If you’ve ever been told that a psychological test “proved” you were unstable or overeactive in your custody case—while your abusive ex seemed cool, calm, and collected—you are not alone.

In this short but important episode, I’m unpacking why the MMPI and MMPI-2—often used in court-ordered evaluations—can misrepresent survivors of coercive control and domestic violence. These tests were not designed with trauma survivors in mind, and their results can be dangerously misinterpreted when evaluators aren’t trained in coercive dynamics.

I’ll also explain how abusers, especially narcissists, often “pass” these tests easily by presenting as emotionally flat or in control—while the survivor appears anxious, reactive, or paranoid, all of which are normal trauma responses.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating family court, custody evaluations, or preparing for a psychological assessment after surviving abuse.

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How much did financial abuse impact you in your relationship?

We know that over 98% of all domestic violence victims experience some form of financial abuse and that it does not stop once you have left.

So, how can you be prepared for your separation and divorce and be set up to survive in the aftermath?

Because I am not a financial expert AND because I understand the devastation that financial abuse can cause, I asked Jun Chen, a certified divorce financial analyst and certified financial planner to share his knowledge with all of us. We discuss the basics, like what a CDFA actually does and the best ways to prepare to the more nuanced questions around what to do if your ex is hiding money.

And similar to most aspects of divorcing a narcissistic and abusive partner, there are nuances to your situation.  So, if this episode has given your more questions that you started out with or something wasn’t answered…I invite you to come to our FREE Q&A style workshop on June 12th. 

REGISTER FOR THE FREE WORKSHOP W/ JUN: https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/finances

About Jun: With over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry, Jun Chen is a seasoned wealth advisor known for providing comprehensive, client centric guidance tailored at each stage of life.  As a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor™ (CPFA™), Jun brings a uniquely broad skill set to families seeking to create bespoke financial plans that require a high level of expertise.  

Jun  specializes in holistic financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, and workplace retirement plans. Known for a thoughtful, educational approach, Jun prioritizes building long-term relationships rooted in trust and transparency. 

Outside the office, Jun is active in the local community, frequently volunteering as a pro bono CFP with Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence and Wings For Widows  He is also a board member of Sunnyside, a non-profit focused on resources for neurodivergent individuals.  Jun believes that financial planning should not be limited to those of high net worth but available to those who might not have the resources.

Connect with Jun:
linkedin.com/in/jun-chen-cfp®-cdfa®-cpfa®-067bb443
Email: jun.team@fida

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Are you in need of a little bit of hope?

If you are a survivor of coercive control and domestic abuse (or a professional who works in this space) then hope can often be hard to come by.  

In this episode, I reconnect with coercive control expert, Kate Amber, M.S. after our joint presentation at this year's International Justice Center Conference in San Diego in order to share our reflections from our experience.  We share some of the questions we were asked during our panel along with our answers, some of the most impactful speakers and presentations we were able to attend and how their topics may impact you, along with our overall reflections of where the field is trending. And this is where both Kate and I experienced some hope and hopefully you will too.

Since many of you were not able to be there with us, we wanted to be able to share with you so that you can start to see some of the hope too.

Episode 66 with Kate: “Breaking Down Coercive Control” - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/13665588

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If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

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If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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If you’ve ever thought, “I should be further along by now,” this episode is for you.
When you’re still navigating post-separation abuse, family court chaos, or co-parenting with someone who continues to hurt you, healing might not look—or feel—like what you expected. You might still freeze when a message comes in. You might still cry in the car before showing up for your kids. And you might believe that means you're not healing.

But what if the most important signs of healing are the ones no one sees—not even you?

We’re talking about the invisible signs of progress: the quiet, powerful shifts that don’t get celebrated but matter immensely.

You’ll hear:

• Why healing doesn’t always feel like joy or peace—and what it might feel like instead
• Real-life examples of subtle progress that survivors often overlook
• How trauma makes it harder to recognize growth, even when it’s happening
• A new way to think about hope when the future feels foggy

Because even if it doesn’t feel like it… you are healing.

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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As you heal from the narcissistic abuse from an intimate partner, you might come to this realization - that one of your parents is also a narcissist and has been abusive.

Sometimes this realization is mind blowing and stops you in your tracks forcing you to rethink everything you thought you knew about your childhood and the family you grew up with.

In today’s episode I have a conversation with Katherine Fabrizio, a therapist working with these dynamics for decades, more specifically with the mother daughter relationship resulting in “The Good Daughter Syndrome.”

We discuss the dynamics and challenges that arise for the daughters of mothers with narcissistic or other difficult personalities throughout their lives.  This includes the subconscious conditioning that starts during the early childhood years and how that impacts all of their relationships moving forward.  Katherine shares how she works with clients with these challenges with some ideas and tips that you can take and use right away after listening to this episode.

BIO: Katherine Fabrizio, M.A., L.C.M.H.C., psychotherapist, mother, and author, has treated adult daughters of difficult mothers trapped in the “Good Daughter” role for over 35 years.

Book https://a.co/d/0kUKQtO/ 
Quiz -https://daughtersrising.info/good-daughter-quiz/

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If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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Feeling completely burned out from healing? You’re not alone.

In this episode, Sybil dives into a phase of healing that almost no one talks about — the exhaustion that hits after leaving an abusive relationship. If you're feeling numb, unmotivated, or like healing is suddenly impossible… this is for you.
We’ll explore:

• Why burnout happens after you finally find safety
• How the nervous system shifts from fight/flight to freeze
• What healing burnout really looks like (spoiler: it’s not laziness)
• How to give yourself permission to rest and reset
• A gentle guided practice to reconnect with your body, without shame
• How to reframe what “progress” really means

And if you're listening when this episode goes live — enrollment for The Rising Beyond Community is open until May 8th, 2025 at 11:59pm MST. If burnout is where you are right now, the community could be the lifeline you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 Join the community: risingbeyondpc.com/membership

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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In this episode, I speak with attorney, advocate, and author Meg Groff, whose 40+ years of experience supporting victims of domestic violence have impacted countless families. We dive into the critical missteps attorneys often make in family court, how those missteps put survivors and children at risk, and what needs to change. Meg also shares insights from her powerful new book, Not If I Can Help It, and offers a vision for how legal systems, legislation, and cultural understanding must evolve to better protect survivors.

About Meg:
Meg Groff is an attorney, advocate, and author with more than four decades of experience representing victims of domestic violence in family court. She has trained thousands of professionals on the dynamics of abuse, contributed to legislation protecting survivors, and developed legal programs ensuring free representation for victims seeking protection. Since retiring from trial work, she continues to consult, mentor, and write, most recently authoring Not If I Can Help It, a memoir and call to action for legal and cultural reform.

Connect with Meg:
Buy Not If I Can Help It - https://www.amazon.com/Not-If-Can-Help-Domestic/dp/1953943470/ref=sr_1_1?
Meg Groff Twitter/X - @meggroffauthor
Meg Groff Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571087065596
Meg Groff Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/meggroff2025/
www.meggroff.com

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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You finally left. You survived.

So why do you still feel like you're the one who did something wrong?

We’re unpacking the survivor’s guilt and moral injury that often surface after leaving an abusive relationship—especially when your children are still in contact with the abusive parent, or when you feel like others "had it worse."

We explore:

• The psychological and emotional experience of moral injury
• The guilt of not being able to protect your children full-time
• How survivors remain stuck with “no-win” decisions
• How survivors often minimize their own trauma
• The long-term impact of being the safe parent while the abuser still holds power
• And, most importantly, how to begin healing and moving from moral injury to moral resilience

If you're listening to this as it comes out, this episode is a prelude to my upcoming workshop (May 2, 2025) on healing from moral injury—if you’ve ever felt crushed by guilt for surviving or worry that your pain isn’t valid, this is for you.

Referenced episodes:

Episode 141: The Shame Was Never Yours: Healing from Vicarious Shame After Abuse - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/16741508

Ep 147: Co-Parenting with a Manipulative Ex: How to Shield Your Child from Coercive Control - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/16971544

Ep 50: How Narcissistic Abuse Leads to Moral Injury - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/12984312

Ep 56: Start Healing from Moral Injury with Guest Dr. Daniel Roberts - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/13198006

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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Abusers who use coercive control don’t just manipulate one person—they manipulate everyone around them, including their own children. As a protective parent, whether you’ve left the relationship or are still navigating it, how can you empower your child to recognize manipulation and maintain their sense of self?

In this episode, we dive deep into:

✔️ How coercive control tactics—like triangulation, gaslighting, and emotional withholding—are used against children
 ✔️ The subtle and overt ways abusers condition kids to doubt themselves and comply with their demands
 ✔️ Why strengthening your bond with your child is the first and most critical step in protecting them
 ✔️ How to foster open communication and critical thinking without “disparaging” the other parent (and putting your legal case at risk)
 ✔️ Practical strategies to help children recognize manipulation and trust their own perceptions
 ✔️ How to teach emotional intelligence, body awareness, and discernment in an age-appropriate way

🎙 Why This Matters:
Coercive control isn’t always loud—it’s often the silent conditioning that strips a child of their developing identity. As a safe parent, you can give your child the tools to recognize manipulation and make empowered choices, even in the most challenging co-parenting situations.

Referrenced Links:"
Episode 101: The Protective Parent’s Guide to Parenting with Guest Robyn Gobbel, MSW - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/15091121

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

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If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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As you start healing from coercive control and domestic violence within your relationship, it is likely that you will start to have revelations about other relationships in your life.

Patterns and experiences in your family of origin, specifically with your parents may come to the forefront, especially if there was physical or emotional abandonment.  

We welcome Kaytee Gillis, LCSW back to The Rising Beyond Podcast as we do a deep dive on the impacts of parental abandonment; what that means, how you have been impacted, how cultural messages have impacted your ability to understand unhealthy dynamics, and what you can do now on your healing journey to heal those attachment wounds.

Kaytee Specializes in working with survivors of family and relationship trauma, psychological abuse, and CPTSD.  She is a psychotherapist, author, educator and proud cat mom of three fur babies.  She has published 4 books, two on the topic of intimate partner violence and two on family trauma and her newest book, “Healing from Parental Abandonment and Neglect” may be a game changer as you process your relationship with your parents.

Connect with Kaytee:
https://www.kaytlyngillislcsw.com/

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

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