, and several books, The Trauma Bond Recovery Journal, and Surviving to Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery.

With 7 professional certifications and her own personal experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, her expertise is geared towards getting clients to a good space in their lives and within themselves. Lisa has two children and enjoys cooking, reading, and walks. She is a popular content creator on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Stronger Than Before with over 1M followers, where she educates people on abuse tactics, narcissism and domestic violence.  She has helped thousands of women exit and rebuild their lives.

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Going no contact with a parent, particularly when it’s your mother, is a gut-wrenching decision.

Alex Anderson, an independent film-maker and writer joins me to discuss his timely movie, FOG, which explores a toxic mother-daughter dynamics. He describes how Fog-Obligation-Guilt drives this challenging relationship.

Learn more about Alex and his work here: https://www.youtube.com/@alexanderson2467

To watch the FOG trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DacCvo7ngLA

See the full movie of FOG here: https://youtu.be/aAknjJiYZJA?si=blSq5URg7RGhC7Rg

Looking for the Podcast Interview with Alex Anderson?

🔹 Learn what are the biggest questions Alex gets about the FOG movie and about his future work when you subscribe to our Podcast Extra newsletter. Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights and video interviews designed to help you move forward.

👉 Get immediate access to the Podcast Extra when you join here today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

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More About Us!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kerry, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

Lisa Sonni

Lisa Sonni is a certified Life & Relationship Coach, specializing in trauma bond recovery and abuse education, who helps clients from all walks of life overcome challenges stemming from traumatic partnerships. She has published an online self-guided course, The Trauma Bond Recovery Course, and several books, The Trauma Bond Recovery Journal, and Surviving to Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery.

With 7 professional certifications and her own personal experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, her expertise is geared towards getting clients to a good space in their lives and within themselves. Lisa has two children and enjoys cooking, reading, and walks. She is a popular content creator on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Stronger Than Before with over 1M followers, where she educates people on abuse tactics, narcissism and domestic violence.  She has helped thousands of women exit and rebuild their lives.

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Why do men abuse? How does this behavior benefit them?

Today, Chuck Derry, the co-founder of the Gender Violence Institute, joins us to discuss the disturbing reasons for male violence and what community responses are needed to curb these toxic/dangerous behaviors.

To learn more about the results of Chuck Derry’s study, visit: https://voicemalemagazine.org/abusive-men-describe-the-benefits-of-violence/

Gender Violence Institute: https://www.genderviolenceinstitute.org

Looking for the Podcast Interview with Chuck Derry?

🔹Learn what steps Derry thinks we need to take to reduce violence against women and children when you subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter. Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights designed to help you move forward.

👉 Get immediate access to Chuck Derry’s Podcast Extra interview here: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

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More About Us!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kerry, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

Lisa Sonni

Lisa Sonni is a certified Life & Relationship Coach, specializing in trauma bond recovery and abuse education, who helps clients from all walks of life overcome challenges stemming from traumatic partnerships. She has published an online self-guided course, The Trauma Bond Recovery Course, and several books, The Trauma Bond Recovery Journal, and Surviving to Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery.

With 7 professional certifications and her own personal experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, her expertise is geared towards getting clients to a good space in their lives and within themselves. Lisa has two children and enjoys cooking, reading, and walks. She is a popular content creator on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Stronger Than Before with over 1M followers, where she educates people on abuse tactics, narcissism and domestic violence.  She has helped thousands of women exit and rebuild their lives.

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You’re barely picking up the pieces, and your ex has already moved on—posting picture-perfect snapshots of their new, fabulous life. Meanwhile, you're left wondering: Were they always this happy, or is this just for show? 

In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Lisa Sonni dive into why narcissists and toxic personalities seem to seamlessly transition into a "perfect" new relationship. Is it real, or is it just another illusion? And if you’re struggling with the gut-punch of watching your ex’s highlight reel, we’ve got practical strategies to help you break free from the comparison trap and reclaim your healing.

➡️ Want to watch the Podcast Extra Interview? https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

🔹Want more? Get exclusive expert interviews and deep-dive discussions with top professionals like Dr. Les Carter, Dr. Peter Salerno, Bill Eddy, and Dr. Nadine Macaluso when you subscribe to our Podcast Exclusive newsletter. Gain immediate access to a growing archive of expert insights designed to help you move forward.

👉 Join today: https://substack.com/@breakingfreenarcabuse

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Lisa Sonni

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More About Us!

Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kerry, a retired psychologist and author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. Her blogs have been featured in Mamami, YourTango, Scary Mommy, and The Good Men Project. In Love You More, Dr. McAvoy gives an uncensored glimpse into her survival of narcissistic abuse, and her workbook, First Steps to Leaving a Narcissist, helps victims break free from the confusion common in abusive relationships. She hosts the Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse podcast and offers trauma-related advice on social media.

Lisa Sonni

Lisa Sonni is a certified Life & Relationship Coach, specializing in trauma bond recovery and abuse education, who helps clients from all walks of life overcome challenges stemming from traumatic partnerships. She has published an online self-guided course, The Trauma Bond Recovery Course, and several books, The Trauma Bond Recovery Journal, and Surviving to Thriving: A Six-Step Blueprint to Narcissistic Abuse Healing and Recovery.

With 7 professional certifications and her own personal experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse, her expertise is geared towards getting clients to a good space in their lives and within themselves. Lisa has two children and enjoys cooking, reading, and walks. She is a popular content creator on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube under the name Stronger Than Before with over 1M followers, where she educates people on abuse tactics, narcissism and domestic violence.  She has helped thousands of women exit and rebuild their lives.

Support the show