The Rising Beyond Podcast

In this episode, I go on a bit of a rant—and for good reason.

When people in positions of power make sweeping decisions without input from the people most affected, the results are often not just ineffective… they’re harmful.

I share a recent example from my own therapy practice, where state-level Medicaid changes made by HCPF (Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy & Financing) have had huge ripple effects—harming my team’s ability to provide care and hurting the very clients those changes were supposed to help.

And unfortunately, this isn’t a one-off issue. It’s a pattern we see all the time in the family court system.

Survivors of domestic violence are rarely invited to the table when reforms are discussed or policies are implemented. Professionals make assumptions, apply blanket solutions, and often ignore the lived experiences of the people navigating these systems every single day.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why top-down decisions without feedback loops cause damage
• How survivors are continuously silenced and sidelined in court processes
• The emotional toll of fighting systems that claim to help—but don’t listen
• Why true change must include the voices of those impacted

Whether you’ve felt powerless in court, frustrated by the mental health system, or just plain angry at the disconnect between what’s needed and what’s delivered—this one’s for you.

Tune in and share your own story. We need more survivor voices in these conversations.

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
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Rising Beyond Pinterest 

Money isn't just about numbers—it's about our stories, our sense of worth, and the messages we've absorbed over time.

In this powerful episode, I'm speaking with a financial therapist (and friend) Khara, Croswaite Brindle, LPC, CFT to explore how our beliefs about money are deeply shaped by our past—especially for survivors of abuse. We talk about how messages from childhood, cultural conditioning, and the experience of financial abuse or control from an ex-partner can distort the way we view ourselves and our financial decisions.

If you've ever felt shame, fear, or confusion around money, or if you've found yourself stuck in scarcity or self-sabotage, tune into this one.

Khara also shares practical tools and mindset shifts you can start using today to challenge negative money beliefs and begin healing your relationship with finances. You’ll learn that financial wellness isn't just about saving or budgeting—it's about reclaiming your autonomy and rewriting the story that money tells about you.

Connect with Khara:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kharacroswaite/
• https://croswaitecounselingpllc.com/financial-therapy
• https://www.instagram.com/kharacroswaite/

References:

• Financial therapist (online directory): https://financialtherapyassociation.org/find-a-financial-therapist/
• Financial Therapy Books List: https://www.riverbendfinancialtherapy.com/resources
• Money Minus Shame Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-minus-shame/id1789593271
• Money Healing Club (online community): https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/
• Book (and workbook of financial therapy exercises) Your Enneagram and Money: https://a.co/d/bQGu3oo

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you. In this episode, we explore how trauma and post-separation abuse can wire your brain for shame, self-doubt, and a deep sense of inadequacy.

You’ll learn how those “not good enough” beliefs aren’t your truth - instead you’ll see that they are neural pathways shaped by chronic invalidation, coercion, and fear. And most importantly, you’ll hear ways to begin disrupting that narrative and cultivating a sense of worthiness from within.

In this episode I talk about:

• Why survivors of abuse often carry deep-seated beliefs of inadequacy
• How trauma and repeated invalidation shape your brain’s sense of self
• Small, doable acts of self-trust that begin to rewire that belief
• How to root into your values and start showing up for yourself
• The power of recognizing this belief as part of the trauma, not your identity

You don’t have to be perfect, healed, or strong all the time to be enough. You already are.

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a to-do list, knowing what needs to get done but feeling completely stuck… you're not alone.

You know what needs to get done. You even want to do it. But the overwhelm hits like a wave and suddenly the dishwasher, the court papers, the email you need to send—it all feels impossible.

This week’s podcast episode is for those days.

In this episode, I break down how trauma, and especially the ongoing stress of post-separation abuse, disrupts your brain’s executive function. 

If you're beating yourself up for not being "productive enough," please give this episode a listen. You’ll walk away with a little more compassion for yourself—and a few tools to make life feel a bit more manageable.

Ep 158: Felt Safety After Trauma: Why You Can’t Heal Without It https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/17419028

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

Your ex says, “They don’t act that way at my house,” and then the GAL or judge deems that you are the worst parent?

If you’re the parent your child melts down with, you might be blamed for being too soft, too emotional, or too permissive. But what if your child is acting this way because they feel safe with you?

We're diving into the misunderstood dynamics of how children behave differently between two homes, especially when one home is rooted in coercive control or emotional unsafety. I’ll explore why your child might appear calm and obedient in one environment but fall apart in another, and why this behavior is often misinterpreted in court or by professionals.

You’ll learn:

• Why “good” behavior doesn’t always mean a child feels safe
• What trauma responses can look like in kids—especially freeze, fawn, or performative behaviors
• Why emotional outbursts may signal trust in the safe parent
• How family court often gets this dynamic wrong, and how to reframe it
• What protective parents can do to validate their own experience and advocate for their child

If you’ve been made to feel like the problem because your child cries, resists transitions, or has big feelings in your care—this episode is for you.

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

What happens when the world tells you that you need “safety” to heal from trauma, but your life after leaving abuse still feels anything but safe?

We’re talking about felt safety—what it is, why it matters, and how to begin creating moments of it even when post-separation abuse is ongoing.

Sybil talks about:

• The difference between actual safety and felt safety
• Why most trauma therapies rely on safety as a starting point, and what to do when that’s not your reality
• How felt safety helps your nervous system shift out of survival mode, even in tiny doses
• Tools for creating micro-moments of safety in your body, relationships, and environment
• Why your child’s behavior may be linked to their sense of safety—and how to foster it, even when co-parenting with someone who is harmful

Drawing on the work of trauma and attachment expert Robyn Gobbel, we explore how felt safety unlocks the door to healing, and how you can offer that gift to yourself and your children starting today.

Whether you're in the thick of court battles, navigating scary transitions, or just feeling stuck in survival mode—this episode is here to remind you: you don’t have to wait to be “safe” to start healing.

Link to - Episode 101: The Protective Parent’s Guide to Parenting with Guest Robyn Gobbel, MSW.

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

Navigating a high-conflict divorce is overwhelming on its own — but when you're also raising a child with special needs? The legal, emotional, and logistical challenges multiply.

In this important conversation, Sybil sits down with Dr. Susan Bernstein, a Certified Divorce Coach and expert in high-conflict divorce involving children with special needs. Drawing from her experience as both a professional and a mother of a child with severe special needs, Susan shares critical insights, concrete strategies, and the systemic gaps families must prepare for.

Whether you're in the thick of a custody battle, advocating for services, or worried about long-term care and planning — this episode will offer clarity, hope, and tangible next steps.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the divorce rate is significantly higher for parents of children with special needs
• How high-conflict personalities often resist diagnosis or care for their child — and what that means for legal decision-making
• The long-term financial, medical, and educational planning you must include in your parenting plan
• How to structure a tiered parenting plan with clear benchmarks and consequences
• The importance of documenting behaviors instead of using psychological labels in court
• Why many parents of special needs kids don’t get the relief of a countdown to 18 — and what long-term advocacy really looks like
• The surprising “silver lining” of divorce when it comes to planning for a child’s lifelong care

Connect w Dr. Susan:

G: https://www.instagram.com/divorcecoach__plus/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SusanKBernsteincdc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-susan-bernstein-new-york-s-premier-divorce-coach-5aa32510/

https://www.divorcecoachplus.com/

https://divorcewithspecialneedschildren.com/

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

Ever look in the mirror and think, “I don’t even know who I am anymore”?

If you've survived a coercive, abusive relationship — or are still dealing with the chaos of post-separation abuse — that feeling isn’t just common, it’s expected. You’ve been in survival mode for so long that things like identity, purpose, and values may feel like luxuries you can’t afford.

But what if reconnecting with your values is exactly what helps you move forward.

In this episode Sybil gets real about what happens to your sense of self after abuse — and how you can begin to reclaim it, even if you're still living in the storm of post-separation chaos. She’ll walk you through how your values got buried (or used against you), why reconnecting with them is not optional for healing, and a powerful exercise that helps uncover what truly matters to you.

This is not about reinventing yourself — it’s about remembering who you are.

You'll Learn:

• Why your values were likely distorted or silenced during the abuse
• How moral injury shows up when you're forced to act against your beliefs
• What your current pain might reveal about your deepest values
• A powerful journaling exercise to help you reconnect with your truth
• How to start living by your values again — even in tiny ways — and why that changes everything

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

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.

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest 

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: [email protected]

Ask Me Anything - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/ama2026
Happening November 2nd at 12pm MST, November 3rd at 2pm MST and November 7th at 9am MST

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/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest