logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
27m 27s

Is It Really Abuse If I Can't Do What I ...

Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D.
About this episode
Is being overly controlling a form of abuse? In this podcast episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the subtleties of coercive control. Learn how to recognize the common control tactic of this insidious form of abuse. And this week's self-help tip is to assess how your partner's feelings and demands affect you. Are you doing less and becoming increasingly ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Born into a Cult. Then Married a Narcissist. Is Coercive Control Stealing Your Life?
Were you born into a cult — or did you unknowingly marry one? If you've ever felt trapped, controlled, and unable to trust your own reality — whether in a religion, a family system, or a relationship — you may have been living inside a cult of two. Narcissistic abuse operates thr ... Show More
28m 49s
Jun 4
You Saw the Red Flags and Stayed Anyway. Here’s the Real Reason Why
Why can you spot every red flag, name every tactic, and still find yourself in another toxic relationship? A commenter recently wrote that she had been raised by three narcissists, married to one, dated another for five years, recently lost a friendship to one, and a former partn ... Show More
8m 26s
Jun 1
Nobody Taught Us What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like — Here's the Cost
Nobody taught us what a healthy relationship should feel like. Not in school. Not in graduate training. Not in the culture we grew up in. And that missing lesson? It's costing survivors years of confusion, repeat heartbreak, and an obsession with understanding the very people who ... Show More
25m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Etiological Theories of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Healthy//Toxic Healthy versus Toxic is a podcast where licensed mental health professionals explore what makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy. Our hosts aim to provide a scientifically informed perspective on what factors go into making healthy relationships, how to build se ... Show More
10m 10s
Jan 2024
Types of Narcissistic Abuse
Cluster B This show aims to educate the audience from a scientifically informed perspective about the major cluster B personality disorders: narcissism, histrionic, borderline, and antisocial. Want more mental health content? Check out our other Podcasts: Mental Health // Demyst ... Show More
21m 33s
May 2025
The Narcissist Decoder: How Midlife Women Get Trapped in Emotional Abuse
If you've ever questioned your reality, blamed your hormones, or been told you’re “too sensitive,” this conversation will change how you see everything. Tamsen sits down with world-renowned psychologist and narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula, author of the New York Times best ... Show More
1h 4m
May 2024
What is Paranoid Personality Disorder?
Healthy//Toxic Healthy versus Toxic is a podcast where licensed mental health professionals explore what makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy. Our hosts aim to provide a scientifically informed perspective on what factors go into making healthy relationships, how to build se ... Show More
12m 33s
Aug 2024
Can Narcissists Change?
Cluster B This show aims to educate the audience from a scientifically informed perspective about the major cluster B personality disorders: narcissism, histrionic, borderline, and antisocial. Want more mental health content? Check out our other Podcasts: Mental Health // Demysti ... Show More
16m 29s
Feb 2025
The Signs You're Dealing with a Narcissist: Dr. Ramani
Today, Jillian speaks with renowned narcissism expert Dr. Ramani to unpack the true meaning of narcissistic relationships and why the term is often misused. They explore the red flags, the psychological toll of these relationships, and why leaving can feel impossible. Dr. Ramani ... Show More
1h 7m
Mar 2024
#359: Break Up With Who You’ve Been
In this episode, I share about the powerful role responsibility and accountability play in our lives. I talk about the discomfort of realizing our choices shape our reality and discuss the importance of facing uncomfortable truths for personal growth. Additionally, I share an exc ... Show More
10m 14s
Feb 2024
#352: Stepping Into Your Personal Power to Deepen Your Relationships with Kylie McBeath
This episode is an excerpt from Ky’s + my recent Valentine's Day Liberated Love Workshop. In this episode, Kylie and I explore the specifics of what liberated love means in action and discuss the need to break free from repeated relational patterns. We share our definition of cod ... Show More
24m 41s
Jan 2025
How Do I Stop Being Such A People Pleaser?
JVN sits down with Kati Morton, a licensed therapist and bestselling author, to dive deep into the world of people-pleasing. Together, they unpack why people-pleasing isn’t just about being nice—it’s about discomfort with other people’s discomfort, and why it leaves so many of us ... Show More
51m 15s