Welcome to Dr Sarah: Relationship Success Lab, where high achievers, executives, and entrepreneurs explore relationship fitness, healing from relationship trauma, and creating secure, trusting, and loving partnerships. Designed for those navigating high-stakes careers and relationships, we dive into trauma-informed coaching, relationship wellbeing, and practical strategies to recover from trauma bonding and build meaningful connections. Save your marriage, start building secure relationships and optimizing your relationship wellbeing.

 

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Today, I want to talk about a question I've been asked multiple times: Can you experience a trauma bond without overt abuse? I've heard variations of this question from various people over time, clients included. The core issue is feeling the signs of a trauma bond without clearly labeling your partner's behavior as abusive.

I've dealt with this in my own life, and I get it. The thing is, abuse isn't always blatant; it can be subtle, like manipulation and gaslighting. Growing up, we often learned to recognize abuse as something clear and physical. But the truth is, the more insidious forms of abuse, like manipulation, can be even more damaging because they're less obvious.

Let me share a client's story. She was in a relationship for years, feeling miserable but hesitant to call it abusive because her partner never physically hurt her. In one session, she said she wished he had hit her because then she'd have clear justification to leave. This revealed a common misconception: abuse doesn't always have to be physical.

It depends on factors like personality and attachment style. If you're highly empathic or conscientious, you might internalize blame and responsibility unnecessarily. I've

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Let’s develop relationship fitness and cultivate fulfilling, secure, and loving relationships.

Specialising in relationships, attachment problems and trauma bonding, Dr Sarah is on a mission to help you end negative cycles, create a secure relationship template, improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional intimacy. Stop self-sabotaging behaviours now and begin to self-actualise.

Working with business leaders, entrepreneurs, high achievers and perfectionists. Whether you are wanting to strengthen your current relationship and save your marriage, or you are healing from heartbreak to start a fresh, set yourself up for relationship success.

Get marriage counselling near you in person or online, sign up to one of Dr Sarah's luxury retreats, and continue your path to success.

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LinkedIn: Dr Sarah (Alsawy) Davies

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